31 March 2025, Hyderabad: The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) marked its 54th Foundation Day with a grand event focused on strengthening partnerships and reaffirming its commitment to transforming dryland agriculture. The celebrations brought together dignitaries, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to honor over five decades of scientific excellence and collaboration aimed at ensuring food and nutrition security in arid regions worldwide.
Foundation Day Address
Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, delivered the Foundation Day Address, emphasizing the organization’s contributions over the past five decades and outlining its future roadmap.
“On this Foundation Day, we remember our past and look forward to redeeming our commitment to the future. With the changing climate, the drylands are getting thirstier for water and hungrier for soil nutrition. The drylands need us,” said Dr. Pathak.
He highlighted that ICRISAT has developed over 1,200 new varieties of dryland crops, brought water to drought-affected areas, and provided farmers with solutions to grow crops in challenging environments. Dr. Pathak further laid out ten action points for the institution and its staff to advance the organization’s mission under its motto, ‘Science of Discovery to Science of Delivery.’
Partner Addresses and Recognitions
The event also featured addresses from key partners, underscoring ICRISAT’s global impact. Dr. D.K. Yadav, Deputy Director General (Crop Sciences) at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), commended ICRISAT’s role in improving livelihoods across India, Africa, and beyond. He emphasized the importance of stronger collaborations in tackling food security challenges posed by climate change.
Prof. O. Jiri, Permanent Secretary at Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water & Rural Development, conveyed his government’s pride in its association with ICRISAT, recognizing agriculture’s pivotal role in transforming lives. Similarly, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary of Agriculture & Farmers Empowerment for the Government of Odisha, praised ICRISAT’s contributions and stressed the need for last-mile delivery of agricultural innovations.
Key Highlights of the Ceremony
The celebrations featured the launch of a special video, Transforming Dryland Agriculture: Over 50 Years of Impact, which showcased ICRISAT’s contributions to sustainable agrifood systems. Dr. Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General-Research & Innovation, presented ICRISAT’s strategic roadmap for food and nutrition security in dryland regions.
Several significant launches were announced during the event. Dr. Sean Mayes, Research Program Director for Accelerated Crop Improvement, and the breeding team presented 23 newly released cultivars across five countries, recognizing the 2024 seed varieties. The first issue of SeedPulse, ICRISAT’s Policy Brief on Seed Systems, was introduced by Dr. Manzoor Dar, Global Head-Seed Systems. A new policy brief on millet mainstreaming, developed by Dr. Shalander Kumar, Deputy Global Research Program Director for Enabling Systems Transformation, was launched to advance millet integration in Odisha’s agrifood system. Certificates were awarded to ICRISAT Development Center staff for their contributions to the development of a solar-powered water hyacinth harvester. Additionally, Dr. M.L. Jat, Research Program Director for Resilient Farm and Food Systems, introduced the Plant Health Detector App, a digital tool designed to help farmers diagnose plant health issues and improve crop productivity.
Farmer and Entrepreneur Testimonials
Farmers from different regions shared their experiences of working with ICRISAT. Mr. S.S. Shinde from Latur, Maharashtra, spoke of his long association with the institute and how improved crop varieties boosted his yields. Mr. Ashish Upadhyay from Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, highlighted ICRISAT’s role in transforming abandoned farms into productive lands, stating, “ICRISAT mane kheti ki guarantee” (ICRISAT is a guarantee for farming).
Entrepreneurs from the Agribusiness Innovation Platform also shared their journeys. Ms. Annapurna Sastry spoke about supplying agricultural products to remote tribal areas during the COVID-19 lockdowns, while Mr. Harsha Krishna discussed the technical validation and global connections his startup, Jiva Waters, gained through ICRISAT.
Strengthening Partnerships: MoU Signing
ICRISAT formalized a collaboration with Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Ltd. (BBSSL), New Delhi, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Mr. M. Yogendra, Chairman of BBSSL, highlighted the importance of seed quality in agricultural transformation and emphasized the need for strong partnerships in ensuring smallholder farmers access high-yielding seeds.
Engaging Activities and Community Outreach
The Foundation Day celebrations extended beyond discussions, featuring interactive engagements such as a meet and greet between the Director General and farm workers and contractors. The inauguration of the Centre for Pre-Breeding marked a new milestone in supporting crop improvement efforts. A campus tour was organized for 600 school children, fostering interest in agricultural sciences among the younger generation. Additionally, a press interaction with the Director General was attended by reg
ional units of Doordarshan, All India Radio, and various media houses.
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