The SAARC Regional Expert Consultation meeting on “Women’s Empowerment for Agriculture Development in South Asia: enabling policies’ was conducted at ICAR- Central Institute of Women in Agriculture (ICAR-CIWA), Bhubaneswar, India on 5-7 September 2018subsequent to the approval of  11^th SAC GB and 54th  PC,  SAARC Agriculture Centre. The expert consultation meeting was jointly organized by the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), Dhaka, Bangladesh, Asian Farmers Association (AFA), ActionAid Bangladesh, ICAR-Central Institute of Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar and  Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, with objectives.

1. To analyze the gender related concerns in the agriculture in South Asia.
2. To review the prevailing policies and programs for empowerment women and engaging them in agricultural development process.
3. To propose policies and strategies contributing to enabling environment for engagement of women in agriculture.

An inaugural function of the consultation meeting held on 5 September 2018 at CIWA. Smt. Krishna Raj, Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, New Delhi, India graced the occasion as Chief Guest.  Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary DARE & DG, ICAR, New Delhi, India presided over the inaugural session. Dr. Narendra Singh Rathore, Deputy Director General (Agril. Education), ICAR, New Delhi, India Ms. Farah Kabir, Action Aid Bangladesh, Ma. Estrella  Penunia,  Secretary General, AFA and were also present in the inaugural sessionas Guest of honour. Dr. Md. Younus Ali, Senior Technical Officer, SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) coordinated the program and led the SAARC delegation to India. Dr. Santosh Kumar Srivastava, Director, ICAR-CIWA welcomed all dignitaries, guests and participants in the seminar.  Dr.Lipi Das, Principal Scientist, coordinated the program at ICAR-CIWA. The program was visited by the Assistant Director General, ICAR.

The researchers of CIWA, Farmer Organizations and professionals from SAARC member states-Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka- participated in the consultation meeting. During the 3 days program, Seven Member Countries were presented the country status report on the issue. Some farmer organizations were also shared successful initiatives on woman in agriculture.  A part from the consultation meeting, the delegates got opportunity to visit different women in agriculture model. After elaborate discussions, a good set of recommendations were made on different thematic areas for further intervention.