{
    "title": "ICRISAT and Rajasthan Government Forge Strategic Alliance at GRAM 2026 Investor Meet to Transform Dryland Agriculture",
    "modified_at": "2026-05-08 18:32:28",
    "published_at": "2026-05-08 17:48:00",
    "url": "https://pressroom.icrisat.org/icrisat-and-rajasthan-government-forge-strategic-alliance-at-gram-2026-investor-meet-to-transform-dryland-agriculture",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/ewGd",
    "culture": "en",
    "language": "EN",
    "subtitle": "HYDERABAD, TELANGANA \u2014 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.",
    "slug": "icrisat-and-rajasthan-government-forge-strategic-alliance-at-gram-2026-investor-meet-to-transform-dryland-agriculture",
    "body": "<p style=\"text-align: left\">The exchange took place during the &quot;Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM) 2026 Investor Meet&quot; held at Hotel Park Hyatt, Hyderabad. </p><p style=\"text-align: left\">The MoUs were exchanged in the presence of Shri Bhajanlal Sharma, Hon&rsquo;ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan; Shri Joraram Kumawat, Hon&rsquo;ble Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy; and Shri Gautam Kumar, Hon&rsquo;ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Cooperation, Government of Rajasthan.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">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. </p><p style=\"text-align: left\">This partnership establishes a long-term framework for collaboration in research, training, and the scaling of science-led innovations to benefit Rajasthan&rsquo;s farming community.</p>\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-center\"\n        data-component=\"image-zoom-popup\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-selector=\".release-content-image__image\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-i18n=\"data:application/json;base64,eyJEb3dubG9hZCI6IkRvd25sb2FkIn0=\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-views-event=\"Story Image View\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-download-event=\"Story Image Download\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-placement=\"content\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover\" style=\"width: 100%\">\n            <img\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/d1f8ae01-f870-4231-88e4-b2d1a405b2fb/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/\"\n                                class=\"release-content-image__image image-thumbnail-rollover__image\"\n                data-description=\"\"\n                id=\"image-d1f8ae01-f870-4231-88e4-b2d1a405b2fb\"\n                data-id=\"d1f8ae01-f870-4231-88e4-b2d1a405b2fb\"\n                data-original=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/d1f8ae01-f870-4231-88e4-b2d1a405b2fb/-/inline/no/WhatsApp+Image+2026-05-08+at+6.41.46+PM.jpeg\"\n                data-mfp-src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/d1f8ae01-f870-4231-88e4-b2d1a405b2fb/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"Story image\"\n            />\n            <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover__caption\">\n                <svg class=\"icon icon-expand image-thumbnail-rollover__caption-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-expand\"></use>\n            </svg>            </div>\n        </div>\n\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\"></figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Key Areas of Collaboration</strong></p><p style=\"text-align: left\">The four MoUs focus on establishing the following world-class facilities and initiatives within the state:</p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>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.</span></li><li><span>Centre of Excellence on Genomics and Advanced Breeding: Aimed at leveraging cutting-edge science to develop high-yielding, stress-tolerant crop varieties.</span></li><li><span>Centre of Excellence on Regenerative Agriculture (CoERA): Dedicated to restoring soil health and promoting sustainable farming practices.</span></li><li><span>Capacity Building and Digital Innovations: A comprehensive initiative to enhance stakeholder skills and integrate digital tools, market linkages, and value addition into the state&#039;s agricultural ecosystem.</span></li></ul><blockquote style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Speaking on the occasion, Dr Himanshu Pathak emphasized on the importance of partnerships for agricultural transformation,</strong></blockquote><blockquote style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>&quot;Whenever we talk about Viksit Bharat, or Viksit Rajasthan, it remains incomplete until our farmers are developed. A Viksit Bharat without &#039;Viksit Krishi&#039; is simply not possible,&quot; he stated</strong></blockquote><p style=\"text-align: left\">By combining ICRISAT&rsquo;s global expertise in dryland research with the state&rsquo;s vision, the collaboration seeks to empower smallholder farmers to overcome poverty and environmental degradation through improved agricultural technologies.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">&nbsp;</p><div class=\"release-content-contact\" id=\"contact-f485ad8f-1e2a-49eb-8954-76d3d37341c9\">\n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__avatar\"><img src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/9a54d1b8-b32d-4ad1-8b4a-e36cdd6771f8/-/crop/185x185/0,1/-/preview/-/scale_crop/128x128/center/-/format/auto/\" alt=\"Parkavi Kumar\" class=\"release-content-contact__avatar-image\" /></div>\n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__details\">\n        <strong class=\"release-content-contact__name\">Parkavi Kumar</strong>\n        <em class=\"release-content-contact__description\">Senior Communications Specialist &ndash; Asia</em>\n        <ul class=\"release-content-contact__details-list\"><li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"mailto:parkavi.kumar@icrisat.org\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"parkavi.kumar@icrisat.org\"><svg class=\"icon icon-paper-plane release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-paper-plane\"></use>\n            </svg>parkavi.kumar@icrisat.org</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"tel:+91 (40) 30713296\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"+91 (40) 30713296\"><svg class=\"icon icon-phone release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-phone\"></use>\n            </svg>+91 (40) 30713296</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://www.icrisat.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"icrisat.org\"><svg class=\"icon icon-browser release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-browser\"></use>\n            </svg>icrisat.org</a></li></ul>\n    </div>\n</div><p>&nbsp;</p>",
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        {
            "name": "Parkavi Kumar",
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