By Md. Atikur Rahman from Rajshahi
To mark World Food Day 2026, a Safe Food and Agroecology Fair was held at the Talukdharmapur Agroecology Learning Centre in Talukdharmapur, Paba Upazila, Rajshahi, on 16 October, 2026. The event was organized by the Talukdharmapur Women’s Development Organisation, BARCIK and Green Coalition, the fair carried the theme “Local Seeds, Nature-Friendly Farming for a Nutritious Future.”
The fair featured exhibitions on safe food, local seeds, agricultural biodiversity and organic pest management. It highlighted the importance of expanding environment friendly farming practices, conserving local seeds, sharing farmers’ experiences and building a safe and nutritious food system.
The organizers emphasized that sustainable food systems require stronger support for farmers’ innovations, rural women’s knowledge, local seed conservation and nature-based farming practices. They expressed hope that the initiative would raise awareness and strengthen cooperation among farmers, young people and consumers.
In line with the World Food Day 2026 theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” the organizers called for greater recognition of safe food, agricultural biodiversity and agroecology as essential foundations for future food security.
Shilpi Khatun, supervisor of the Talukdharmapur Agroecology Learning Centre, said, “We are preserving local agricultural biodiversity by collecting, conserving and exchanging indigenous seeds. These seeds are our resources and rights. Protecting them is essential for ensuring future generations’ food security and farmers’ self-reliance. Legal recognition of women farmers and agroecology-based agricultural policies are also urgently needed.” Mosammat Rakiba Khatun, an agroecology practitioner, said, “We produce safe food by growing diverse vegetables and using organic pest management. These practices help ensure family nutrition, reduce production costs, protect soil health and minimise harmful environmental impacts.”
Shahidul Islam, BARCIK researcher and regional coordinator, said, “Agroecology provides an integrated foundation for conserving biodiversity, improving soil health, strengthening local knowledge and producing safe food. Sustainable food systems require institutional recognition of farmers’ experience and farming practices based on local resources.”
Other participants included agroecology practitioner Shayla Begum from Talukdharmapur; Mosammat Sultana Khatun, supervisor of the Bilnepalpara Agroecology Centre; and Md. Touhidul Islam, an agricultural officer at BARCIK, among others.