ICRISAT

As the 119th Board Meeting of ICRISAT concludes from 20–24 April, we extend our sincere appreciation to our Board Members for their strong governance oversight, deep strategic insights, and unwavering commitment to strengthening ICRISAT’s mission.

Together with the leadership team, this shared stewardship ensures the Institute remains resilient, accountable, and well positioned to deliver lasting impact for the drylands and beyond.

ICRISAT and IFPRI Launch CGIAR India Policy Innovation Hub to Strengthen Evidence-Based Policymaking The India Policy Innovation Hub is part of CGIAR’s global Policy Innovations initiative, aimed at accelerating the translation of research into impactful policies. The Hub will serve as a national platform connecting science from institutes like ICRISAT and the Indian Council of Agricultural Resea...

Corporates visiting ICRISAT are discovering a different kind of event experience, where business meets purpose.

From team gatherings to meaningful conversations on agriculture, food systems, and sustainability, every event at ICRISAT offers a deeper connection to the world behind the food on our plate.

At the recently held Krishi Manthan 2026, hosted by Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University on 08 April 2026, ICRISAT reaffirmed its strategic partnership with the Government of Madhya Pradesh.

Representing the institute, Dr Rakesh Srivastava joined the high-level meeting with Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, state cabinet ministers, and eminent scientists and presented the latest research advances in chickpea improvement and underscored the strategic importance of Madhya Pradesh as a leading hub for chickpea cultivation and pulse production.

ICRISAT hosted a hands-on training program on “Empowering Women and in Dryland Regions through Advanced Seed Production and Management Practices” from 16 to 18 April 2026. The training brought together 13 farmers from Self-Help Groups and Farmer Producer Organisations across 8 districts of Odisha.

The inaugural session featured Dr Stanford Blade, DDG-R&I alongside Dr Raman Babu, GRP Director Accelerated Crop Improvement, Dr Manzoor Hussain Dar, Global Head Seed Systems, Dr Sobhan Sajja, Senior Scientist and Mr Chakradhara Panda, ICRISAT who shared insightful discussions on sustainable agriculture and seed systems.

Participants gained practical, field-based experience in seed production, including seed treatment, maintaining seed purity, and key practices such as rogueing and isolation distance, along with demonstrations on w**d, pest, and disease management to tackle real-world seed production challenges.

This initiative marks a significant advancement, enhancing grassroots capacity and empowering farmers with the skills for quality seed production.

ICRISAT Zimbabwe participated in the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair held in Harare from 20–25 April 2026, a leading platform for innovation, partnerships, and economic transformation.

At the World Food Programme (WFP) pavilion, ICRISAT showcased cutting-edge agricultural technologies focused on transforming dryland farming and strengthening resilient food systems.

Mr Barbara Tulu Clemens, WFP Country Representative toured the ICRISAT exhibit and engaged with innovations demonstrating strong on-the-ground impact.

ICRISAT inaugurated a new high-efficiency chiller unit at its headquarters on marking a significant milestone in strengthening sustainable infrastructure and operational efficiency.

The facility was inaugurated by Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT, along with Dr Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General - Research and Innovation, and Mr Ramkumar Ramaswamy, Director of Corporate Services. The event, organized by the Farm and Engineering Services department, was attended by staff members.

The new electric chiller replaces the diesel-based system, enhancing efficiency, reliability, and significantly reducing environmental impact. Integrated with the existing solar power infrastructure, it further strengthens ICRISAT’s commitment to clean, climate-resilient operations.

ICRISAT and IFPRI launch India Policy Innovation Hub -

ICRISAT, in partnership with International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has launched the CGIAR India Policy Innovation Hub, a co-creation platform designed to strengthen evidence-led policymaking for transforming India’s food systems.

Part of CGIAR Policy Innovations, this Hub will serve as a national platform connecting science with India's vision of Viksit Bharat, in collaboration with NITI Aayog. Dr Raka Saxena, Senior Advisor, NITI Aayog formally launched the Hub on 7 April 2026.

ICRISAT participated in a two-day Training of Trainers workshop on Agriculture, Nutrition and Health (ANH) held on 15–16 April 2026, organized by Indian Institute of Public Health Bhubaneswar and Public Health Foundation of India, with support from the ANH Academy Science-Policy Platform.

Dr Kavitha Kasala and Dr Judy Thomas from ICRISAT’s Global Research Program on Transforming Agrifood Systems engaged in interactive sessions, contributing to discussions on translating agriculture, nutrition, and health concepts into practice.

The workshop featured hands-on training that highlighted agriculture–nutrition linkages, climate change, gender, and One Health, while promoting their integration into curricula and strengthening multidisciplinary research and capacity building.

ICRISAT successfully concluded the two-week exposure visit by high-level delegation on 12 April 2026, supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Participatory Agricultural Climate Transformation (PACT) program of the Ministry of Agriculture - Ethiopia.

Apart from touring ICRISAT’s HQ research facilities, the delegation visited project sites in and , engaging directly with field stakeholders and policymakers. These visits provided first-hand insights into ICRISAT’s integrated approaches—spanning rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and climate-smart farming systems—demonstrating scalable solutions for dryland agriculture.

Interactions with women-led enterprises further highlighted inclusive and adaptable models, with relevant learnings for contexts such as Ethiopia.

Honored to launch the ICRISAT Impact Dossier with Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization today reaffirming an enduring partnership and building forward with partners across government, science and development.

Capturing decades of farmer-centered, science-led solutions, from improved crops to climate-smart practices that are transforming agri-food systems and expanding opportunity across Kenya’s drylands.

With appreciation to Dr Himanshu Pathak, DG ICRISAT; Dr Patrick Ketiem DG KALRO Kenya; Dr Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, Principal Secretary, State Department for Higher Education & Research, Government of Kenya; and Dr Rebbie Harawa, ICRISAT Africa Director.

ICRISAT at Krishi Manthan 2026

ICRISAT presented a forward-looking roadmap to strengthen Madhya Pradesh’s agricultural economy through advanced science and climate-smart technologies at the Krishi Manthan 2026 summit, hosted by Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (JNKVV) on 08 April.

Dr Rakesh Srivastava, Principal Scientist and Global Chickpea Breeding Lead, participated in the Technical Session on International Collaboration and Technology Transfer, where he underscored ICRISAT’s role in supporting Madhya Pradesh’s emergence as India’s leading pulse-producing state.

At the summit, ICRISAT reaffirmed its commitment to equipping the state with improved crop varieties, innovations, and modern tools—driving a transition toward science-led, business-oriented farming that enhances profitability, resilience, and nutrition for farmers.