The Opening Session, presided over by Dr R. S. Paroda, Former Secretary, DARE and Former Director General, ICAR, brought together former leaders of ICAR and ICRISAT, including Dr Panjab Singh, Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Dr William D. Dar, alongside Ms Cathy Reade, Board Chair, ICRISAT; and Dr Sandra Milach, Chief Scientist, CGIAR.
Congress Patrons Dr M. L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR, and Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT, set the tone for three days of deliberations. Congress Co-Chairs Dr Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General – Research and Innovation, ICRISAT; Dr Devendra Kumar Yadava, Deputy Director General – Crop Science, ICAR; and Shri Sanjay Agarwal, Additional Director General, ICRISAT, outlined the objectives of the Congress.
Farmer perspectives were represented by Bhikiya Ladakya Dhinda, Padma Shri awardee and farmer, underscoring the Congress’s focus on placing farmers and their lived experiences at the centre of dryland transformation.
The Opening Session also marked the launch of three key publications.
\nShri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched Transforming the Drylands: The ICRISAT Journey, edited by Dr Himanshu Pathak and Dr Stanford Blade and published by ICRISAT. The book chronicles more than five decades of ICRISAT’s science, innovation, partnerships and impact across Asia, Africa and beyond.
The Dryland Congress 2026 Abstract Book, featuring more than 250 abstracts, and the ICRISAT Research and Corporate Profile, showcasing the institute’s work across Accelerated Crop Improvement, Resilient Farming Systems and Transforming Agri-Food Systems, were also launched.
The technical programme featured three thematic sessions: “Breeding for Tomorrow: Accelerating Genetic Gains,” “Climate-Resilient Dryland Landscapes,” and “Better Diets and Nutrition through Markets & Policies,” bringing together experts to explore pathways for stronger crop resilience, sustainable landscapes, improved nutrition and livelihoods.
The day also featured visionary talks by Dr M. L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR, on India’s experience in transforming agricultural systems and lessons for the Global South, and Shri Narendra Bhooshan, Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Government of India, on reimagining drylands through digital public infrastructure, land resources management and community action.
Quotes
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Government of India (Chief Guest):
\u200b“Drylands are not a weakness. With the right science, the right policy and the right market support, they can become one of the greatest strengths for India, Africa and other regions facing similar challenges.”
“Food security, nutritional security and farmers' prosperity must remain at the center of our efforts. The ultimate measure of success is not production alone, but improved livelihoods for farming communities.”
Dr Himanshu Pathak — Director General, ICRISAT:
\u200b“One in every three people globally lives in drylands, and millions depend on them for their livelihoods. As drylands continue to expand across the world, we must develop a roadmap that makes them productive, profitable and resilient while creating opportunities that improve livelihoods and reduce out-migration. Drylands must become mainlands, and the crops of drylands must become crops of choice.”
Dr M. L. Jat — Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR:
\u200b“Transforming drylands requires more than agricultural interventions alone. It demands a whole-of-system, whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach that creates opportunities and improves livelihoods for people living in dryland regions. From recommendations to action, from silos to systems — that is the pathway to transforming dryland agriculture.”
Dr R. S. Paroda — Former Secretary, DARE and Former Director General, ICAR:
\u200b“Water must become the organising principle of dryland agriculture, with every drop generating greater economic and nutritional value.”
Dr Panjab Singh — Former Secretary, DARE and Former Director General, ICAR:
\u200b“The next phase of dryland development must go beyond increasing production alone. Our objective should be farming systems that are profitable, resilient, environmentally sustainable and attractive to future generations.”
Dr Trilochan Mohapatra — Former Secretary, DARE and Former Director General, ICAR:
\u200b“Countries and institutions with stronger capacities have a responsibility to share knowledge, expertise and successful models with others. South-South cooperation can help accelerate the adoption and scaling of solutions that improve livelihoods across dryland regions.”
Ms Cathy Reade — Board Chair, ICRISAT:
\u200b“Dryland agriculture requires greater global focus, investment and action. Through South-South cooperation, countries can accelerate solutions and strengthen resilience across dryland landscapes. The discussions emerging from this Congress have the potential to turn knowledge into action and create lasting impact for people living and working in dryland regions.”
Dr William D. Dar — Former Director General, ICRISAT:
\u200b"South-South cooperation is about countries learning, innovating and scaling solutions together as equal partners. By sharing experiences and investing in common solutions, countries across the Global South can accelerate progress toward more resilient and sustainable food systems."
Dr Sandra Milach — Chief Scientist, CGIAR:
“India is increasingly becoming a source of solutions for the Global South, generating innovations that can be adapted and scaled across dryland regions facing similar challenges.”
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Media Mentions & Coverage
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