On June 29, 2025, a significant event titled “Sowing Sustainable Futures with Super-Crops” at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka. This event, which was part of the UNDP-supported LoGIC Project, celebrated the successful completion of an initiative designed to empower farmers and introduce climate-resilient crops like quinoa and chia into Bangladesh’s agricultural landscape. The event gathered a diverse group of stakeholders, including farmers from Khulna and Kurigram, agricultural experts, policymakers, and prominent figures in the development sector, all committed to building a more sustainable agricultural future.
The focus of the event was to showcase the remarkable progress made in empowering farmers through the LoGIC Project. The initiative, which targeted climate-vulnerable areas of Bangladesh, has been instrumental in introducing quinoa and chia cultivation as viable alternatives to traditional crops. These crops are not only nutritionally rich but are also resilient to the changing climate, making them ideal for the farming communities in areas prone to extreme weather events. The event highlighted the project’s efforts in training farmers on best practices for cultivating, harvesting, and preserving these super-crops, thus enabling them to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
The event also featured an esteemed group of speakers and distinguished guests who provided valuable insights on sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and market integration. Mr. Mohammad Fazla Azim, Joint Secretary, LGD, and National Project Director of the LoGIC Project, chaired the event. In his opening speech, he emphasized the need for continued collaboration between government bodies, academic institutions, and the private sector to scale up climate-resilient agricultural practices. Mr. A K M Azad Rahman, Project Coordinator of LoGIC, UNDP, delivered the keynote address, underscoring the critical role of climate-resilient crops in strengthening food security and economic resilience for farmers. Special Guest Professor Md. Abul Bashar, Treasurer of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, shared his thoughts on the importance of research and innovation in agriculture, while the Chief Guest, Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Latif, Vice-Chancellor of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, stressed the need for continued academic support and public-private partnerships to drive agricultural sustainability.
The event also featured two key panels that explored the future of climate-resilient crops in Bangladesh. The first panel, titled “Bridging the Gap – Strengthening Value Chains and Market Linkages through Private Sector Engagement,” included notable panelists such as Mr. Jyotish Talukdar, Program Specialist (Private Sector Partnerships, Strategy & Business Development, UNDP), Zawad Ul Karim, Assistant Manager at United Group, and Dr. Md. Abdullahil Baque, Chairman and Professor at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University and Delara Farooq, Head of Commercial, BD Dmart foodpanda. This discussion centered around the importance of strengthening market linkages and engaging the private sector to scale climate-resilient crops. The second panel, “From Innovation to Impact – Scaling Climate-Resilient Market Models through Policy and Institutional Pathways,” featured experts like Md. Azizullah Al Mahmud, Project Manager at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Sarah Jabeen Kristy, Assistant Director at AMAL Foundation, Mr. A K M Azad Rahman, Project Coordinator of LoGIC, UNDP and Dr. Parimal Kanti Biswas, Consultant at FAO. This panel addressed the role of policy and institutional frameworks in scaling these crops and integrating them into the market.
