Farmers, Representatives of Farmer Organizations (FO), Government Officials from SAARC countries, SAARC Agriculture Center (SAC), seed experts  and development partners gathered in Dhaka and Bogura, Bangladesh for a three-day learning exchange on community engagement on seed sovereignty for resilient agriculture in South Asia on 19-21 May 2018.The national implementing agency in Bangladesh COAST Trust, and partner FO Kendrio Krishok Moitree (KKM) participated in the organization of the forum and sent farmer representatives as well to share their initiatives on seeds. The event is organized by the Asian Farmers' Association, La Via Campesina and SAC, hosted by ActionAid Bangladesh, KKM, RDA and Coast Trust, and is supported by MTCP2, International Fund for Agricultural Development, SDC and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Netherlands. Around 40 participants were attended in the three days exposure visit.   The proposed exposure visit aims at sharing and learning from the experiences of various farmer organizations and government agricultural officers in promoting policies and programs for achieving seed sovereignty for resilient agriculture.

The opening ceremony of the three days exposure visit held on 19 May 2018 at BARC Auditorium, Farmgate, Dhaka.  In the inauguration ceremony, Mr. Ashraf Uddin Ahmed, Additional Secretary and Director General, Seed, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Bangladesh graced as a chief guest while Dr. Md. Kabir Ikramul Haque, Executive Chairman was present as Chair in the occasion. Ms. Farah Kabir, Country Director, ActionAid Bangladesh was present as the Special Guest in the opening ceremony. Ms. Ma. Estrella A. Penunia, Secretary General, AFA was attended to discuss an overview of workshop and schedule.  Through this exposure visit, the successful technologies and experiences on seed sovereignty would be helped to replicate to Member States that may contribute to reduce poverty.