The Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) have begun discussions on a potential partnership aimed at expanding climate-smart agriculture, strengthening food security, and creating rural employment opportunities in Bangladesh.

The discussions took place at PKSF Bhaban in Agargaon on Monday, where PKSF Managing Director Md. Fazlul Kader met a CIMMYT delegation led by Bangladesh Country Representative Owen Calvert.

During the meeting, CIMMYT outlined its contributions to Bangladesh's agricultural development over the past four decades, highlighting efforts to boost wheat and maize production through improved germplasm, high-yielding and climate-resilient crop varieties, disease management, and sustainable farming practices.

The organization also showcased a range of innovations currently being implemented across the country, including conservation agriculture techniques such as minimum- and zero-tillage farming, intercropping systems, post-harvest loss reduction initiatives, farmer-led "Living Libraries," and carbon trading projects based on Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) technology.

Other initiatives include the use of automated weather forecasting applications designed for farmers and the promotion of agricultural mechanization to improve productivity and reduce production costs.

According to CIMMYT, these interventions have helped increase food grain production, raise farmers' incomes, and improve the resilience of Bangladesh's agricultural sector in the face of climate change and resource constraints.

Both organizations said there is significant potential to expand these initiatives through collaboration, particularly in areas related to sustainable agriculture, rural entrepreneurship, job creation, and food and nutrition security.

PKSF and CIMMYT expressed their intention to identify specific areas of cooperation in the coming months and work jointly to scale up agricultural innovations that can enhance farmers' livelihoods while contributing to Bangladesh's broader economic growth and long-term food security goals.

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