Addressing this need requires science-led approaches that combine innovation, capacity building, and global collaboration. To advance this, ICRISAT hosted a series of four international training programs from 3 March to 3 April 2026.

The programs were delivered through the ICRISAT Center of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA), in collaboration with the Dryland Academy, under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) initiative of India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Developed collaboratively by ICRISAT and ISSCA partners, the courses enabled participants to understand, evaluate, and adopt scalable technologies for agriculture, climate resilience, and rural development, while building country-level collaborations to drive technology transfer, localization, and institutional partnerships.

A total of 129 participants from 25 countries participated in this intensive capacity-building initiative. The participants represented a diverse mix of policymakers, researchers, extension professionals, and development practitioners from the Global South, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing scalable solutions in climate-resilient agriculture, digital transformation, crop improvement, and seed systems strengthening.

Highlighting the need for stronger global collaboration to drive sustainable transformation, Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, said:

"The future of agriculture will be shaped by how effectively countries collaborate, share knowledge, and scale solutions.

"Through ICRISAT's institutional platforms, such as ISSCA and the Dryland Academy, we connect science, innovation, and partnerships to drive sustainable transformation across the Global South," said Dr Himanshu Pathak.

The training series focused on four priority areas aligned with ISSCA's focus areas:

Emphasizing the breadth of the programs, Dr Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General - Research and Innovation of ICRISAT said:

"ICRISAT brings over five decades of experience in advancing agricultural science and reaching farmers, including the most underserved.

"By sharing this knowledge with diverse cohorts representing over 25 countries, we are strengthening global capacity to tackle agricultural challenges," said Dr Stanford Blade.

Throughout the courses, participants engaged in expert-led sessions, hands-on training, field visits to seed companies, the NutriHub, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and peer learning. The programs focused on practical application, with real-world case studies, tools, and analytical frameworks tailored to dryland systems. Participants strengthened their technical capacities while exchanging insights across countries, developing context-specific approaches for implementation within their national and regional systems.

These learning experiences were further enriched through contributions from partners and global experts, including Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Uttar Pradesh Council of Agricultural Research (UPCAR), Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute (ICAR-CAZRI), ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research (ICAR-IIFSR), ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (ICAR-IIOR), ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (ICAR-IIRR), Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL), Corteva Agriscience, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University (RLBCAU), Seed Traceability, Authentication, and Holistic Inventory (SAATHI) Portal, Gubba Cold Storage Limited (Gubba Seeds), ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research (ICAR-IIMR), and ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (ICAR-CRIDA).

The programs also benefited from CGIAR collaboration, including the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), CGIAR Science Program on Breeding for Tomorrow (B4T), CGIAR Data and Digital Accelerator (DDA) International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg), and HarvestPlus, bringing diverse scientific expertise into the training programs.

Emphasizing peer-to-peer learning, Mr Sanjay Agarwal, Assistant Director General of ICRISAT, encouraged participants to share scalable solutions through ISSCA platform:

"Solutions to many of agriculture's challenges already exist. We must bridge the knowledge gap to make them accessible across borders.

"The ICRISAT Center of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA) is designed to do exactly this by connecting countries, building capacity, and enabling solutions to be adapted to local contexts," said Mr Sanjay Agarwal.

With four additional ITEC training programs planned for 2026, Dr Padmaja Ravula, Principal Scientist - Sociologist, Gender & Nutrition, ICRISAT, indicated that ICRISAT will continue to expand its global capacity development efforts through the Dryland Academy. She noted that the upcoming programs will further strengthen technical capacities, deepen cross-country learning, and support the wider adaptation of proven solutions across dryland regions.

Global Agriculture is an independent international media platform covering agri-business, policy, technology, and sustainability. For editorial collaborations, thought leadership, and strategic communications, write to [email protected]

21 April 2026, New Delhi: Premier Irrigation Technologies Private Limited, formerly Premier Irrigation Adritec, has announced a new corporate identity to

21 April 2026, Barcelona: Artificial intelligence is rapidly shedding its identity as a tool exclusive to the tech industry and emerging

10 April 2026, Belgium: The Gates Foundation has awarded a $7 million grant to Rainbow Crops to support the development of crop varieties that can