- From
-
Published on
18.12.24
The 9th CGIAR Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting, held on November 28, 2024, at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), continued the tradition of regular meetings in Bangladesh to assess progress, strengthen collaborations, and identify solutions for emerging agricultural challenges.
The event brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials such as Ms. Shaheen Akhter, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture; Mr. Andrio Drong, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock; and Mr. Md. Shahed Ali, Deputy Director, Department of Fisheries. Key government institutions like the Bangladesh Water Development Board and the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) were also represented.
Additionally, representatives from Bangladesh’s National Agricultural Research System (NARS), including the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), and Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute (BWMRI), participated in the discussions.
Chaired by Dr. Nazmun Nahar Karim, Executive Chairman of BARC, the meeting facilitated productive discussions on climate resilience, food security, and resource management.
Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR’s Executive Managing Director, opened the session virtually with remarks expressing gratitude to all stakeholders for their continued partnership. She highlighted CGIAR’s dedication to advancing Bangladesh’s agricultural development through its 2025-2030 Science and Innovation Portfolio.
Dr. Timothy J. Krupnik, CGIAR Country Convenor and CIMMYT Bangladesh Country Representative , followed with key insights on ongoing projects, highlighting achievements and outlining future directions for collaborative efforts. Representatives from CGIAR centers—including IRRI, IFPRI, WorldFish, CIP, IWMI, and ILRI—shared updates on CGIAR’s support to the Bangladesh Government, its partners, and other stakeholders.
The meeting highlighted the critical role of collaboration, innovation, and alignment with Bangladesh’s national priorities, uniting diverse expertise to address pressing challenges and develop impactful, sustainable solutions.
Key themes and focus areas
1. Adapting to Climate Challenges
Rising temperatures, GHG emissions, flood crises, and water management remain key concerns, highlighting the need for comprehensive climate responses. IRRI’s work on heat-tolerant rice varieties and low-carbon rice production has provided key solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation. CIMMYT has strengthened resilience through the development of heat-tolerant wheat varieties, crop diversification, and GHG mitigation strategies.
CIMMYT also provided rapid flood crisis support in Northwestern Bangladesh. Leveraging $1.5 million in USAID funding, CIMMYT assisted 2,500 farmers by improving access to winter seed production, rice transplantation, pest management, and training programs. These efforts ensured the swift recovery of flood-affected agricultural systems.
IWMI contributed technical expertise in integrated water resources management (IWRM) and climate-smart water and agriculture management. Discussions underscored the importance of greater government engagement, supported by civil society and the private sector, to enhance responses to climate-induced shocks and stresses.
2. Managing Water Resources and Pollution control
Water resource management emerged as a key priority, with discussions encouraging efforts to strengthen the role of research in addressing water pollution and improving irrigation practices. The importance of collaboration with institutions like IWMI was emphasized to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for cleaner water in agricultural production.
3. Enhancing Food Security and reducing Post-Harvest Losses
Bangladesh loses over 211 metric tons of food annually, reflecting the global trend where one-third of food produced goes to waste. Innovations led by CIP in cold storage for potatoes and by CIMMYT on onion storage solutions offer promising approaches to reduce post-harvest waste. IFPRI contributed evidence-based insights to enhance food security, emphasizing yield-enhancing technologies, higher-value crops, and targeted interventions to address challenges in food availability, access, and utilization. Participants emphasized expanding quality seed production and availability to boost food production and ensure food security while calling for research on food safety, particularly contaminants affecting consumption and exports
4. Strengthening Aquaculture and Livestock Systems
Advancements by WorldFish, including the development of the G3 Rohu which exhibits 30% faster growth and programs like EcoFish, were recognized for their significant contributions to aquaculture. Plans were shared to develop a project on fish safety, testing, and surveillance in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries. The discussions emphasized the need for stronger collaboration with national institutions to further advance research in aquaculture and livestock systems. Additionally, the importance of ILRI’s engagement in Bangladesh was highlighted to address gaps in livestock-related research and initiatives. Discussions also included expanding ILRI’s activities in Bangladesh to strengthen livestock development and research partnerships.
5. Technology Transfer and Capacity Building
CIMMYT’s work in scale-appropriate agricultural mechanization was recognized for enhancing productivity and efficiency by linking small-scale agricultural machinery to value chains and ensuring farmers have access to spare parts.
While past efforts were appreciated, discussions emphasized the need for a stronger focus on technology dissemination and capacity building. Expanding engagement with agricultural universities was highlighted as crucial for fostering research, developing students, and broadening capacity-building initiatives to support sustainable agricultural progress. There was also a call to advocate for more flexible funding from relevant ministries and donors to sustain training programs in Bangladesh.
The open discussion session brought forward valuable insights that enriched the meeting’s outcomes. Dr. Nazmun Nahar Karim, Executive Chairman of BARC, emphasized the importance of research priorities, stronger collaboration, and clear future directions for agricultural development in Bangladesh. Commending the contributions of CGIAR centers, she stated, “The efforts of CGIAR centers are invaluable in advancing sustainable and profitable agriculture in Bangladesh.”
Key Outcomes and Next Steps
The meeting concluded with several key outcomes:
- Acknowledgment of progress: CGIAR centers were recognized for aligning their work with Bangladesh’s national priorities, contributing to nutrition security, sustainable livelihoods, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Collaboration and partnership: The meeting underscored the value of the CGIAR Advisory Committee as a platform for aligning research, resources, and partnerships, fostering strategies to address challenges like climate resilience and resource management.
- Driving momentum forward: Participants were encouraged to build on the discussions and strengthen collaborations to achieve impactful outcomes.
- Gratitude for contributions: Appreciation was extended to presenters, heads of institutions, government departments, universities, and CGIAR representatives for their dedication and contributions to the meeting’s success.
- Commitment to sustainability: The closing remarks reinforced a collective pledge to work towards a brighter, more sustainable future for agriculture and food systems in Bangladesh.
A Shared Commitment to Progress
Reflecting on the discussions, Dr. Timothy J. Krupnik, CGIAR Country Convenor and CIMMYT Bangladesh Country Representative, emphasized CGIAR’s readiness to align efforts with government priorities. “It is essential that we conduct regular CAC meetings,” he stated, “to sustain momentum and for providing ongoing feedback and reflections to address emerging challenges effectively.”
The meeting concluded on a note of optimism, with participants reaffirming their shared commitment to advancing agricultural resilience, nutrition security, and sustainable development in Bangladesh. By fostering collaboration and aligning global research with local priorities, CGIAR and its partners continue to pave the way for a brighter future.