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Experts urge robust data, innovation for dryland agriculture
Experts met in New Delhi to discuss how to improve farming in dry areas.
They said better data and information systems are needed.
They also proposed places where researchers, farmers and policymakers can work together.
The meeting ended with the Delhi Declaration on Drylands.
This declaration calls for countries in the Global South to share knowledge and solutions.
Dr ML Jat said planning for the future should be central to dryland agriculture.
Dr Himanshu Pathak said ideas should become practical actions.
New agreements and awards for agricultural innovations were also announced.
Dryland Congress 2026 concluded in New Delhi with calls for stronger data and information systems.
Delegates adopted the Delhi Declaration on Drylands, outlining a shared agenda for Global South cooperation.
Experts proposed common innovation grounds or living laboratories linking research, practice and policy.
ICAR was urged to establish a strong institutional mechanism and assign foresight work to ICAR-NIAP.
New agreements with the Global Crop Diversity Trust and the ISSCA Global Awards 2026 were announced.
- Who
- Government officials, agricultural researchers and experts, including representatives of ICAR and ICRISAT.
- What
- The Dryland Congress 2026 adopted the Delhi Declaration on Drylands and called for stronger data systems, innovation and cooperation.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- When
- The three-day Congress concluded on Sunday in 2026; its final day coincided with the United Nations Day for South–South Cooperation.
- Why
- To accelerate solutions for dryland agriculture and strengthen food-security efforts through collaboration, knowledge exchange and collective action.
Key facts
- Event
- Dryland Congress 2026
- Location
- New Delhi
- Declaration
- Delhi Declaration on Drylands (3D)
- Main priority
- Robust data and information systems for dryland agri-food systems
- Proposed mechanism
- Common innovation grounds or living laboratories connecting research, practice and policy
- Institutional recommendation
- ICAR-National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research should lead foresight work on dryland agriculture
- New agreements
- Agreements and memoranda of understanding were announced with the Global Crop Diversity Trust
- Awards
- ISSCA Global Awards 2026 recognised agricultural innovations from institutions across the Global South
Sources
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