The Launching Workshop of Smallholder Adaptive Farming and Biodiversity Network (SAFBIN) were held on November 12, 2018 at Darbar Hall, Nanking, Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The project is being implemented in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. Most. Rev. Gervas Rozario, STD, DD Bishop of Rajshahi Diocese and President of Caritas Bangladesh chaired the auspicious event while Dr. Akram H. Chowdhury, (Ex, MP), Honorable Chairman of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority, BMDA, Rajshahi, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh was present as the Chief Guest and Mr. Francis Atul Sarker, Executive Director, Caritas Bangladesh, Dr. M. Monzur Hossain, Professor, Botany Department, Rajshahi University, Kbd. SM. Mostafizur Rahman, Addition Director, Department of Agricultural Extension, Rajshahi Region & Director of Board of Director, RAKUB and Ms. Amrita Rejina Rozario, Country Director, Caritas Switzerland, Country Office, Bangladesh were present as Special guests. Govt. officials and Scientists from Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock, BARI, BRRI; academics from University of Rajshahi and Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh were present in the workshop as guests. Moreover, General and Executive Board members of Caritas Bangladesh, Regional Planning & Evaluation Committee (RPEC) members of Caritas Rajshahi Region, representatives from different NGOs and staff of Caritas Central, Regional and Filed offices also participated in the program.
“Caritas Bangladesh works for the development of all people as well as development of whole human beings. The SAFBIN project will work to ensure food and nutritional sovereignty of poor, marginalized and smallholder farmers” said the Chairperson of the event Most Rev. Gervas Rozario, STD, DD He also mentioned that the Govt. of Bangladesh as well as Caritas Bangladesh will try to create various types of opportunities for the smallholder farmers. “I am very happy to know about the initiatives of Caritas Bangladesh in the field of agriculture for the smallholder farmers,” said the Chief Guest Dr. Akram H. Chowdhury. He suggested taking initiatives to increase involvement of women and youth to ensure their employment in agriculture. He also committed to engage himself in the initiatives of Caritas Bangladesh closely in future. The scientists, researchers, academics, government officials present in the program shown their keen interest get themselves involved with the project interventions to achieve the project objectives.
