ICRISAT and India’s Ministry of External Affairs Empower Small Businesses for Agricultural Transformation in the Global South
As global agriculture confronts mounting challenges from climate shocks and shifting dynamics, ICRISAT and India’s Ministry of External Affairs are leveraging South-South collaboration to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME), whose agility and innovation are essential for turning agricultural research into impact for farmers in drylands.
A two-week program on “Empowering SMEs Globally through Strategic Innovation Management,” held at ICRISAT HQ in Hyderabad under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) initiative, brought together 34 professionals from 24 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
The diverse mix of leaders from government, academia, and industry highlighted the central role of SMEs as conduits translating frontier research into resilient, food-secure farming communities.
“At a time when climate change and shifting global dynamics test the resilience of agriculture, South-South collaboration offers solutions through solidarity.
“By equipping SMEs with the tools of innovation management, we are backing a global community of changemakers capable of transforming research into real-world impact that strengthen the foundations of food security, resilience, and prosperity in the drylands and beyond.” said Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT
Led by ICRISAT’s Legal IP Office, the course combined practical business frameworks with agricultural case studies, interactive group projects, and expert-led sessions.
Contributors, including IKP Knowledge Park, NALSAR, Cocreate Consulting, World Vegetable Center, and the India SME Accelerator Network enriched the course, alongside global perspectives from the South Centre and national inputs from the Ministry of MSME.
“This program bridges world-class science with business acumen, creating stronger, more competitive enterprises poised to transform local economies and food systems,” said Dr Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General - Research & Innovation at ICRISAT
Extending learning into the field, participants explored Hyderabad’s innovation ecosystem with visits to ICRISAT research facilities, Genome Valley, BITS Pilani, IKP Knowledge Park, and Biological E Limited.
A special session marking the UN Day for South-South Cooperation, hosted by ICRISAT’s Centre of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA), reinforced the importance of cross-border knowledge exchange.
This theme carried through the program, highlighted how strong networks can help SMEs overcome financial and institutional hurdles.
Mr Ramkumar Ramaswamy, Director – Corporate Services at ICRISAT, noted that cross-country collaboration opens opportunities for investment and the development of sustainable business models.
This marks the tenth ITEC program led by ICRISAT since 2024.
Through its Dryland Academy, ICRISAT has trained over 1,700 professionals globally, building a growing network of innovation leaders committed to agricultural transformation.
[L-R] Dr Surya Mani Tripathi; Ms Sravanti Vedula, Associate Manager – Innovation Management, ICRISAT; Mr Ramkumar Ramaswamy, Director - Corporate Services, ICRISAT; Participant - Ms Oluwadamilola Elizabeth Yegwa N; Dr Damaris Odeny, Principal Scientist - Genomics, Pre Breeding and Bioinformatics, ICRISAT, and Dr Padmaja Ravula, Cluster Leader - Knowledge and Capacity Development & Gender and Youth, ICRISAT
Participant - Mr Ezequiel Chabay receiving his certificate at the valedictory ceremony
This work aligns with SDG 17
Roseleen Aind
Related Articles:
