{ "title": "Global Community to Convene in New Delhi for Dryland Congress 2026", "modified_at": "2026-09-22 05:54:09", "published_at": "2026-09-08 19:30:00", "url": "https://pressroom.icrisat.org/global-community-to-convene-in-new-delhi-for-dryland-congress-2026", "short_url": "http://prez.ly/BuPd", "culture": "en", "language": "EN", "subtitle": "The world's scientific, policy and farming communities working on the drylands will convene in New Delhi from 10\u201312 September 2026 for Dryland Congress 2026, a three-day global gathering themed \u2018Transforming Dryland Agriculture with South\u2013South Cooperation.\u2019 ", "slug": "global-community-to-convene-in-new-delhi-for-dryland-congress-2026", "body": "

Jointly organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the Congress will be held at the National Agricultural Science Complex and doubles as a milestone celebration of 50 years of ICAR–ICRISAT partnership.

The Congress arrives at a critical moment. \u200b Drylands span about 45 percent of the world's land surface and are home to over two billion people, many of them smallholder farmers confronting climate variability, land degradation, water scarcity and shifting markets.

Over three days, more than 800 scientists, policymakers, farmer representatives and development partners from across Asia, Africa and the Americas will deliberate on six themes — breeding, climate resilience, nutrition and markets, farming systems, seed systems, and gender and youth inclusion — through panel discussions, keynote and lead presentations, parallel sessions and poster exhibitions.

The Congress will also commemorate the United Nations Day for South–South Cooperation on its final day, with a special ceremony and dedicated sessions on advancing South–South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) in agricultural research, convened jointly with CGIAR.

Proceedings will culminate in the adoption of the Delhi Declaration on Dryland (3D), along with the announcement of new partnerships, MOUs and awards recognizing outstanding contributions to dryland science.

Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, will address the Congress as Chief Guest, alongside Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT; Ms Cathy Reade CRISAT Board Chair, Dr M.L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR; CGIAR Chief Scientist Dr Sandra Milach, former ICAR Director Generals Dr R.S. Paroda; Dr Panjab Singh, Dr T Mohapatra alongside Prof. S. G. Mohammed, Director, \u200b Centre for Dryland Agriculture \u200b Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria and former ICRISAT Director General Dr William Dar and other distinguished leaders, scientists and luminaries from across the globe advancing dryland agriculture.

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\"Parkavi
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\n Parkavi Kumar\n Senior Communications Specialist – Asia\n \n
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