First Bangladesh Young Farmers Camp and Agrilympics (YFCA)
6-9 July 2025
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Organized by the COAST Foundation
Over 150 young farmers and agri-entrepreneurs from more than 25 districts of Bangladesh gathered for learning, dialogue, and action at the First Bangladesh Young Farmers Camp and Agrilympics (YFCA) held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 6-9 July 2025. The four-day young farmers assembly featured discussions, workshops, a knowledge market, product exhibition, and agrilympics. The event was organized by the COAST Foundation with support from the APFP-FO4A Program.
The event officially started with an opening ceremony at the Begum Sufia Kamal Auditorium of Gazipur Agricultural University, Gazipur, Dhaka. The 4-day event started with strong messages of youth empowerment and transformation in agriculture from guests and partners.
In her opening speech, Ma. Estrella “Esther” Penunia, Secretary General of the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), said that youth is God’s gift to the future and that the YFCA program is a space for young people to lead, innovate, and build solutions, especially in the face of climate crisis.
M Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director, COAST Foundation, mentioned that now it is high time for safe products, so, accessing the market is the most crucial now. He also added that agricultural cooperatives should have control over marketing and pricing.
Md. Amirul Islam, Operations Manager for East, Central, and South Asia, AFA, reiterated that young people are at the heart of AFA, and the organization works across 16 countries and link with 27 Pacific nations to ensure that youth will feel encouraged to engage in agriculture and can influence policies at national and regional levels.
Dr. Md. Saiful Alam, Director of Student Welfare of Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU), stated that the age of traditional farming is over, and the youth must lead the transition toward agribusiness and modern, sustainable farming.
Other distinguished speakers included Mohsin Ali, Executive Director of WAVE Foundation mentioned that the future of farming lies in the hands of the youth, equipped not just with tools and technology, but with vision, voice, and leadership.
Ataur Rahman Milton, Country Director of Hunger Free World, emphasized regular bank transactions to build a trustworthy relationship with financial institutions that ultimately positively affect farmers in getting access to finance. He also urged young people to break free from job-seeking mindsets and embrace entrepreneurship. He also underscored the vital role of platforms like AFA in securing farmers’ rights.
Md. Sajjad Hossain, Technical Coordinator of Padakkhep marked this arrangement as a step toward agricultural revolution.
A.B.M. Shamsul Huda, Executive Director of ALRD, said that during the pandemic, it was the farmers who kept the country afloat. It is high time we recognize their contributions, especially those of women, who constitute 56% of the agricultural workforce.
Dr. Md. Harunur Rashid, Director of the SAARC Agriculture Centre, stressed the role of technology in shaping the future. From AI to drones, the future of agriculture depends on young innovators. Young participants raised critical concerns, from the high cost of organic fertilizers to the lack of capital and access. As youth farmers share, we need subsidy support and partnership between the government and NGOs to build resilient agriculture. He emphasized youth leadership, policy reform and cooperative models to transform agriculture.
Chair of the event, Md. Saiful Azam Khan, Director General of the Agricultural Training Academy, concluded the session by saying that due to climate change, agriculture is under threat from erratic floods, droughts, and river erosion. To build resilience and modernization in agriculture, the youth are our future. He added that this gathering will mark a milestone in Bangladesh’s agricultural journey, where youth voices, leadership, and dreams are sowing the seeds of a sustainable and just food system.
The event was moderated by Sanat Kumar Bhowmik, Deputy Executive Director of COAST Foundation. He mentioned that agriculture is the key bone of the nation and we must save it at any cost. (Written by Zahid Islam for The Finance Today)
The Young Farmers Camp and Agrilympics (YFCA) aims to empower rural youth by showcasing that farming can be innovative, fun, and a viable livelihood, while promoting leadership, cooperation, and sustainability through interactive competitions, skills workshops, and knowledge sharing activities.
The YFCA is made possible through the support of the #APFP-#FO4A program, co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and implemented by the consortium Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) and La Via Campesina (LVC). Click here to know more about YFCA
Watch the highlights of the event:
Comments are closed