Shillong, Oct. 01: ECHO Asia, an international organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture, showcased its vision and ongoing initiatives during a programme at Bethany Society, Shillong.
Addressing participants, Dr. Narong Tongsuk, Head of the Ministry & Partnership Engagement Department, ECHO Asia, outlined the organisation’s 15 years of work across Asia, aimed at equipping farmers with practical skills while ensuring environmental conservation.
He explained that ECHO Asia operates a demonstration farm featuring a fish pond, seed bank, and other facilities, which serve as models for training and knowledge exchange. Training is primarily delivered through short-term internships and on-farm workshops designed to provide hands-on experience.
Dr. Tongsuk highlighted three core focus areas of ECHO Asia’s work:
Education & Training – offering internships, workshops, and direct support to farmers.
Networking & Collaboration – building partnerships with organisations and hosting conferences to share innovative practices.
Innovative Options – publishing ECHO Development Notes (EDN), providing technical support through the Technical Response Unit, expanding seed banks, and promoting the use of underutilised forest species.
He stressed that the mission of ECHO Asia is to enable farmers to embrace new opportunities that improve livelihoods while protecting the environment. Achieving this goal, he added, requires close collaboration with local communities and partner organisations across the region.
