This site uses cookies, as explained in our terms of use. If you consent, please close this message and continue to use this site.
2 mins Read
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) organised a multi-stakeholder consultation meeting in collaboration with the Khagrachari Hill Development Council (KHDC) in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh on 26 October, 2015, under the AdaptHimal Initiative (Livelihoods and ecosystem services in the Himalayas: Enhancing adaptive capacity and resilience of the poor to climate and socioeconomic changes). ICIMOD is implementing AdaptHimal in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Myanmar in collaboration with national partners, and is financially supported by the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD). In Bangladesh, the project’s focus is on building capacity of institutions to support sustainable and inclusive transformations in shifting cultivation.
The objective of the meeting was to conduct a rapid context and need assessment for planning interventions in Sindukchari union of Khagrachari district with the stakeholders. About 30 participants, including representatives from the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (MoCHTA), KHDC, line departments, Sindukchari Upazilla and Union Parishad, Sinduckchari villages, Bangladesh Agriculture Research nstitute (BARI), Zabrang Kalyan Samity, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and ICIMOD attended the meeting organised at KHDC.
In the inaugural session, Suman Bisht and Dhrupad Choudhury welcomed the participants and introduced ICIMOD and AdaptHimal initiative, followed by the joint secretary MoCHTA, and the acting chairperson of KHDC, who shared their views to set the context of the meeting.
Md Abdur Rahman Tarafder, Executive Officer, KHDC, commenced the second session with a comprehensive presentation on KHDC programmes in Khagrachari. Thereafter, the organisers carried out a rapid context and need assessments through group work and plenary discussions. Participants divided across three groups – Sindukchari local, Sindukchari Upazilla and Khagrachari district – reflected on three questions:
Participants suggested various interventions across agriculture, livestock and fisheries, inclusive of capacity building activities, assistance in developing market linkages and on-farm and off-farm opportunities, to help diversify income generation activities and increase income of the Sindukchari people. Other avenues suggested were Participatory Forest Management (PFM), development and operationalisation of farmer’s producer groups, and strengthening of local institutions, infrastructure and facilities towards
With regard to improving food security in Jhum, participants suggested awareness raising and capacity building activities for the Jumma people — indigenous people of Chittagong Hill Tracts, who practice Jhum cultivation (slash and burn agriculture) — on improved cultivation practices on hill slopes, crop fertilisation techniques and increased opportunities for pisciculture. Participants also suggested organisation of exposure visits for farmers for experiential learning opportunities.
In conclusion, the participants suggested development of a thorough understanding of location specific requirements, prioritisation of activities to address local farmer’s needs and aspirations and development of a sustainable, long-term monitoring solution.
Share
Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.
Related Contents
Encouraged by this result, the Himalica initiative sought collaboration with the Sustainable Agriculture and Production Linked to Improved Nutrition Status, ...
The conventional approach of using temperature index models for modelling glacier ablation requires few input variables and relies on simple ...
The SAARC region is one of the most densely populated and ecologically vulnerable regions in the world housing more than 40 percent ...
Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (KSLCDI) participated in the Fifth International Herbal Trade Fair held in Bhopal, India, ...
Speaking at the inaugural session of the event, Dila Ram Bhandari, Director General of the Department of Agriculture (DoA), said, ...
The Kangchenjunga Landscape (KL) spreads over an area of 25,085.8 sq.km that is home to 7.2 million people. Nepal covers ...
‘Agricultural Water, Energy and Hazard Management in the Upper Indus Basin for Improved Livelihood’, a special project in Upper Hunza, ...