Collective efforts of all, including the government and non-government organisations, can be the best way of protecting agriculture from the existing challenges in the Rajshahi region and ensure food security, said academics and agricultural experts at a workshop on Friday.
Conventional agriculture is now facing various challenges, particularly the adverse impact of climate change, in the region, including its vast Barind tract. So, there is a need for collaborative efforts to face the challenges, they said.

They came up with the observation while addressing a stakeholder workshop titled “Assessing Community Actions and Livelihood Coping Mechanisms against Climate Change Impacts in Rajshahi Region”.
The Department of Soil Science at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and the University of Salford, UK jointly organised the event at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).

Prof Bingu Ingirige from Salford University and Prof Anwarul Abedin from the BAU's Soil Science Department addressed the workshop as focal persons.
District Training Officer of DAE Umme Salma, Senior Scientific Officers of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute Dr Sakhawat Hossain and Dr Jahedul Islam, Principal Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Dr Fazlul Islam and Principal Scientific Officer of Soil Resource Development Institute Shahidul Islam also spoke at the programme.
The speakers said that many government organisations are implementing various time-fitting programmes to promote the region's farming system for food security by mitigating the challenges, including drought and uneven rainfall.

Various issues related to the promotion of surface water for lessening the gradually mounting pressure on underground water, habituating farmers with less-water-consuming crops, conservation agriculture and aquifer recharge were discussed at the workshop elaborately.
Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) has been re-excavating derelict ponds, canals and other wetlands to bring the farming fields under surface water irrigation.
By adopting various demand-driven projects and initiatives, the region has attained significant success in the field of enhancing production. The region's people are enjoying the fruits of the successes immensely, speakers stated.
The meeting also emphasised using modern technologies in agriculture to make it profitable and sustainable so that it can ensure food security for the population.