The inaugural session of the SAARC regional workshop titled “Promoting Agroecological Approaches for Sustainable Transformation of Agri-food Systems in South Asia” was held on Tuesday (July 29, 2025), in Thimphu, Bhutan.

The three-day workshop has been jointly organized by the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Bhutan and Welthungerhilfe. The initiative aims to assess the present state of agroecological policies, programs, and practices in South Asia and to chart a pathway for wider adoption across SAARC member countries.

Delegates and experts from five SAARC nations- Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka- are attending the event, alongside a host of national and international speakers, panelists, academics, and professionals in agriculture and environmental sciences.

Thinley Namgyel, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Bhutan, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Tanvir Ahmad Torophder, Director (ARD and SDF) at the SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu and Yonten Gyamtsho, Director of the Department of Agriculture, Bhutan, were present as Guests of Honour.

Dr. Md. Harunur Rashid, Director of the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), chaired the inaugural session, which was attended by around 65 participants representing various institutions and governments of the SAARC region.

The workshop is expected to conclude with a set of policy recommendations and action plans aimed at accelerating the agroecological transformation of agri-food systems in South Asia.