The SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) has inaugurated a three-day Regional Consultation Meeting titled “Promotion of Regenerative Agriculture in SAARC Member States” on Monday (August 4, 2025). The event being held virtually is set to conclude on Wednesday (August 6, 2025)   with participants from SAARC member states, delegate from different agricultural research organization, agricultural universities and several international organizations.

The opening session was graced by Ambassador Abdul Motaleb Sarker, Additional Foreign Secretary (SAARC and BIMSTEC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh, as the Chief Guest. He highlighted the urgent need to promote regenerative agriculture in South Asia by restoring soil health, using digital tools, and developing practical strategies. He said that SAC, should lead this effort, which would also help restore biodiversity.

Dr. Md. Harunur Rashid, Director of SAC chaired and delivered the welcome address emphasized SAC’s commitment to promoting sustainable and innovative farming practices in South Asia. He noted that regenerative agriculture not only addresses environmental concerns but also ensures long-term productivity and resilience of farming systems.

Tanvir Ahmad Torophder, Director (ARD & SDF), SAARC Secretariat, Nepal, attended the session as a Special Guest. He highlighted the economic viability of regenerative agriculture, saying, “This approach not only improves soil and environmental health but also delivers financial returns to farmers. A collaborative regional framework involving various stakeholders is essential to scale up these practices across the SAARC region.”

The inaugural session also featured experts’ presentations. Dr. Debashis Chakraborty, Senior Scientist and Cropping Systems Agronomist at International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) Bangladesh, and Dr. Sikander Khan Tanveer, Senior Program Specialist (Crops), SAC presented on “Regenerative Agriculture: Restoring Earth’s Balance through Soil, Science and Stewardship” and the consultation’s objectives and program overview respectively.

The first day of the event included country-wise presentations from SAARC Member States, where nominated scientists, focal point scientist of different SAARC member states and specialists shared the country paper on regenerative agriculture. The consultation aims to foster regional cooperation, knowledge exchange, and policy alignment to promote regenerative practices focusing on restoring degraded soils, enhancing biodiversity and building climate-resilient agri-food systems in South Asia.