From December 5–9, Sri Lanka became a shared home for hope and resistance as the APEX Women’s Strategising Workshop and the Asian Rural Women Coalition (ARWC) General Assembly were hosted by the Vikalpani Women’s Federation. Women from 12 countries came together in deep solidarity bringing their stories, struggles, strength, and dreams for change. Representing Bangladesh, youth leader Khansa Rahman from YLCA joined this powerful space where experienced women and passionate youth stood side by side, united by a common commitment to agroecology and justice. This gathering was more than a meeting it was a reminder that when women rise together, borders disappear and movements grow stronger. With courage in our voices and hope in our hearts, we continue the fight for dignity, rights, and a just future for all.

On behalf of SHISHUK, representing SHISUK Ananna Nari Unnayan Shangstha, Khansa Rahman and Amanna Jahan Biva had joined a Regional two day Workshop at Sri Lanka.
This workshop is organized by APEX (Asian People’s Exchange for Food Sovereignty and Agroecology) and hosted by Vikalpani Women's Federation , bringing together representatives of women organizations from Cambodia, Philippines, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
The workshop aimed to develop a common research framework on “The Impact of Highly Hazardous Pesticides on Women and Women-Led Agroecological Alternatives.”
Through discussions and collaborative planning and field visit experience , they have worked to:

✅ Highlight the gendered impact of hazardous pesticides on women’s health and livelihoods.
✅ Identified a common methodology to see the impact the Alternative Agricultural practices
✅ Build a shared regional strategy to advocate for policy change and grassroots action.
This collective effort marks an important step toward amplifying women’s voices in agroecology and advancing a food-sovereign Asia. 🌱

🌍 COP30 | Belém, Brazil 🇧🇷
Agroecology is not just a concept—it's a climate solution. 🌱🔥
At the COP30 side event on November 12, SHISUK Executive Director Sakiul Millat Morshed highlighted a critical truth:
👉 Agroecology offers a real, scalable, and people-centered pathway to climate justice and food sovereignty in Asia.
Despite growing recognition, agroecology remains far from mainstream across many Asian countries. That’s why SHISUK, together with global partners, is pushing for:

✔️ Stronger advocacy
✔️ Increased financing
✔️ Policy coherence
✔️ Integration in NDCs and national adaptation plans
Because people-led agroecology is essential for a just and sustainable future.
SHISUK is proud to raise the voice of Bangladeshi communities on global platforms like COP30—ensuring grassroots perspectives shape climate solutions for the world. ✊🌾🌏

Training closing on 20-22 November 2025, we organized a three-day "Public awareness campaign on the impacts of pesticides and benefits of agroecology at the local and national level" training programme with 30 young women from 20 villages to strengthen their understanding of agroecology, leadership, and the impacts of chemical pesticides on health and the environment. 👭 The day started with an interactive ice-breaking activity where participants got to know each other’s background, likes, and interests—creating a warm and friendly learning space. 👩‍⚖ In the leadership session facilitated by Amanna Jahan Bhiva, participants explored: • What effective leadership means • Key qualities of a good leader • Behaviours to avoid as a leader They later prepared and presented their ideas confidently in groups. 🌿 The agroecology session led by Khansa Rahman covered: • Basics and importance of agroecology • Harmful effects of chemical pesticides • Benefits of organic and biological alternatives Participants asked thoughtful questions and presented their reflections in teams. 🏅 After lunch, 8 participants were selected as Best Leaders based on engagement, communication, and leadership potential. 🤝 A follow-up discussion was held with them to provide guidance for upcoming community-level awareness activities. 💚 The strong participation, curiosity, and leadership shown throughout the event highlight the promising role of young women in promoting agroecology at both local and national levels. #Agroecology #YouthLeadership #WomenEmpowerment #SustainableFarming 🌾✨

Dhaka, November 20–22, 2025 — North Bengal Honey Community Enterprise, an initiative supported by Shikkha Shastha Unnayan Karzakram (SHISUK), successfully participated in the 13th Agro Tech Bangladesh 2025 exhibition held at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB), Dhaka. The event was organised by LIMRA Trade Fairs & Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd. and is considered one of the largest platforms in Bangladesh for agricultural technology, agro-processing, food innovation and market linkages.
About the Exhibition
Agro Tech Bangladesh is a major international platform that brings together agricultural producers, technology providers, agro-machinery companies, food processing industries, seed companies, and development institutions. The 2025 exhibition hosted hundreds of exhibitors and delegates from countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China, Hong Kong, USA, Canada, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Spain, France, Türkiye, and Thailand.
Alongside international companies, major Bangladeshi public institutions such as BARD, BRDB, Rural Development Academy (RDA), Bogura, and the Cooperative Department also showcased their rural development innovations and community-based enterprises.
North Bengal Honey Community Enterprise at Agro Tech 2025
North Bengal Honey Community Enterprise is a unique community-based initiative consisting of over 300 beekeepers from the northern region of Bangladesh. Supported by SHISUK, the initiative aims to promote sustainable beekeeping, enhance rural livelihoods, and strengthen the market access of natural honey producers.
The Rural Development Academy (RDA), Bogura played a crucial role by training beekeepers, improving production techniques, and sponsoring “Moubazar”, the first-ever weekly honey market in Bangladesh.
At the exhibition stall, the enterprise showcased three varieties of their finest, naturally produced honey:
Blackseed Honey
Litchi Flower Honey
Mixed Flower Honey
Visitors—including traders, development professionals, and international delegates—expressed strong interest in the quality, purity, and traceability of the honey.
Opportunities and Impacts
Participation in Agro Tech Bangladesh 2025 opened new doors for North Bengal Honey Community Enterprise:
1. Market Expansion
International participation created opportunities for future export prospects and partnerships with global buyers seeking natural and organic honey.
2. Knowledge and Technology Exchange
Beekeepers and enterprise representatives were able to interact with international technology providers, gaining insights into advanced honey processing, packaging, and quality certification systems.
3. Brand Visibility
Showcasing at a major national and global platform significantly increased the visibility of Bangladesh’s native honey and highlighted the community-driven model supported by SHISUK.
4. Networking and Collaboration
Discussions with government representatives, NGOs, researchers, and agro-business leaders provided valuable ideas for improving production standards, ensuring compliance with market requirements, and enhancing value addition.
Conclusion
The participation of North Bengal Honey Community Enterprise in the 13th Agro Tech Bangladesh 2025 marks a significant milestone in its journey to transform community-based beekeeping into a sustainable, market-driven rural enterprise. The event not only promoted high-quality Bangladeshi honey but also reinforced SHISUK’s commitment to empowering rural producers through technology, skills, and market access.

To strengthen the ongoing collaboration among partner organizations working on agroecology and community enterprise for climate resilience, SHISUK organized a Coordination Meeting of the Community Enterprise and Agroecology for Climate Action Network (CEA CAN) on 7 October 2025 at Page Development Centre, Cumilla. A total of 21 participants representing partner NGOs from different upazilas attended the meeting. The session began with welcome remarks from Mr. Md. Zillur Rahman, who thanked all participants for their continued engagement and dedication to promoting agroecology-based practices in their respective areas. He invited participants to share updates on field-level progress, challenges, and best practices. The discussion also focused on how to make the CEA CAN network more effective, inclusive, and sustainable. During the meeting, several key points were discussed, including the importance of regular coordination, improving accountability among program staff, and ensuring timely financial and technical support to implementing partners. Participants proposed revising the schedule of online meetings to encourage greater participation and recommended advance fund disbursement for smooth project operations. Representatives from Holodia Mohila Unnayan Sangstha suggested assigning a new NGO for the Nangalkot upazila to ensure better coverage, while Social Development Association of Chandina upazila reaffirmed their renewed commitment to rejoin and actively contribute to the network. Additionally, two MAC member NGOs expressed their willingness to join CEA CAN, reflecting the growing interest and confidence in the network’s collaborative approach. The meeting concluded with a collective decision to hold monthly online coordination meetings, with mandatory participation of Executive Directors from all partner organizations. The participants emphasized continued cooperation, transparency, and mutual learning to strengthen agroecological practices and promote climate-resilient community enterprises.
Key Outcomes: 1. Strengthened coordination and communication among network members.
2. Renewed participation of inactive NGOs and interest from new organizations. 3. Agreement on monthly online coordination meetings. 4. Commitment to expand agroecology practices and community enterprise initiatives