Philippine Agriculture officials explore practices at ICRISAT project sites in India

New Delhi: A delegation from the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) and Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) recently embarked on an eight-day visit to India, hosted by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). The purpose of the visit was to exchange knowledge and explore innovative agricultural practices across various project sites in Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Telangana.

The visit kicked off in Uttar Pradesh’s Tahrauli Tehsil, where the delegation met with members of the ‘Progressive Bundelkhand Farmer Producer Company’ (FPC) in Nota village. The group explored how ICRISAT is empowering local farmers by organizing them into Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and FPCs. Dr. Ramesh Singh, Principal Scientist and Cluster Head at ICRISAT, provided a detailed overview of the soil and water management issues affecting 40 villages in the region, offering the delegation a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and solutions being implemented.

In Bhadokhar village, Jhansi district, the delegation observed traditional and modern rainwater conservation techniques, such as the restoration of haveli structures, which are essential for preventing soil erosion. The team also learned about fruit-based agroforestry and state-of-the-art tools like the Automatic Weather Station (AWS) and Time-Domain Reflectometry (TDR) for soil moisture monitoring, which is part of ICRISAT’s efforts to enhance local farming practices.

The delegation continued their exploration in Sutta and Singar villages in Jhansi, and Pura Birdha in Lalitpur, where they interacted with local farmers who shared their experiences of the transformative impact of ICRISAT’s initiatives. Discussions with public representatives, including Anurag Sharma, Member of Parliament, and Junaid Ahmad, Chief Development Officer of Jhansi, provided insights into the role of governance in the successful execution of these projects.

In Odisha, the delegation visited several model sites under the Odisha Livelihood Mission (OLM), where they witnessed the significant contributions of women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to various enterprises, including a Dwarf Coconut Nursery that produces 100,000 seedlings annually, as well as ornamental nurseries and beekeeping ventures.

One of the key highlights in Odisha was the Waste-to-Wealth Management project, a community-led initiative that converts waste into useful resources. The delegation observed how the project not only repurposes invasive water hyacinth into compost but also plays a crucial role in maintaining clean water bodies and promoting organic farming within the community.

The final leg of the visit took place at ICRISAT’s headquarters in Hyderabad, where the delegation toured advanced facilities such as the Genebank, Agromet Lab, and Centers of Excellence in Climate Change Research, Genomics and Systems Biology, and Agri-Business Incubation. 

The delegation engaged with ICRISAT scientists, including Dr. Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General of Research, who emphasized, “This visit provided a valuable opportunity for knowledge exchange and highlighted the success of ICRISAT’s innovative, context-specific strategies in tackling dryland agricultural challenges and improving livelihoods across Asia, Africa, and beyond.”

Kris Thea Marie Hernandez, Senior Agriculturist at the Bureau of Agricultural Research, expressed a strong intention to apply the knowledge gained from the visit to enhance agricultural practices in rainfed areas of the Philippines. This initiative supports the broader goals of the Philippine Department of Agriculture to boost agricultural productivity and ensure food security.

At the close of the visit, Dr. M.L. Jat, Global Research Program Director for Resilient Farm and Food Systems, commended the delegation for their commitment to cross-learning and their grassroots approach to agricultural development. Dr. Ramesh Singh echoed these sentiments, noting the potential for mutual learning, particularly in areas where the Philippines excels, such as coconut production.

The Philippine delegation, which included key figures such as Kris Thea Marie Hernandez, Melinda Calumpit, and Ernie Camacho, expressed their gratitude to ICRISAT for the opportunity to learn from India’s agricultural innovations, setting the stage for continued collaboration between the two countries.