The Regional Consultation meeting on the Promotion of Underutilized Taro (Colocasia esculenta) for Sustainable Biodiversity and Nutritional Security in SAARC Countries was held on 03-04 November 2020 in virtual mode. This consultation meeting aimed to exchange current status of research and development on production and utilization of Taro in SAARC member States, along with the challenges facing for its further extension and to harvest recommendations from regional experts for possible ways to develop mechanisms for regional cooperation for promoting Taro in the SAARC Region.

The inaugural session of the consultation meeting was chaired by Dr. Mian Sayeed Hassan, Director, SAC, Mr. Md. Shamsul Haque, Honourable Additional Foreign Secretary (SAARC and BIMSTEC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh graced the session as the Chief Guest and Dr. Sheikh Mohammad Bokhtiar, Executive Chairman, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council attended as the Special Guest. The Program was coordinated by Dr. Nasreen Sultana, Senior Program Specialist (Horticulture), SAC. A total of 20 participants, two from each of the SAARC Member State (except Afghanistan) and six invitees attended the zoom meeting. In addition, all SAC professionals also attended the meeting. Detailed report