Prof. Dr. K. Prathapan
Designation: Senior Consultant (ICT) || Organization: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare || Country: India
CIRDAP – Enabling Rural Communities
Designation: Senior Consultant (ICT) || Organization: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare || Country: India
CIRDAP -The Local Development Training Academy (LDTA), Nepal under the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA), Government of Nepal, organized the third event of CIRDAP’s project titled “Capacity Development of Elected Representatives and Officials to Implement Gender Responsive Budget (GRB) at Selected Local Governments in Nepal” at Gramthan Rural Municipality, Morang, Koshi Province, Nepal, from 8 to 9 May 2025. A total of 35 representatives participated in the training program, including 14 women and 21 men. Among them, 19 were elected representatives, and 16 were rural municipal staff. The GRB training program was addressed by Mr. Kanunlal Chaudhary, Executive Director of the Local Development Training Academy ( LDTA ), NepaL & coordinated by Mr. Jaya Krishna Shrestha, Director, LDTA, Nepal.
Designation: Senior Consultant (ICT) || Organization: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare || Country: India
Designation: Senior Consultant (ICT) || Organization: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare || Country: India
Designation: Senior Consultant (ICT) || Organization: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare || Country: India
CIRDAP is proud to have participated in the 7th International Scientific Conference on Food Safety and Health (ISCFSH), hosted by the Bangladesh Society for Safe Food (BSSF), convened on May 10, 2025, at the BARC Auditorium in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The inaugural session was graced by Farida Akhter, Honourable Adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock of Bangladesh, as the Chief Guest. The keynote address was delivered by HE. Dr. P. Chandra Shekara, Director General of the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP), focused on the urgent theme of “Climate-Resilient Food Security and Safety.” Emphasizing the urgent need to adapt our food systems to climate change, Dr. Shekara highlighted climate-smart agriculture, integrated farming, social safety nets, community-based solutions, and eco-friendly enterprises as key pathways forward. With agriculture at the heart of Bangladesh’s economy and food security, CIRDAP calls for stronger partnerships, increased investment in R&D, and greater farmer empowerment to build a sustainable, climate-resilient future. The conference was organised by Dr. Mohammad Sorwar Jahan, General Secretary of BSSF and Dr.Khaled Hossain, President, BSSF. The event brought together national and international experts, researchers, academicians, policymakers, and stakeholders to address the pressing challenges posed by climate change on food systems. #FoodSecurity #ClimateResilience #Bangladesh #CIRDAP #Agriculture #ISCFSH
An invitation to our next exciting webinar of the CIRDAP Knowledge (webinar) Series 2025 titled ‘’Secondary Agriculture: How to make a beginning – Policies, Programmes and innovations’Date and Time: Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 11 am (Astana, Dhaka) Bangladesh time HONORABLE SPEAKERDr. Ashok Dalwai,Agriculture ExpertChairman, Prime Minister Committee on Doubling of Farmers’ Income,Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India.IAS Officer (Retd.) To join the webinar https://zoom.us/j/93682735582?pwd=t7BDZby9VCs5Y3p1fWkMdPaYraO9yA.1 Meeting ID: 936 8273 5582Passcode: 019790
The agricultural world is evolving into a digital one. Digital agriculture is the integration of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Big Data into farming practices to revolutionize traditional agricultural methods. At its core, digital agriculture enables smart farming, where precision agriculture technologies are implemented to optimize planting, irrigation, and harvesting processes, thereby increasing efficiency and minimizing resource wastage. Automation and robotics further enhance modern agriculture by streamlining labour-intensive tasks, while blockchain technology ensures transparency and traceability across the supply chain. These innovations empower farmers with data-driven decision-making tools, predictive analytics for climate resilience, and mobile-based advisory services for real-time guidance. Additionally, digital agriculture strengthens market linkages through e-commerce platforms and blockchain-enabled supply chains. As the world faces evolving agricultural challenges ranging from climate change and resource constraints to food security and rural development. Indian Agriculture is also undergoing a revolutionary transformation, driven by digital innovation and smart technologies.Transformation through leveraging the digital tools in agriculture not only offers smart solutions that enhance productivity but also optimize resource use and improve resilience against environmental and economic uncertainties. Contract farming, when supported by effective data management, ensure transparency, optimize supply chains, and improve risk management. Real-time data on weather, production, and market trends enable both farmers and buyers to make informed decisions, ensuring fair pricing, quality control, and financial support. Digital technology is helping Indian farmers overcome marketing challenges by providing direct market access, real-time pricing, and reducing reliance on middlemen. Platforms like e-NAM, AgriBazaar, DeHaat, etc. enable direct access to markets, allowing farmers to by pass middlemen and secure I better prices for their produce. Real-time pricing data, mobile apps, and online logisticsplatforms provide transparency, reducing exploitation and minimizing post-harvest losses. Furthermore, digital solutions offer financial services, crop insurance, and expert advisory, empowering farmers with the knowledge and resources to improve productivity and build amore sustainable farming ecosystem. See the full brochure: Click Here
🌐 CIRDAP Knowledge Circuit Begins with NIRD&PR: A Cross-Learning Journey in Rural Development 🌱 We are thrilled to launch the CIRDAP Knowledge Circuit—a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and shared learning among our member countries! Our first stop is a special webinar hosted in collaboration with the National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR), Hyderabad, India—a globally renowned institution in rural development and a pioneer Link Institute of CIRDAP. 📌 Webinar DetailsTopic: Institutional Innovations in Rural Development: Policies to Practices – Learnings Honorable Speaker: Dr. G. Narendra Kumar, IAS, Director General, NIRD&PR Date: April 24, 2025Time:• 12:00 PM Bangladesh Time• 11:30 AM India Time Interested people can join. Here are the Zoom details:🔗 Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/99530433536?pwd=lahDXTb3amCAB4nw2VaXaZxXCxhyji.1📍 Meeting ID: 995 3043 3536🔑 Passcode: 175264 This exclusive webinar will spotlight:✔ The mission, mandate & structure of NIRD&PR✔ Key programmes and innovations in Integrated Rural Development✔ An engaging discussion with Heads of Link Institutions & TC 💡 The session will pave the way for a study-cum-exposure visit to NIRD&PR by the Heads of CIRDAP Link Institutions, fostering deeper collaboration and learning. 📢 Let’s build bridges of knowledge across borders!