The Fifth Regional Advisory Committee Meeting – Rupantar Project
Date : 25 June 2025
The 5th Regional Advisory Committee Meeting for the Rupantar Project brought together committee members to assess recent progress, share learnings, and set strategic directions for the next phase. The project has shown significant development, especially in terms of research output, practical interventions, and stakeholder engagement.
In the first session, Tamara Jackson (UoA), reported notable achievements including the submission or publication of 26 academic papers with contributions from 30 authors, nine of whom are women. Nine diversification pathways have been implemented across Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, directly engaging approximately 400 farmers, 55% of whom are women. These pathways cover a range of options: plot-based innovations like zero-till mustard cultivation, non-plot strategies such as goat rearing, and approaches tailored for areas with irrigation constraints. Ongoing efforts focus on capacity building and forging partnerships with government bodies.
Ravi Nandi’s (CIMMYT) presentation highlighted the trade-offs and synergies identified through case studies and interviews. Positive outcomes include reduced farming costs and improved soil fertility; however, challenges such as increased workloads for women and potential job losses due to mechanisation were noted. A detailed quantitative impact assessment is forthcoming, but early indications suggest that the benefits generally outweigh the drawbacks.
Avinash Kishore(IFPRI) provided insights on policy and market trends, noting an increasing economic contribution from horticulture and livestock, although farmer participation remains limited. Research and development investments still skew toward staple crops, and informal markets prevail. He stressed the critical importance of market access for promoting dietary diversity and underlined the emergence of organic commodity clusters.
During the second session, Advisory committee members offered constructive feedback, emphasising stronger policy linkages, enhanced inter-sectoral coordination, and expanded capacity-building initiatives. Suggestions included leveraging microcredit programs, evaluating environmental impacts (with specific concern about plastic mulch use), and fostering regional knowledge exchange. Members highlighted the need for greater attention to post-harvest processes, a better understanding of policy variation among countries, and learning from external projects. The role of women—both in leadership and in bearing additional workloads—was repeatedly underscored, along with encouragement for broader technology adoption.
Commendations were given for the project’s diverse partnerships and robust research outputs, though committee members called for more transparent reporting on intervention outcomes. New priorities identified included addressing youth migration, exploring health-agriculture connections, analysing market effects, and advancing systemic food system transformation.
Key action points involve deeper collaboration with government initiatives, thorough assessment of environmental impacts, especially regarding plastic waste, evaluation and mitigation of women’s workloads, creation of a solid evidence base for smallholder results, concise policy and market communication, and active participation in international knowledge networks. The next meeting is scheduled for November–December 2025.