Seminar stresses measures to face climate change fallout on farming

Saarc member states should prepare a list of insect-resistant crop varieties and share information and genetic material with one another to face the challenges of food security and climate change, the concluding session of a two-day seminar in Dhaka was told yesterday.
The participants in the seminar also recommended setting up a centre in Dhaka to study the issues relating to clinical trial of biotechnology products, which will help boost pharmaceuticals in the region.
“The problems and concerns over agriculture are identical in nature to the Saarc nations. These can only be addressed through regional cooperation,” Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said.
The Ministry of Science and ICT organised the programme on three topics -- insect resistant crop varieties, current good manufacturing practices in the pharmaceutical sector in the regional bloc and radiation processing.
Speaking at the closing of the two-day Saarc seminar at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novotheatre, Matia stressed the need for integration of resources, sharing knowledge and experience, exchange of new technologies and scientific materials and human resources between the member states to fight the impacts on climate change and ensure food security.
She said development efforts in South Asia have become more challenging as the region suffers from high population density, lower productivity and poverty, with global climate change making the situation more daunting.
South Asians will be the most affected due to climate change, in terms of inundation, sea level rise, salinity and drought, the minister said, suggesting capacity building in research, development, extension and related infrastructure.
“It requires a collective approach and resources at national, regional and international level. We have expertise available in the Saarc countries to formulate actionable policy to face the problem of climate change,” she said.
To foster regional cooperation, the seminar also put forward suggestions like identifying the strains of major insects of major crops through utilising the facilities available in the member-countries.
Recommendations for exchange of scientists and pharmacists also came at the seminar.
State Minister for Science and ICT Yeafesh Osman also spoke on the occasion.