New Delhi: ICAR–ICRISAT partnership marked 50 years at Dryland Congress 2026 in New Delhi on September 11. Leaders reviewed its work and outlined new areas for cooperation.
The special session brought together former and current leaders of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and ICRISAT. They reflected on five decades of joint work in agricultural research.
Dr R. S. Paroda, former Director General of ICAR, and Dr William D. Dar, former Director General of ICRISAT, co-chaired the session. Former ICAR and ICRISAT leaders also shared their views.
They included Dr Panjab Singh, former Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR. Dr C. L. L. Gowda, former Deputy Director General, ICRISAT, also took part. Dr T. R. Sharma and Dr Swapan Datta, both former Deputy Director Generals of ICAR, shared their reflections.
Meanwhile, Dr M. L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR, presented a strategic outlook. He stressed the need to combine the strengths of both institutions.
“We value the partnership, we support the partnership, and we will continue to support the partnership,” Dr M. L. Jat said.
He added that the institutions could address larger challenges by using their combined scientific strengths.
The leaders also discussed a roadmap for the ICAR–ICRISAT partnership towards Viksit Bharat 2047. Dr D. K. Yadava, Deputy Director General, Crop Science, ICAR, and Dr Raman Babu, Global Research Program Director, Accelerated Crop Improvement, ICRISAT, presented the roadmap.
They focused on using scientific capabilities and turning research into wider impact. In addition, the roadmap stressed stronger collaboration for agricultural transformation.
ICAR–ICRISAT partnership sets wider research priorities
The Congress also held three thematic panel discussions during the second day. They covered resilient dryland farming, seed systems and gender and youth-centred transformation.
The first panel examined new approaches for resilient dryland farming systems. It focused on integrated and climate-smart methods for smallholder farmers.
The second panel explored seed systems across the Global South. It also examined stronger seed delivery networks and public-private partnerships in Asia and Africa.
The third panel focused on women and young people in dryland agri-food systems. It discussed inclusive policies, leadership and greater youth engagement.
In parallel, technical sessions examined the same broad themes. Researchers, policymakers and development partners took part in the discussions. Other stakeholders also shared views on practical solutions.
The sessions examined ways to improve resilience and access to farm innovations. They also stressed stronger participation by women and young people in dryland agriculture.
Poster presentations also began during the Congress. Students and research scholars presented their scientific work. More than 145 posters were under evaluation on September 10 and 11 for the Best Poster Awards.
The poster programme gave young researchers a chance to present their findings. It also helped them interact with experts from India and other countries.
A major session featured a visionary talk by Dr R. S. Paroda. He spoke on “Agrobiodiversity for Building Resilience of Drylands.”
Dr Paroda stressed the need to conserve and use agrobiodiversity effectively. He linked this approach with stronger and more sustainable dryland farming systems.
The ICAR–ICRISAT partnership also drew strong support from current and former leaders. Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT, said the collaboration had turned scientific research into practical impact.
He said the next phase should strengthen innovation, South-South cooperation and collective action. These efforts, he noted, could speed up dryland transformation in India and beyond.
Dr R. S. Paroda said the 50-year milestone offered a chance to review past achievements. He also called for a stronger focus on the future. Aligning resources, expertise and vision, he said, could speed up dryland agricultural transformation.
Dr Panjab Singh highlighted major outcomes from five decades of cooperation. He stressed the need to expand successful models and take innovations to more farmers.
Similarly, Dr William D. Dar said the future of dryland farming would need strong science and partnerships. He also stressed innovation and scale. Income security, nutrition security and community resilience remained key priorities, he said.
Prof. Yaye Gassama, ICRISAT Board Member, focused on gender and youth-centred transformation. She called for greater participation by women and young people.
She also highlighted their role in shaping solutions through leadership, innovation and enterprise.
Dr A. V. Bhavani Shankar, Chief General Manager, NABARD, stressed the need for scalable innovations. He called for approaches that move beyond individual projects.
Instead, he supported wider deployment at systems and landscape levels. He noted that the Congress discussions had highlighted the need to scale innovations for broader impact.
Overall, the second day focused on stronger institutional partnerships and scientific innovation. It also addressed resilient farming and seed systems.
At the same time, participants stressed wider participation by women and youth in dryland agri-food transformation. The discussions linked research, partnerships and practical solutions for farmers and communities.
The Congress will conclude with further discussions on scaling scientific knowledge. Participants will also examine ways to turn partnerships into solutions for dryland regions.
