(Photo: CGIAR)
Bangladesh, where agriculture forms the backbone of livelihoods, the One CGIAR initiative on Mixed-Farming Systems (MFS) stands as a beacon of innovation and progress. Recently, a team comprising representatives from IRRI Bangladesh, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), and CIMMYT Bangladesh embarked on a comprehensive visit to observe the impact of MFS in Kishoregonj and Nilphamari Sadar districts. Led by Dr. Humnath Bhandari, Country Representative of IRRI Bangladesh and MFS Country Focal Person, the team engaged directly with beneficiaries to understand the initiative’s multifaceted activities and their implications on the ground.
This CGIAR global initiative is currently being implemented in Bangladesh by IRRI and CIMMYT with the collaboration of BARI, BRRI, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), and Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), aiming to enhance farmers’ livelihoods, ensure family food security, promote environmental health and biodiversity conservation, and intensify and diversify agricultural production. Currently, the initiative is working on several innovations such as crop intensification and diversification, homestead gardening, organic manure production, crop-linstock integration, and mechanization services.