Adviser Nazrul Islam Khan says revitalising SAARC and expanding technology use are vital to strengthen South Asian agriculture, improve productivity, and address climate challenges through greater investment and regional cooperation.
Strengthening South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is essential to building a more resilient and productive agricultural sector across South Asia, Bangladesh Prime Minister’s political and agriculture adviser Nazrul Islam Khan said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a “Development Partners and Investors” coordination meeting in Dhaka, Khan stressed that agriculture remains the backbone of the region’s economies and that sustainable growth cannot be achieved without modernization. He highlighted the need to expand the use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, to improve productivity and efficiency.
Khan also identified climate change as a major challenge facing the sector and called for increased investment to address its impacts. He said the government, in line with the elected BNP administration’s manifesto, is committed to strengthening ties with countries across South Asia and beyond. As part of that effort, steps are being taken to revitalise SAARC activities.
The meeting was jointly organised by the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Bangladesh and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) South Asia.
As a special guest, Additional Foreign Secretary (SAARC and BIMSTEC) Ambassador A K M Shahidul Karim said practical and technology-driven cooperation is crucial to ensuring food security in South Asia. He emphasised the importance of sharing knowledge and technology to support sustainable agricultural development.
Tanveer Ahmed Tarafdar, director (ARD and SDF) at the SAARC Secretariat, said member states have made progress in agriculture but need stronger public and private sector partnerships to achieve lasting results.
IFPRI South Asia Director Dr Shahidur Rashid outlined the sector’s multiple challenges and reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to continuing joint work with the SAARC Agriculture Centre. GAIN Bangladesh Country Director Dr Rudaba Khondaker called for collective efforts to make the region’s food systems more efficient and affordable for all.
In his welcome remarks, SAC Senior Programme Specialist (Livestock) Dr Md Yunus Ali highlighted the importance of strengthening regional cooperation.
Chairing the session, SAC Director Dr Md Harunur Rashid presented the centre’s strategic priorities and underscored the need for closer regional collaboration to tackle shared agricultural challenges. He stressed innovation, climate resilience and investment partnerships as key drivers for accelerating sustainable agricultural development.
Following the opening session, investors, development partners, researchers and experts took part in discussions focusing on proposals, investment opportunities and regional agricultural priorities.
