CIRDAP knowledge series is going to organize the next webinar, ‘Empowering Smallholders: Seed System Innovation for Rural Growth’ is going to be held (Thursday), January 22, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Bangladesh time (10:30 a.m. India time). Dr. Swati Nayak, Scientist and South Asia Lead– Seed System and Product Management, Rice Breeding Innovation Department, CGIAR International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), will be joining as the distinguished specialist and speaker of the webinar. Click here to join the webinar https://zoom.us/j/94880692791?pwd=bdCMbPf5d5cP9zrcnSKWSEly6bO54d.1 Meeting ID: 948 8069 2791 Passcode: 497248 — Join instructions https://zoom.us/meetings/94880692791/invitations?signature=zRur88TmvD0BM-uVbz86XCULcJZy5349SJb4Q_-wR74 Mark Your Calendars! Your insights and participation would be highly valuable to this webinar.We would greatly appreciate it if you could also circulate this invitation within your network to help broaden the impact!

CIRDAP is commencing its webinar series under the Knowledge Series of 2026, and the webinar titled ‘’Non-Aligned Movement Centre for South-South Technical Cooperation (NAMCSSTC): key initiatives and contributions’ is going to be held on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Bangladesh time (12:00 p.m. Indonesia time). Honorable Ambassador DIAR NURBINTORO, S.H., M.H., Director, NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT CENTRE FOR SOUTH-SOUTH TECHNICAL COOPERATION (NAM CSSTC), Jakarta, Indonesia, will be graced as the speaker in the 1-hour webinar accompanying Mr. SYAFI SATYA SAKTI Assistant Director for the Programme of NAMCSSTC. Check out more detailed information about the NAMCSSTC at https://www.csstc.org/. Click here to join the webinar https://zoom.us/j/96399742930?pwd=82VJnX2Xawz9VOwbY8ICAwqBdqyUkD.1 Meeting ID: 963 9974 2930 Passcode: 120157 — Join instructions https://zoom.us/meetings/96399742930/invitations?signature=0CHf_AB-Wxd6ILxf-dgG0s-0V6dBbn6Vm2xeE_GC9cA Mark Your Calendars! Your insights and participation would be highly valuable to this webinar. We would greatly appreciate it if you could also circulate this invitation within your network to help broaden the impact!

The Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP), in partnership with the Rural Economic and Educational Development Society (REEDS), on Monday launched the India Regional edition of the CIRDAP–REEDS International Rural Development Innovation Challenge 2026 in Hyderabad. Anchored on the theme “One Innovation. Endless Change. Countless Smiles”, the initiative seeks to identify, recognise, and promote proven rural innovations that have demonstrated measurable impact at the grassroots level and possess potential for scale and replication across Asia and the Pacific. The event brought together policymakers, development practitioners, academicians, and civil society leaders from the rural development ecosystem. Panchayat Raj Minister D. Anusuya alias Seethakka, Bellampally MLA G. Vinod, G. Narendra Kumar, Director General, NIRDPR. Dr. P. Chandra Shekara, Director General, CIRDAP, and M. Ravindra Vikram, Chairman, REEDS were present. The Innovation Challenge will be supported by an international compendium of selected innovations and an International Conference proposed in Sri Lanka in June 2026. The programme concluded with an open-house discussion and media interaction, followed by a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Ravi K. Reddy, Secretary, REEDS. The CIRDAP–REEDS International Rural Development Innovation Challenge 2026, a joint initiative of CIRDAP and REEDS, invites practitioners, institutions, entrepreneurs, researchers, development professionals, and grassroots innovators to participate and showcase rural innovations with the potential for scale and replication.

Kenya’s Digital Evolution: A New Pathway for Agricultural Transformation in Asia and the Pacific. Kenya’s agricultural journey offers a powerful and timely lesson for Asia and the Pacific: The future of agriculture is no longer about another Green Revolution—it’s about a Digital Evolution. Driven by the Government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), Kenya is solving the long-standing “last mile” delivery challenge through mobile technology, decentralized governance, and an inclusive development model. At the heart of this transformation is the Quad Helix collaboration model—a dynamic partnership among government, research institutions, the private sector, and farmers. This integrated approach has accelerated progress in three critical domains:• Digital Ecosystems• Climate Resilience• Smart Market Access 🌍 Join Us for an Insightful Webinar on December 11, 2025Discover how Kenya’s digital-led approach is reshaping agricultural systems—and what Asia and the Pacific can learn to scale similar innovations. Date: Thursday, December 11, 2025Time: 12:00 p.m. Bangladesh time (9:00 a.m. Kenya time) Speaker NameAgnes Oywaya-Nkurumwa, PhDAssociate Professor of Agricultural ExtensionDepartment of Agricultural Education and ExtensionEgerton University, Kenya Click here to join: Time: Dec 11, 2025 12:00 PM DhakaJoin Zoom Meetinghttps://zoom.us/j/94554223603?pwd=F138cZFt56DXH2RnZa3PE0SCB7hkmd.1 Meeting ID: 945 5422 3603Passcode: 856427 https://zoom.us/meetings/94554223603/invitations?signature=AL1Nj0Q_gFycjQQOVhzXzdDO0qkg_6u7RjySkosGxZc Why Attend?• Gain firsthand insights into Kenya’s transformative policy framework and digital innovations• Understand how “last mile” solutions are being implemented at scale• Explore transferable lessons for rural development across Asia and the Pacific• Engage with experts working at the intersection of technology, policy, and agriculture

CIRDAP is delighted to announce the next session of its Knowledge Series, spotlighting a unique and influential regional platform: the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF). We are honored to welcome Ms. Arpana Pratap, Director of Blue Economy at PIDF, as the distinguished speaker. She will guide the audience through PIDF’s evolution, its vision of “A United, Distinctive and Sustainable Pacific Society,” and the organization’s impressive achievements in advancing green and blue economic transformation across the Pacific. Formally endorsed by Pacific Island Leaders at the 2012 “Engaging with the Pacific” meeting in Denarau, Fiji, PIDF was created to bring together leaders from key sectors to champion green economic policies across Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS). Since then, PIDF has launched a constellation of initiatives that continue to uplift rural, coastal, and marginalized communities. The webinar will explore several of PIDF’s hallmark programs, including Pacific Green Business Centre, Bamboo Initiative, Seaweed Initiative, Renewable Energy & Green Economy Capacity Building, Solar Heads of State and Blue Economy Initiatives etc. The Participants will gain insights into how these efforts have shaped sustainable livelihoods, empowered communities, and strengthened climate resilience across the islands. Join us to learn how PIDF continues to chart new pathways for a greener, more resilient Pacific future. Webinar Details Date: Thursday, 4 December 2025Time: 11:00 AM Bangladesh Time (5:00 PM Fiji Time) Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/97589934434?pwd=Ati7fvW38bPqtmJ8LDidYTWqFaCgnr.1 Meeting ID: 975 8993 4434 Passcode: 153333 — Join instructions https://zoom.us/meetings/97589934434/invitations?signature=HdmGaVLemRLdLec_9HPT-IZWbv8HkZlApGqXr4SRK6Q

The Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) is pleased to announce the renewal of its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Land Coalition Asia (ILC Asia) on 13 November 2025. ILC Asia, established in 2003 and headquartered in Rome, Italy, is the regional platform of the International Land Coalition—a global alliance of more than 300 organisations committed to people-centered land governance. The regional network comprises 64 civil society organisations across 15 countries, including farmers, Indigenous Peoples, pastoralists, women, and youth. Notably, 24 of these organisations directly represent 14 million people in their respective countries. Through this renewed collaboration, CIRDAP and ILC Asia will work together to: 🔹 Promote and scale up agrarian reforms, agricultural cooperatives, and farmers’ associations to strengthen equitable land tenureship and address climate vulnerabilities across Asia and the Pacific.🔹 Empower farmers and rural communities through cooperative-based development, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building.🔹 Jointly implement programmes, training, and workshops in alignment with the International Year for Women Farmers (2026) under the Decade of Family Farmers.🔹 Enhance information sharing, technical cooperation, and resource exchange to support rural transformation and sustainable livelihoods. The MoU was signed by FAM Zakirul Huq, Head of Administration, CIRDAP and Anu Verma, Regional Coordinator of ILC Asia. The ceremony was graced by the presence of HE. Dr. P. Chandra Shekara, Director General of CIRDAP and along with officials and representatives from both organizations. The partnership outlines clear responsibilities for both organisations, emphasizing technical support, training, cooperative development, knowledge sharing, and collaborative fundraising to drive impactful rural development initiatives across the region. Together, CIRDAP and ILC Asia reaffirm their shared commitment to advancing inclusive, sustainable, and resilient rural communities.

A stable and reliable egg supply is vital to every nation’s food security, especially as climate change and disease outbreaks threaten production. Join this webinar to explore insights from a recent study on which reveals how smarter henhouse design, better environmental control, and improved farm management can boost productivity, reduce mortality, and strengthen economic performance in Taiwan’s layer industry. Discover how upgrading farm infrastructure and adopting climate-adaptive strategies can build resilience and ensure a sustainable egg supply for the future. The webinar on ‘Scientific Poultry House Management: Taiwan Innovations and Learnings’ will be held on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Bangladesh time (1:00 p.m. Taiwan time). Dr. Shang-Ho Bruce Yang, Professor and Director, Graduate Institute and Bio-Industry Management; Professor, International Bachelor Program in Agribusiness and International Master Program in Agriculture; National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan will be embraced as the speaker. Join now: Topic: Webinar ‘Scientific Poultry House Management: Taiwan Innovations and Learnings’ Time: Nov 27, 2025 11:00 AM Dhaka Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/99737910172?pwd=P2WxsMWBVoInu8PJqQ2a3pJpweLcPR.1 Meeting ID: 997 3791 0172 Passcode: 525918 — Join instructions https://zoom.us/meetings/99737910172/invitations?signature=lKimTxREl-iDV4Ly5Yi2RDtQHOlD-mEZ0muU0l5oYj4

CIRDAP is pleased to announce its next exciting webinar of the CIRDAP Knowledge Series 2025 titled ‘Education and Entrepreneurship through Agriculture: The Taylor Schomaker Model’.  The 1-hour webinar will be held on (Thursday), 6 November 2025 at10:00 a.m. (Astana, Dhaka) Bangladesh time (12:00 a.m. /midnight, Michigan USA time) We are delighted to welcome Ms. Taylor Schomaker, Owner of Schomaker Farms, Michigan, USA, as the distinguished speaker for this webinar. Taylor Schomaker is the owner of Schomaker Farms, a revitalized century-old farm in Saginaw, Michigan. Alongside her husband, Ryan Schomaker, Taylor has transformed the farm into a thriving hub for diverse produce, livestock, and agritourism experiences. Holding a master’s degree in clinical nutrition, Taylor aspires to connect her passion for farming with nutrition education – helping people understand the essential link between how food is grown and lifelong health. She is passionate about hands-on agriculture, community education, and inspiring people, especially youth and urban residents—to reconnect with the roots of food production. Taylor is active in local agricultural organizations and is committed to making farming accessible, engaging, and sustainable for future generations. Join us to hear the inspiring journey and real-life experiences of a successful woman farmer who embodies the spirit of innovation and education in agriculture! Click here to join the webinar https://zoom.us/j/98265789068?pwd=bMr6ajSUj2wdWsd8AEtW4a7CaBGtut.1 Meeting ID: 982 6578 9068 Passcode: 149967 — Join instructions https://zoom.us/meetings/98265789068/invitations?signature=jZEuALeV8WlbfJQp9Ap6b2Kyz2mo2JUh1Qz4nrLRPgk