Church agency Caritas has launched a project that aims to end hunger across South Asia by 2030.
Caritas India introduced the programme in collaboration with its international partners to help farmers adapt methods to cope with erratic climate conditions.
“Climate change is a global challenge and affects agricultural production and human well-being. It hits hardest where people directly depend on agriculture for food and livelihoods,” said Sunil Simon, project director in India.
The Smallholder Adaptive Farming and Biodiversity Network was launched in June during Caritas Asia’s regional conference in Bangkok.
“The unique programme aims to address our common goal of ending hunger by 2030,” said Christoph Schweifer, secretary general of Caritas Austria, a partner in the project.
Caritas organisations in Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan will implement the programme with the support of Caritas Austria and Caritas Switzerland.
The effort aims to fight hunger and malnutrition by promoting local food through small-scale farming in selected areas of South Asia in response to climate change, Simon said.
The programme will contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture in South Asia.