ICRISAT and Rajasthan Government Forge Strategic Alliance at GRAM 2026 Investor Meet to Transform Dryland Agriculture
HYDERABAD, TELANGANA — In a landmark move to bolster agricultural productivity and climate resilience in Rajasthan, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the Department of Agriculture, Government of Rajasthan, formally exchanged four strategic Memorandums of Understanding today.
The exchange took place during the "Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM) 2026 Investor Meet" held at Hotel Park Hyatt, Hyderabad.
The MoUs were exchanged in the presence of Shri Bhajanlal Sharma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan; Shri Joraram Kumawat, Hon’ble Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy; and Shri Gautam Kumar, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Cooperation, Government of Rajasthan.
The formal exchange was conducted between Ms Manju Rajpal, IAS, Principal Secretary (Agriculture and Horticulture), Government of Rajasthan, and Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT.
This partnership establishes a long-term framework for collaboration in research, training, and the scaling of science-led innovations to benefit Rajasthan’s farming community.
Key Areas of Collaboration
The four MoUs focus on establishing the following world-class facilities and initiatives within the state:
- Centre of Excellence on Millet Systems and Climate-Resilient Cropping: Focused on enhancing the value chain and resilience of millet, a staple crop for the region.
- Centre of Excellence on Genomics and Advanced Breeding: Aimed at leveraging cutting-edge science to develop high-yielding, stress-tolerant crop varieties.
- Centre of Excellence on Regenerative Agriculture (CoERA): Dedicated to restoring soil health and promoting sustainable farming practices.
- Capacity Building and Digital Innovations: A comprehensive initiative to enhance stakeholder skills and integrate digital tools, market linkages, and value addition into the state's agricultural ecosystem.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Himanshu Pathak emphasized on the importance of partnerships for agricultural transformation,
"Whenever we talk about Viksit Bharat, or Viksit Rajasthan, it remains incomplete until our farmers are developed. A Viksit Bharat without 'Viksit Krishi' is simply not possible," he stated
By combining ICRISAT’s global expertise in dryland research with the state’s vision, the collaboration seeks to empower smallholder farmers to overcome poverty and environmental degradation through improved agricultural technologies.
Parkavi Kumar