The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), Dhaka, Bangladesh, have discussed strengthening institutional collaboration and agricultural cooperation among South Asian countries, with a focus on research partnerships, scientific exchanges and capacity building.
The discussions took place on October 8, 2026, in New Delhi, when Dr Md Golam Mahboob, Director of SAC, met Dr N.P. Singh, Assistant Director General (International Relations), ICAR.
The meeting explored several areas of potential cooperation, including germplasm exchange, PhD scholarships and fellowships for agricultural scientists, joint capacity-building programmes and coordinated training calendars. The participants also discussed identifying regional funding opportunities, including support through the SAARC Development Fund, to facilitate collaborative agricultural research and development initiatives.
A key outcome of the deliberations was the proposal to prepare an action matrix to guide future cross-country agricultural projects and joint initiatives. Such a framework would help identify priority areas, organise collaborative activities and strengthen institutional mechanisms for cooperation among SAARC member states.
Germplasm exchange emerged as one of the important areas discussed, reflecting the scope for greater scientific collaboration in agricultural research. The proposed academic exchanges, scholarships and fellowships could also facilitate interaction among agricultural scientists, promote knowledge sharing and strengthen research capabilities across the region.
The participants further emphasised coordinated training programmes and capacity-building initiatives as potential instruments for improving scientific cooperation. Aligning training calendars could help institutions plan joint activities more effectively and encourage wider participation by researchers and agricultural professionals from member countries.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of exploring regional funding avenues to support collaborative projects. The SAARC Development Fund was identified as one possible source of support for initiatives aimed at advancing agricultural cooperation across South Asia.
The meeting was chaired by Dr N.P. Singh and attended by Dr Md Golam Mahboob, along with other senior officials. The interaction reaffirmed the commitment of ICAR and SAC to strengthening institutional partnerships, agricultural research collaboration and knowledge exchange across the region.
The engagement assumes significance in the context of shared agricultural challenges and the potential for regional cooperation in research, scientific training and the exchange of agricultural resources. By exploring structured collaboration and joint projects, the two institutions aim to reinforce connections among agricultural research organisations across SAARC member states.
While the discussions covered several prospective areas of cooperation, the proposed action matrix is expected to provide a framework for guiding future collaborative activities and translating the deliberations into coordinated initiatives.
