The ongoing climate change process has posed new challenges to the scientists and demands a quick response from the scientific community for sustainable crop production and to maintain a balance between demand and the supply. Over years, SAC in close partnership with IRRI implemented the “Identification of rice varieties tolerant to abiotic stresses in SAARC Countries” under the Stress Tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia (STRASA) project of IRRI funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

In this standpoint, the Regional Consultation Meeting for “Exchange of Rice Based Production and Value Chain Development Technologies in SAARC Member States” was conducted in Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh; ICAR-National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), Cuttack, Odisha and Annamalai University (AU), Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India during 13th – 19th  August, 2018. The consultation meeting was jointly organized by the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), Dhaka, Bangladesh, IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India with following objectives

  1. Promote exchange of high yielding climate resilient technologies/varieties (STRVs) among the SAARC Countries.
  2. Study and develop sustainable rice based food value chain system (production- harvesting-processing-packaging-storage, marketing, etc.)
  3. Establish vibrant rice based technology forum for policy dialogue and exchange of technologies and knowledge in line with SDGs of United Nations.
  4. Organize exposure visits for senior rice scientists from SAARC Member States to IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) and National Agricultural Research and Education Systems (NARES).

Among the SAARC Member States, seven rice experts from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka participated in the consultation meeting and presented the paper based on present status, challenges and way forward in climate resilient technologies and rice value chain activities in their respective countries.  During the seven days of consultation meeting and exposure visit program, a wide range of rice related experimental fields and advanced research & technologies were observed and experimental based papers were delivered by the professors and scientists from BHU, AU and NRRI. During the consultation meeting, the participants got the opportunity to visit different climate resilient rice fields, Rice + Fish + Poultry farming systems and other different activities in BHU, Varanasi, NRRI, Cuttack, and AU, Chidambaram.  Besides, participants had the chance to visit different archaeological and heritage sites in those places and were exposed to local culture, food, art, music, etc. At the end of the meeting following recommendations were underscored:

  1. The responsibility for “Seed without Boarder” should be taken up by SAC, Dhaka in coordination with IRRI, other CGIAR organizations and NARES of SAARC Member States.
  2. “Seed without Boarder” agenda should be proposed for 2019 programs and it is advisable to propose this agenda during the upcoming Agricultural Minister’s Meeting for approval and implementation by all SAARC Member States.
  3. In line with SAC-IRRI MoU, a draft MoU between SAC and IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC), Varanasi would be appropriate for cooperation in rice and rice-based agri-food system research & development, capacity building and policy issues.
  4. Frequent number of consultation meetings, trainings and exposure visit programs for the Scientists, extension officials and farmers should be carried out by IRRI and SAC to facilitate the exchange of climate resilient rice based crop varieties among the SAARC countries.

The consultation meeting and exposure visit program was coordinated by Mr. Tara Chand Dhoundiyal from IRRI South Asia Regional Centre, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. While, Prof. Dr. P.K. Singh from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and Prof. Dr. R.M. Kathiresan, Director, Research and Development Cell, Annamali University, Tamilnadu, coordinating from  their respective Universities.  Dr. Pradyumna Raj Pandey, Senior Program Specialist (Crops) from SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) coordinated the program and Dr. SM Bokhtiar, Director guided and participate the entire program in India.