SAARC Agricultural Research and Training Project The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) aims to improve water productivity in rain-fed and irrigated smallholder farming systems in South Asia to enhance agricultural productivity and food security. One of the most significant emerging threats to food security in South Asia is lack of water availability and the need for improved water productivity in both rain-fed and irrigated agriculture. Persistent over-utilisation of groundwater resources for irrigated agriculture has resulted in current water resources in the region being severely depleted. In addition, the performance of rain-fed agriculture in the region lags behind the environmental potential possible from modern farming practices. ACIAR and CSIRO will work in partnerships with in-country agricultural research agencies to study existing farming systems and develop improved approaches and technologies to enable farmers improve agricultural productivity through better management. New technologies may include