HYDERABAD, JANUARY 29, 2025: ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad in association with the Indian Society of Dryland Agriculture organized the inaugural function of the International Conference on Rainfed Agriculture: Building Pathways for Resilience & Sustainable Livelihoods at ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad on Wednesday (January 29, 2025).
More than 750 delegates across different countries, farmers, NGO officials, and officials of the private sector dealing with various agricultural inputs participated in the inaugural function. The event was initiated by lighting the lamp by the dignitaries as a symbol of bestowing knowledge eternally.
Dr JVNS Prasad, Project Coordinator, AICRPDA and Secretary ISDA welcomed all the delegates and distinguished dignitaries to the function and briefed them about the conference. Dr V. K. Singh, Director ICAR-CRIDA and President ISDA, welcomed the delegates and dignitaries and apprised the gathering about the importance of rainfed agriculture to the Indian economy and also informed that the main reason for organizing the conference is to bring the researchers, farmers, NGOs, policymakers and private sector on the same platform so that the recommendations that are useful to the farming community can be made.
Dr S. K. Chaudhary, DDG (NRM) in his address emphasized the importance and need of development in rainfed agriculture. He urged the delegates to come up with technologies, recommendations and policy briefs that would help the farming community overcome the different stresses and problems being encountered in rainfed farming.
Dr Stanford Blade DG ICRISAT, highlighted ICRISAT’s works on dryland agriculture and appraised about ICRISAT and CRIDA collaboration. Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General (ICAR) and Secretary (DARE) in his address congratulated the researchers of rainfed farming for enhancing productivity and bringing resilience to rainfed farming. He emphasised the importance of dryland agriculture and climate resilience and its impact on national development also shared valuable insights and recent advancements in the field of dryland agriculture. He also stressed that efforts needed to be made by the researchers to develop new extension methodologies that can still enhance the productivity and resilience of rainfed farming.
A compendium of Extended summaries of this conference and other publications related to the conference was released by the dignitaries. Presentation of Awards Felicitation of Luminaries of Dryland Agriculture was done during this program. The program ended with a vote of thanks by Dr. PK. Pankaj, Treasurer of ISDA.
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