News on VCB-N Webinar Series 1: The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on agricultural value chains-What we can do to mitigate the impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the world partially to a standstill. Movement of people and goods is seriously hampered at domestic and cross-boundary levels. Governments in over 70 countries have imposed various degrees of lock-downs affecting three billion people worldwide. This has severe consequences for many sectors including the agricultural sector.  Farmers and agricultural enterprises, in all VCB-N member countries, are likewise heavily affected by the current restrictions in their respective countries.

In response the VCB-N launched a series of Webinars on the Covid-19 crises for learning and exchange about the current situation, aiming at getting informed opinions and insights in how to respond best to the turmoil the pandemic is creating.  The VCB-N is using Zoom Video Conference software to broadcast the Webinar and allow for active participation of attendees. The first VCB-N Webinar – “the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on agriculture value chains-what we can do to mitigate the impact” was organized at 14:00 Dhaka time (GMT+6) (15:00 Hanoi time, 16:00 Beijing time) on 22 April 2020. The VCB-N is very grateful that it could present the following speakers in the Webinar:

• Mr. Barua Kaushik, Country Director IFAD Cambodia & Mr. Fabrizio Bresciani, Regional Economist IFAD Rome who shared IFAD perspectives on the COVID 19 crises
• Anirban Bhowmik, Country Director, Swisscontact, Bangladesh – shared the perspective of smallholder farmers and the informal sector in Bangladesh on the crises: impact, coping mechanisms and support needed
• Mr. Andrew Wilson, Regional Coordinator Market Systems, HELVETAS – The market perspective on the COVID 19 crises
• Prof. Liu Yonggong, China Agricultural University (CAU)- The market perspective on the COVID 19 crises

Please refer to their biographies HERE

This first webinar did show a broad interest from a very diverse audience of 320 registrations to the Webinar representing government, civil society, private sector, donor and academics. Well informed and very up-to-date presentation and lively discussions did result in substantial learning and take-aways in terms of knowledge and insights.

A summary of the webinar with major messages of the key speakers and overall policy considerations derived from the discussions can be found HERE.

Following the success of this first Zoom Video Conference, VCB-N will continue with the next webinar in the series. Based upon interests and topics identified during the first Webinar the follow-up Webinars will evolve around the topics related to Access to Finance, Logistics, Public Private Partnerships, Farmer Support Services and Technical Assistance and Farmer Groups and Cooperatives, all of course tuned towards the new realities resulting from the COVID outbreak. We really look forward to and welcome your participation in these upcoming events.

The WEBINAR No. 2 is tentatively scheduled on the 7th of May 2020 @ 3PM Dhaka time (GMT+6) and will focus on Access to Finance and Value Chain Logistics in times of COVID 19. Please closely follow announcements on new dates for the Webinar sessions on our Website!