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.

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

CIRDAP in collaboration with the University of Cooperative and Management, Thanlyin (UCMT), Myanmar, is going to organize an insightful and enriching webinar on the role of cooperatives in sustainable rural development. For over 69 years, the Mulkanoor Cooperative Rural Credit and Marketing Society Ltd. (MCRC&MS) has evolved into a holistic network providing solutions, resources, and support for farmers—championing equity, transparency, and sustainable growth. (https://mcrcms.coop/). This session will explore how Mulkanoor Cooperative has transformed the lives of millions of farmers, created enriched livelihood and social opportunities while building a resilient cooperative ecosystem. Speaker:🎙️ Shri AligiReddy Praveen Reddy,President–Chairman, Mulkanoor Cooperative Rural Credit and Marketing Society Ltd., Mulkanoor Village, India. Date & Time:Monday, October 16th, 2025 11:00 AM Bangladesh Time | 11:30 AM Myanmar Time | 10:30 AM India Time Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/92019815462?pwd=lQ37vSxXEAoZWnFxMMW2Wxxn1ad4Ed.1 Meeting ID: 920 1981 5462 Passcode: 261179 Join instructions https://zoom.us/meetings/92019815462/invitations?signature=TgeDrQ2jflv-3O7Jdu4dJ2n-hWC0HToNPmLgQVGa5kw We look forward to your active participation in this valuable exchange of ideas and experiences.

CIRDAP is going to organize a webinar on ‘Strengthening Grassroots rural innovations: Experiences, Challenges and Future road map’ on September 1st, 2025. Grassroots rural innovations are locally-led solutions to the community problems by using limited resources with traditional knowledge. These innovations are typically developed by individuals or small groups in marginalized communities, focusing on meeting local needs and enhancing social and economic well-being. The webinar will be held on (Monday), 1 September 2025 at 12:00 PM Bangladesh Time (11:30 AM India Time). Prof. Anil K. Gupta CSIR Bhatnagar Fellow 2018-2, Honorary Secretary GIAN, Founder, Honey Bee Network, SRISTI, GIAN & NIF Visiting Faculty, IIMA & IITB, Academy Professor, AcSIR will be embraced the webinar as the esteemed speaker. Join this exciting and very important webinar via zoom Topic: Webinar on ‘Strengthening Grass root rural innovations: Experiences, Challenges and Future road map’ Time: Sep 1, 2025 12:00 PM Astana, Dhaka https://zoom.us/j/91860765349?pwd=AwIA02ebOoCP42TxAXsnPHajUkgfO3.1 Meeting ID: 918 6076 5349 Passcode: 506716 — Join instructions https://zoom.us/meetings/91860765349/invitations?signature=XXvA9GOfq295epksW7hUvqNh3W_oxw9oS40dR0JxrOw

On 11 August 2025, CIRDAP warmly welcomed Mr. Mahbubul Islam, Secretary of the Bangladesh Biochar Initiative (BBI), and Dr. Shaifulla, Adviser (Research) of BBI, for a courtesy visit and meeting with CIRDAP Director General H.E. Dr. P. Chandra Shekara. The discussions explored opportunities for collaboration in advancing biochar technology, promoting sustainable agriculture, and supporting climate-resilient rural development in the Asia-Pacific region.

As part of the CIRDAP-NIRDPR research project titled “Action Lab for the Inclusion of Transgender and Gender-Variant Youth in Mainstream Livelihood”, a three-day training programme was held from 28th to 30th July 2025 at the Lions Club, Pollachi, Tamil Nadu. The initiative was jointly organized by the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP), and the Sahodari Foundation, India. This hands-on training focused on equipping rural transgender individuals with skills in coconut shell handicraft, including the creation of kitchen tools, jewellery, and decorative artefacts. The programme aimed to promote economic empowerment and self-employment opportunities for transgender persons through sustainable livelihoods rooted in rural craft traditions.District Social Welfare Officer, NABARD officials,attended as the guests of honour and commended the participants for their creativity and dedication, and assured them of continued government support for such inclusive livelihood initiatives.Sandhya Gopakumaran, Director of Training and Development at NIRDPR, Hyderabad, emphasized that the programme represents a significant step toward enabling transgender individuals to attain financial independence through skill-based entrepreneurship. Kalki Subramaniam, founder and director of the Sahodari Foundation, was also present, supporting the vision of social inclusion and empowerment through skill development.

DG CIRDAP Courtesy Meeting with FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative in Bangkok, Thailand The Director General of CIRDAP, H.E. Dr. P. Chandra Shekara had a courtesy meeting with Dr. Alue Dohong, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, at the FAO Regional Office in Bangkok, Thailand on 24 July 2025. The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between FAO and CIRDAP, with fruitful discussions on ongoing programs and potential areas of partnership to advance sustainable rural development across the Asia-Pacific region.

CIRDAP, in collaboration with Network for the Development of Agricultural Cooperatives (NEDAC), proudly inaugurated the International Training Programme on “Startups, Technology, Entrepreneurship and Partnerships for Vibrant Agri Cooperatives” from 21–23 July 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. The opening session featured insightful remarks by Dr. P. Chandra Shekara, Director General of CIRDAP, and Mr. Manoj Kumar Bansal, Deputy Managing Director (Finance) of National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). This dynamic event brings together 18 distinguished representatives from CIRDAP member countries—including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines, and the Republic of Korea—to explore innovative approaches that strengthen agricultural cooperatives across the Asia-Pacific region.