The second day of the Dryland Congress 2026 in New Delhi marked a significant milestone in agricultural research as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) commemorated 50 years of collaboration. The special session brought together former and serving leaders of both institutions to review the achievements of the partnership and discuss strategies for strengthening cooperation in the coming years.
The session was co-chaired by Dr R. S. Paroda, former Director General of ICAR, and Dr William D. Dar, former Director General of ICRISAT. Former leaders, including Dr Panjab Singh, former Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR; Dr C. L. L. Gowda, former Deputy Director General, ICRISAT; Dr T. R. Sharma and Dr Swapan Datta, former Deputy Director Generals of ICAR, shared their perspectives on the evolution of the partnership and its contribution to agricultural development.
Dr M. L. Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General, ICAR, outlined the future direction of the partnership. He stressed that the complementary scientific strengths of ICAR and ICRISAT could help address emerging challenges in agriculture and generate greater benefits for farmers.
The future roadmap for the collaboration was presented by Dr D. K. Yadava, Deputy Director General, Crop Science, ICAR, and Dr Raman Babu, Global Research Program Director, Accelerated Crop Improvement, ICRISAT. Their roadmap focused on strengthening scientific cooperation, accelerating innovation and ensuring that research outcomes are translated into practical solutions in support of the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Focus on Resilient Dryland Agriculture
The Congress also hosted three major thematic panel discussions covering resilient dryland farming systems, seed systems in the Global South, and gender- and youth-centred transformation. Experts discussed climate-smart approaches for smallholder farmers, improved seed delivery mechanisms and stronger public-private partnerships across Asia and Africa.
Parallel technical sessions provided researchers, policymakers and development partners an opportunity to explore strategies for increasing agricultural resilience and improving farmers’ access to technology and innovation. Particular attention was given to ensuring stronger participation of women and young people in dryland agri-food systems.
Poster presentations also began during the Congress, giving students and research scholars an opportunity to showcase their research. More than 145 posters are being evaluated for the Best Poster Awards, creating a platform for young researchers to interact with agricultural experts from India and other countries.
Agrobiodiversity and Future Partnerships
A key address during the day was delivered by Dr R. S. Paroda on the role of agrobiodiversity in strengthening dryland resilience. He underlined the importance of conserving and effectively using agricultural biodiversity to build sustainable and resilient farming systems.
Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT, said the five-decade partnership had successfully converted scientific research into tangible development outcomes. He emphasised that the next phase should place greater emphasis on innovation, South-South cooperation and collective action to accelerate dryland transformation.
Dr Panjab Singh called for successful agricultural models and innovations to be scaled up so that their benefits reach a larger number of farmers. Dr William D. Dar highlighted the importance of combining scientific expertise with partnerships, innovation and effective scaling, with particular attention to farmers’ income, nutrition and resilience.
The discussions also highlighted the role of women and youth in transforming dryland agriculture. Prof. Yaye Gassama, an ICRISAT Board Member, stressed the need to encourage their leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship in developing solutions for dryland communities.
Dr A. V. Bhavani Shankar, Chief General Manager, NABARD, called for scalable innovations that can move beyond individual projects towards broader systems- and landscape-level implementation.
The second day of Dryland Congress 2026 thus underscored the importance of institutional collaboration, scientific innovation, resilient farming and seed systems, and inclusive participation. The remaining deliberations are expected to focus on translating research, partnerships and scientific knowledge into scalable solutions for dryland regions in India and across the Global South.
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Author: Shivam
Shivam Dwivedi is a senior journalist with extensive experience in research-driven journalism, policy communication, and multi-platform storytelling. His areas of interest include international relations, defence, science & technology, education, urban development, agriculture, spirituality, and environmental sustainability. His work focuses on in-depth analysis, public discourse, and impactful narratives across governance and development sectors, with a strong commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Contact: [email protected]
