Day 1
Date: 26 July
Asia-Pacific Right to Food and Agrifood System Conference (APRAC) 2023 has convened today with a grand participation of more than 600 people from various backgrounds accumulating national members of Right to Food Bangladesh and international representatives across the Asia-Pacific countries like Nepal, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Australia both at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
APRAC has taken place during a time when efforts to combat hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition in all of its forms are being impeded by the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, ecological crisis, and inequality.
Asia and the Pacific Region has the world’s largest population representing more than half of the planet, around 4.68 billion people and Asia also represents more than half of the world’s undernourished people about 425 million (The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022, FAO). The people of Bangladesh also experience hunger and moderate or severe food insecurity amidst the disrupted supply chains, inflation, global grain, fertilizer and energy price hike. In the 2022 Global Hunger Index, Bangladesh ranks 84th out of the 121 countries with a score of 19.6, that is classified as moderate hunger. Please find the details concept note of APRAC 2023 here.
In light of this, Right to Food Bangladesh Network has collaborated with other Civil Society Organizations in the region to organize a two-day long event on the 26th and 27th of July, 2023 to shape existing agrifood systems and their governance to be more equitable, sustainable, and climate resilient, as well as to promote the right to adequate food for all. These two days conference will also analyze the legal and policy framework for implementing the ‘Right to Food,’ promoting multi-stakeholderism, and raising the voice of small-scale family farmers. In brief, the prime objective of the conference is to shape existing agrifood systems and its governance to be more equitable, sustainable, climate resilient and promote the right to adequate food for all.
Inaugural Ceremony:
In the inaugural ceremony, Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, MP, Honorable Speaker, Bangladesh National Parliament, was present as the Chief Guest and she inaugurated the conference. M. A. Mannan, MP, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Planning, Government of Bangladesh, graced the ceremony as a Special Guest while Dr. Kazi Koliquzzaman Ahmad, Chairman, Right to Food Bangladesh and PKSF presided over the inaugural ceremony.
Professor Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman, Vice Chancellor, University of Dhaka; Sanjeev Karn, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Nepal; Ramesh Singh, Country Director, CARE Bangladesh were present as the Guests of Honor.
The conference was unveiled with the welcome speech of Mr. Mohsin Ali, General Secretary, Right to Food Bangladesh & Executive Director, WAVE Foundation. He welcomed everyone and addressed the context behind APRAC 2023. The Chief Guest appraised the initiative as well as emphasized on the importance of building a sustainable agrifood system. Honorable Minister, M. A. Mannan, MP, followed by the Guests of Honor wished this conference great success to move forward in realizing the right to food and nutrition as well as a sustainable agrifood system through their valuable speech.
Plenary Session-1
The first session after the inaugural ceremony was plenary session od the first day of this conference which was devoted to the discussion on a special topic titled “Legal framework & Fundamental Concerns on Right to Food in Asia-Pacific Region”. The session had two keynote speakers, first presented by Professor Dr. M. M. Akash, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka and following him Mr. Farooq Tariq, General Secretary, Rabita Committee, Pakistan presented his keynote paper who joined through online platform. This session was also attended by international delegates as panelist both in person and online. Mr. Balaram, Former Food Security Advisor to the Supreme Court of India, Right to Food India, Mr. Bidur Subedi, National Alliance for Human Rights & Social Justice, Nepal and Ms. Atty. Joy Angelica Doctor, Searice, Philippine were present as the panelists of the session. Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Chairman, RtF BD & Chairman, PKSF was present as Chair & Moderator of the session. The session focused on the crisis, legal framework, its connection with social justice and recommendations. All the eminent panelists of the session addressed the legalization and fundamental concerns accumulating factors of Right to Food in the Asia and the Pacific region.
Technical Session-1
While the plenary session was happening in the auditorium the technical session took place in a parallel manner in three other places adjacent to the auditorium. The 1st Technical session on Small and marginal farmers’ rights in the Asia-Pacific region to promote Zero Hunger’ held at Special Seminar Room of Senate Bhaban, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh on 26th July 2023 organized by Right to Food Bangladesh. Mr. Abdul Awal, Member, National Committee of RtF BD & Executive Director, NRDS led the event as the Chair and Moderator. Besides, Seema Luitel, WHH Program Manager and Head of Advocacy, Sandeep Chachra, Country Director, ActionAid India, Zayed Iqbal Khan, General Secretary, Bangladesh Krishok Federation, Monir Ahmed from Kendrio Krishok Moitree and Pavel Partha, Director, BARCIK were present as the panelists of the session. Dr. Ganga Acharya, Senior Program Specialist (PSPD), SAARC Agriculture Centre, Dhaka attended at the event as the Keynote Speaker. The speakers of the session basically emphasized on promoting zero hunger in Asia-Pacific region. This session had a specific spotlight on the small holders and marginal farmers’ development to promote zero hunger. It also added that the small holding farming shows higher level of productivity while the existing challenges are obstructing to achieve zero hunger.
Technical Session-2
The 2nd Technical session on ‘The impact of climate vulnerabilities on the agrifood system and food security’ held at Committee Room of Senate Bhaban, University of Dhaka, organized by Right to Food Bangladesh. Dr. A Atiq Rahman, Executive Director, Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) attended the session as the Chair and Moderator. Besides, Jib Nath Sharma, Senior Manager, Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security & Resilient Livelihood, CARE Nepal, Professor Dr. Susanto Das, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh, Dr. Md. Shahid Uz Zaman, Founder Executive Director, Eco-Social Development Organization, Abul Kalam Azad, Head of Program, Cordaid Bangladesh and Shamiran Birswas, Lead Agriculturist, Dr. Chasi (AI) Project, Madina Tech were present as the panelist of the session. Pramesh Pokharel, Member, International Coordination Committee of LVC, South Asia attended the session as the keynote speaker. The speakers of the session basically emphasized on the impact of climate vulnerabilities on the agrifood system and food security’ region. It also validated the fact about existing and upcoming climate vulnerabilities and its impact throughout the system of agrifood and food security. The discussion shed a light on the balance of ecological and environmental safety, climate justice with the statement of initiatives taking place in Bangladesh.
Technical Session-3
The 3rd Technical session on ‘Right to Food and Social Protection in South Asia –A Policy Mapping Study and Gap Analysis’ held at the Main Hall Auditorium of Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh on day one of APRAC 2023 organized by WAVE Foundation. Ram Das, Deputy Country Director-Programs, CARE Bangladesh led the session as the Chair and Moderator. Besides, Mohammad Khaled Hasan, Joint Secretary, Cabinet Division, Government of Bangladesh and Dr. Jagat Bahadur Basnet, founding member of the Community Self-reliance Centre (CSRC) have shared their opinion online as panelists. Mohsin Ali, General Secretary RtF BD and Executive Director, WAVE Foundation emphasized on brining small holders under Social Protection Programs. International delegate Balaram, Ex. Food Security Advisor to the Supreme Court of India, Right to Food India shed light on the implementation of the policies on Right to Food and Social Protection. Anowarul Haq, Assistant Resident Representative, UNDP Bangladesh urged bringing all levels of people from both urban and rural area under social safety net. To present the keynote paper in this session, Dr. Asif Mohammad Shahan, Asociate Professor, Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka graced the role.
Technical Session-4
The 4th Technical session on ‘Effect of Food System in Nutrition Security’ held at Special Seminar Room of Senate Bhaban, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh on 26th July 2023 organized by Welthungerhilfe, FIVDB and CAB. Badal Chandra Biswas, Director General, Department of Agricultural Extension graced the session as the Chief Guest where Pankaj Kumar, Country Director, Welthungerhilfe, Bangladesh led the event as the Chair and Moderator. Besides, Prof. Dr. M. Shamsul Alam, Senior Vice President, Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) and Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Daffodil International University, Dr. Razu Ahmed, Deputy Secretary and Component Director, Department of Agriculture Marketing (DAM), Bangladesh, Jib Nath Sharma, Senior Manager, Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security & Resilient Livelihood, CARE Nepal, Bazle Mustafa Razee, Executive Director, Friends In Village Development (FIVDB), Bangladesh were present as the panelist of the session. Md. Mamunur Rashid, Head of Project, Welthungerhilfe, Bangladesh, attended at the event as the keynote speaker. The panelists of the session enforced few significant factors on making an effective food system including the participation of young people, consumer behavior, effective nutrition plan etc.
Technical Session-5
The 5th Technical session on ‘Transforming agrifood system and its governance for realizing the Right to Food’ on APRAC 2023 organized by Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) was led by the eminent Professor Dr. Mahmudul H. Sumon, Dept. of Anthropology, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, as the Chair and Moderator. Dr. Mirella C Gavidia, Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA) attended at the event as the keynote speaker where she mentioned about the pressing challenges on the transformation and governance of Agrifood System. Besides, Dr. Kiran Rupakhetee, Joint Secretary, National Planning Commission, Nepal, S. M. Badrul Alam, President, Bangladesh Krishok Federation, joined as panelists emphasizing the key factors of initiating the process of Transforming Agrifood System to realize the Right to Food.
The first day of APRAC ended with a successful note with an effective set of discussions, recommendations and it accumulated people from different strata. APRAC is set for the second day to make the discussions as impactful as possible to bring a light into the journey of transforming agrifood system in Aisa and the Pacific region.
