|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
Global Dryland Congress to convene global experts
|
|
Thursday, 10 September, 2026, 16 : 00 PM [IST]
|
|
Our Bureau, Mumbai
|
The Global Dryland Congress 2026, themed ‘Transforming Dryland Agriculture with South–South Cooperation’, will bring together scientists, policymakers, farmers and development partners from across the world in New Delhi from September 10–12.
Jointly organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the three-day Congress will be held at the National Agricultural Science Complex. The event also marks 50 years of the ICAR–ICRISAT partnership.
The Congress is being held against the backdrop of growing challenges facing dryland agriculture. Drylands account for around 45% of the world's land surface and support more than two billion people, including millions of smallholder farmers dealing with climate variability, land degradation, water scarcity and changing markets.
More than 800 scientists, policymakers, farmer representatives and development partners from Asia, Africa and the Americas are expected to participate. Deliberations will focus on six key themes — breeding; climate resilience; nutrition and markets; farming systems; seed systems; and gender and youth inclusion.
The programme will feature panel discussions, keynote and lead presentations, parallel technical sessions and poster exhibitions, providing a platform for sharing research, innovations and practical approaches to strengthening dryland agriculture.
The Congress will also commemorate the United Nations Day for South–South Cooperation on its concluding day through a special ceremony and dedicated sessions on advancing South–South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) in agricultural research. These sessions will be convened jointly with CGIAR.
The proceedings are expected to culminate in the adoption of the Delhi Declaration on Dryland (3D). The Congress will also witness the announcement of new partnerships and memoranda of understanding (MoUs), along with awards recognising contributions to dryland science and agriculture.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, will address the Congress as Chief Guest. Other prominent participants include Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT; Cathy Reade, ICRISAT Board Chair; Dr M.L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR; CGIAR Chief Scientist Dr Sandra Milach; former ICAR Directors General Dr R.S. Paroda, Dr Panjab Singh and Dr T. Mohapatra; Prof. S.G. Mohammed, Director, Centre for Dryland Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria; and former ICRISAT Director General Dr William Dar.
The Congress is expected to strengthen international collaboration and accelerate the development and adoption of climate-resilient, sustainable and inclusive solutions for dryland farming communities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|