SL to put rural innovation in the Asia-Pacific spotlight
BY Prof A L Sandika CIRDAP-HARTI conference to bring together researchers, policymakers and rural innovators from across the region Sri Lanka will take centre stage in the Asia-Pacific’s search for new solutions to rural development when Colombo hosts an international conference bringing together researchers, policymakers and innovators from across the region from 7 to 9 October. The “Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) – the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI) Asia-Pacific Conference on Innovations in Rural Development”, jointly organised by the CIRDAP and the HARTI, will provide a platform for sharing practical ideas and innovations aimed at building more resilient, inclusive and sustainable rural communities. Participants from countries across the CIRDAP region are expected to attend. The conference comes at a time when rural communities across Asia and the Pacific are confronting a range of challenges, including climate change, changing markets, food security concerns and the need to create new livelihood opportunities. Against this backdrop, the event will highlight how research, technology, entrepreneurship and community knowledge can be transformed into practical solutions for rural development. A longstanding regional partnership The conference also reflects the longstanding relationship between CIRDAP and HARTI. Sri Lanka hosted the 27th CIRDAP Technical Meeting in 2012, while the two organisations have also collaborated on initiatives including an International Collaborative Forum on Strengthening Food Safety Standards in 2018 and a number of CIRDAP-supported training programmes. CIRDAP is a regional inter-Governmental organisation established in 1979. Headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh, it brings together 15-member countries, including Sri Lanka, to promote integrated rural development through cooperation, knowledge sharing and institutional strengthening. For HARTI, the conference provides an opportunity to further strengthen its role in connecting research and evidence with policy and practical action at the community level. SL hosts regional showcase of innovation The conference will feature rural innovations from countries including Iran, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Pakistan, the Philippines, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR). The initiatives demonstrate the diversity of approaches being used across the region to address rural development challenges. Among the innovations are initiatives focused on digital agriculture, climate-smart livelihoods, circular economy solutions, sustainable fisheries, agricultural value chains, food security and community-based enterprises. Sri Lankan innovations will also feature prominently. These include the “Walking Cooler”, a low-cost, zero-energy mobile cold-storage solution, as well as initiatives involving village bio factories, the conversion of construction and demolition waste into rural roads, and environmentally friendly banana-leaf packaging. Together, these initiatives demonstrate that innovation in rural development is not limited to sophisticated technology. Many solutions emerge from local knowledge, community participation and the creative use of available resources. Honouring ideas that can change rural lives A key feature of the conference will be the CIRDAP – Rural Economic and Educational Development Society (REEDS) International Rural Development Innovation Challenge of this year (2026), which recognises innovative approaches to addressing rural development challenges across the Asia-Pacific region. The conference will also mark the launch of Seeds of Change: Innovations in Rural Development Across Asia and the Pacific, a publication highlighting selected rural innovations and the people and communities behind them. The publication will be launched as part of the inaugural and award ceremony on 7 October in Colombo, which will also feature reflections by innovation award winners and the recognition of outstanding initiatives. Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya is scheduled to attend the ceremony as the chief guest. The Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister, K D Lal Kantha and the Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Minister, Dr Upali Pannilage are scheduled to attend as guests of honour. From research to rural action Beyond showcasing innovations, the conference is intended to encourage dialogue on how successful ideas can be supported, adapted and taken to a wider scale. The “CIRDAP-HARTI Knowledge Circuit Dialogue on Sri Lanka” will bring together senior officials, researchers, private-sector representatives, academics and other stakeholders to examine the country’s rural development policies, institutions, achievements and emerging opportunities. A high-level discussion will focus particularly on collaboration among stakeholders in promoting rural entrepreneurship. Connecting knowledge with communities For Sri Lanka, hosting the conference is more than an opportunity to showcase local innovations. It is also a chance to learn from experiences across the Asia-Pacific and strengthen regional cooperation on some of the most pressing challenges facing rural communities. The CIRDAP-HARTI Asia-Pacific Conference on Innovations in Rural Development CIRDAP, in collaboration with HARTI, will convene the CIRDAP-HARTI Asia-Pacific Conference on Innovations in Rural Development and CIRDAP Knowledge Circuit Dialogue on Sri Lanka from 7 to 9 October in Colombo. Bringing together policymakers, Government representatives, researchers, development practitioners, innovators, private-sector actors, the academia and other stakeholders from across 13 countries of Asia and the Pacific, the three-day programme will provide a regional platform to showcase practical innovations, exchange knowledge and explore collaborative approaches to strengthening rural livelihoods and accelerating sustainable rural transformation. The conference will open on 7 October in Colombo, with an inaugural ceremony graced by Dr Amarasuriya as the chief guest. Lal Kantha and Dr Pannilage will attend as guests of honour. Senior officials from the relevant Ministries, CIRDAP Member Countries, HARTI and other partner institutions will attend this programme. A major highlight of the inaugural session will be the presentation of Awards to 18 selected Innovators of the CIRDAP-REEDS International Rural Development Innovation Challenge 2026 by the Premier, along with the unveiling of the publication ‘Seeds of Change: Innovations in Rural Development Across Asia and the Pacific’. The innovators awardees represent from 13 CIRDAP Member countries – Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. From local innovation to regional learning Following the inaugural ceremony, the conference will feature technical sessions where the selected innovators will present their solutions and engage in discussions with Government representatives and participants from CIRDAP Member Countries of the Asia-Pacific region. The innovations to be presented include: Mozhdeh Ketabi (Iran) – From land consolidation to local branding through capacity
