Inaugural Session of International Conference on Rainfed Agriculture Focuses on Building Resilience & Sustainable Livelihoods
(Judicial Quest News Network)
Hyderabad, 29 January 2025 – The ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (ICAR-CRIDA), in collaboration with the Indian Society of Dryland Agriculture (ISDA), hosted the inaugural session of the International Conference on Rainfed Agriculture: Building Pathways for Resilience & Sustainable Livelihoods at the ICAR-CRIDA campus in Hyderabad. The event brought together over 750 delegates from around the world, including farmers, NGO officials, and experts from the private sector involved in agricultural inputs.
The conference kicked off with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, symbolizing the eternal pursuit of knowledge, followed by a warm welcome by Dr. JVNS Prasad, Project Coordinator of AICRPDA and Secretary of ISDA. Dr. Prasad briefed the attendees about the conference’s objectives, setting the stage for the crucial discussions to follow.
Dr. V. K. Singh, Director of ICAR-CRIDA and President of ISDA, welcomed the gathering and highlighted the significance of rainfed agriculture to India’s agricultural landscape and economy. He emphasized that the main aim of the conference was to bring together researchers, farmers, NGOs, policy makers, and the private sector on a single platform to develop practical recommendations that can directly benefit the farming community.
In his address, Dr. S. K. Chaudhary, Deputy Director General (NRM), stressed the critical need for technological advancements and policy interventions in rainfed agriculture. He called on the delegates to come forward with innovative solutions that address the challenges faced by rainfed farmers, including drought, soil degradation, and water scarcity.
Dr. Stanford Blade, Director General of ICRISAT, shared insights into ICRISAT’s efforts in dryland agriculture and lauded the collaboration between ICRISAT and CRIDA. He discussed how partnerships like these contribute to advancing sustainable agricultural practices in arid and semi-arid regions.
Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICAR and Secretary of DARE, congratulated the researchers for their ongoing efforts to enhance productivity and resilience in rainfed farming systems. He underscored the importance of dryland agriculture in achieving national development goals and stressed the need for continued research into climate resilience and the development of effective extension methodologies to support farmers.
The event also featured the release of the Compendium of Extended Summaries and other relevant publications. In addition, a special awards ceremony recognized the luminaries of dryland agriculture for their outstanding contributions to the field.
The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr. P.K. Pankaj, Treasurer of ISDA, followed by the inauguration of the exhibition stalls showcasing innovations in rainfed agriculture.
The conference will continue over the next few days, providing a valuable platform for knowledge exchange and the formulation of strategies to strengthen rainfed agriculture and promote sustainable livelihoods.
