ICRISAT holds partnership meeting to tackle global agricultural challenges

New Delhi: More than 60 business leaders from across the public and private sectors, academia, and CSR foundations gathered in Hyderabad for a high-level Partnership Meeting and Immersion Tour hosted by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) on October 8. 

The event, organized under ICRISAT’s AgriPact Corporate Engagement Initiative, aimed at strengthening collaboration and provided a platform for addressing some of the most critical challenges in agricultural research and development.

Dr. Jacqueline Hughes, Director General of ICRISAT opened the session by emphasizing ICRISAT’s commitment to building strong partnerships that deliver tangible results. “As we look to the future, we are committed to forging partnerships that will amplify measurable impact and deliver innovative solutions to the communities most in need,” she remarked.

Sai Devarajulu Prasad, Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Telangana State Council, discussed Telangana’s goal of becoming a trillion-dollar economy and outlined the role of skill-building, entrepreneurship, and value addition in agriculture in achieving this vision. He invited ICRISAT to engage with industry leaders to further these initiatives. 

“While the National and State economies are growing, the service sector is expanding the fastest, followed by manufacturing, with agriculture lagging. We aim to add value to farmers and agricultural produce. We have several panels focused on agriculture, skill building, entrepreneurship, and climate change, bringing together scientists, business leaders, and academics,” he said.

The day included an immersive guided tour of ICRISAT’s advanced research facilities, showcasing innovations like the genebank, Agribusiness Innovation Platform, Rapid Generation Facility to the Digital and Geospatial Innovations,  and Dryland Living Labs. Attendees explored new agricultural technologies and sustainable farming methods aimed at addressing food security and climate resilience.

Participants also took part in interactive poster display sessions with ICRISAT scientists and stakeholders, including farmer groups,  Farmer Producer Organizations, and women’s self-help organizations. These discussions highlighted successful collaborations and projects designed to boost sustainable agricultural practices and improve livelihoods.

“Through climate-resilient farming systems, we are improving agricultural productivity but also enhancing livelihoods and creating sustainable pathways for the future. The innovations and partnerships we foster are deeply rooted in the realities of the farmers and communities, ensuring long-lasting and transformative impact on food security, income, and resilience,” he said.

The event concluded with a panel discussion titled “Building Resilient Agri-Food Systems: Securing the Future of Food, Health, and Sustainable Communities.” Moderated by Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Partner at Ernst & Young, the panel featured industry leaders from NTPC Ltd., HCL Foundation, and ICRISAT. They discussed the wide-reaching benefits of investing in agricultural research, emphasizing its potential to impact food security, health, nutrition, and climate change.

The meeting featured other key figures such as Ben Kumumanya, Permanent Secretary of Uganda’s Ministry of Local Government; and S. Sivakumar, Head of Agri and IT Businesses at ITC Ltd.