The inaugural session of the SAARC regional workshop titled “Sustainable Family Farming in Livestock Sector for Attaining United Nations Decade Family Farming (UNDFF) and the SDGs in South Asia” was held on 11th August, 2025 in Kathmandu, Nepal. The three- day workshop has been jointly organized by the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Nepal, Asian Farmers Association (AFA), Philippines and Heifer International, Nepal. The meeting was attended by the delegates of Six SAARC Member States, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Farmer Organization representatives from Mongolia, Tajikistan, Kirgizstan, India also joined in the program.

The workshop aims to formulate the strategies and action plan for strengthening family farming in livestock and pastoralism.

The meeting was attended by the delegates of Six SAARC Member States, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Farmer Organization representatives from Mongolia, Tajikistan, Kirgizstan, India also joined in the program. In addition, national and international speakers, panellists, animal science experts, professionals and academia attended the program. Dr. Govinda Prasad Sharma, Secretary (Agriculture Development), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Nepal graced the occasion as the “Chief Guest”. Mr. Tanvir Ahmad Torophder, Director (ARD and SDF), SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu, Nepal and Dr. Ram Nandan Tiwari, Director General, Department of Livestock Services, Nepal joined the program as a guest of honor. The Programme was coordinated by Dr. Md. Younus Ali, Senior Programme Specialist (Livestock), SAARC Agriculture Centre, Dhaka. Around 65 participants attended the event from different SAARC Member Countries. The workshop is concluded with a set of policy recommendations and action plans aimed at accelerating the sustainable family farming in livestock.