Maldives hosts High-Level Policy Forum of SAARC Agriculture Sector

• Explores scaling climate-smart agriculture for sustainable growth in South Asia 

A two-day High-Level Policy Forum on South Asia’s Agricultural Future: Scaling Up Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices for Sustainable Growth was held on November 14 and 15 in the Maldives, following the 2nd Project Steering Committee meeting on November 13. 

The workshop brought together researchers, technical experts, agriculture and extension officers, policymakers and farmers from SAARC member states, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. 

The forum’s key objective is to support the scaling up Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies to ensure sustainable agricultural growth and food security across the region. 

The event was organized by the Consortium for Scaling-up Climate-Smart Agriculture in South Asia (C-SUCSeS), a joint initiative between the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and SAARC Development Fund (SDF), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare, Republic of Maldives. 

In an effort to promote the uptake of CSA practices, the C-SUCSeS project introduced comprehensive training modules, video guides, and materials on ten key CSA technologies, as part of the project activities. 

These resources were developed with inputs from national focal points and regional experts from across the region and were validated by stakeholders during a workshop hosted by the SAC, IFPRI, and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) earlier this year. 

The training modules, including farmer’s guides and facilitator manuals, were officially launched by Dr. Aishath Rameela during the forum. 

Dr. Aishath Rameela, the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare of the Maldives, graced the event as the Chief Guest for the inauguration ceremony. In her address, Dr. Rameela highlighted the importance of cross-country collaboration in addressing the climate impacts on agriculture.

“This high-level policy forum offers a unique platform to align our strategies and policies for the future of climate-smart agriculture across South Asia. By working together, we aim to build a resilient agricultural sector that adapts to changing climates, ensures food security, and creates economic opportunities for our people,” said Dr. Rameela. 

She further emphasized the need for shared learning and evidence-based practices to empower smallholder farmers, who are the most vulnerable to climate change impacts. “By investing in resilient crop varieties, efficient water management practices, and sustainable soil management, we can foster a more productive and climate-resilient agricultural system,” she added. 

Ahmed Hassan Didi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Animal Welfare of the Maldives, also underscored the importance of fostering regional cooperation. “By encouraging policy alignment and fostering dialogue, we can build resilient agricultural ecosystems that support growth, food security, and sustainability,” he said. 

The Policy Forum covered key topics such as Creating a conducive policy environment for scaling up CSA in South Asia, Future directions for transforming agriculture in the region, The role of emerging technologies and big data in advancing CSA, Innovation hubs and agri-tech startups.