Dhaka: The SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) today marked the 41st anniversary of its Charter Day, originally adopted during the first SAARC Summit on December 8, 1985. The event took place at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) complex, highlighting regional collaboration for a resilient agricultural future.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the celebration featured a keynote address on 'Regional Cooperation for Climate-Smart Livestock Food System in South Asia in the context of One Health.' S.M. Mahbubul Alam, Director General (SAARC and BIMSTEC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended as the chief guest. He emphasized SAARC's role in fostering mutual cooperation among South Asian nations and addressed regional climate challenges such as rising temperatures and erratic rainfall impacting agricultural systems.
Mahbubul Alam underscored the need for deeper regional coordination to address challenges in livestock, food security, and public health within a One Health framework. The keynote speech was given by Dr. Muhammad Iqbul Anjum, Director (Animal Production) at the Animal Sciences Division of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC). He highlighted the importance of shared research, data harmonization, and cross-border collaboration for developing climate-smart livestock systems.
Dr. Md. Abdus Salam, Executive Chairman of BARC, chaired the event and stressed the role of regional solidarity and scientific cooperation in achieving sustainable agricultural growth. SAC Director Dr. Md. Harunur Rashid opened the program by presenting the centre's activities and future priorities, focusing on collaborative research and agricultural innovation.
The event was attended by representatives from SAARC countries, senior government officials, and various stakeholders. Two new SAC publications, 'Sustainable Family Farming in the Livestock Sector for Attaining UNDFF and the SDGs in South Asia' and 'Productivity Enhancement of Oilseed Crops in SAARC Member States,' were unveiled during the program.