As smart farming technologies continue to mature, frameworks like this will be key to ensuring that agriculture not only meets the demands of a growing global population but does so in a way that is sustainable, efficient, and secure.
By training villagers in digital skills and providing them with the tools to access government services, these initiatives improve livelihoods and foster a sense of empowerment in rural communities.
A gene bank serves as a biorepository for preserving genetic material, such as seeds, pollen, and tissue samples, collected from various plant species. The primary objective is to protect these valuable resources from extinction and support research, conservation, and breeding efforts.
Eligible projects include warehouses, silos, cold chains, logistics facilities, and smart precision agriculture infrastructure. Loan applicants must contribute at least 10 per cent of the project cost, and an entity can apply for up to 25 projects, each eligible for a loan of up to Rs. 2 crore.
Hydroponics uses less water and is more productive than soil-based agriculture and can be carried out all year round. Though hydroponics can be expensive and difficult to install, all it requires at its most basic level is the plants, water, a container and a source of light.
Case studies from Ethiopia, Mexico, and the Netherlands highlight how targeted actions, informed by robust governance and a focus on resilience, can catalyse broader progress.
For Bangladesh, the world’s second-largest producer of jackfruit, the fruit was a natural choice. Jackfruit is also the country’s national fruit and symbolizes abundance. Yet much of the potential of this fruit remained untapped.
Integrating waste minimisation, climber accountability and community engagement is seen as critical to safeguarding fragile ecosystems while preserving access for future generations.
President Dissanayake acknowledged the scars left by the decades-long civil conflict between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil separatist groups, which ended in 2009 after more than 30 years of violence.