The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) are jointly organizing the three-day Global Dryland Congress 2026 in New Delhi from September 10-12, 2026. The event, themed 'Transforming Dryland Agriculture with South–South Cooperation', will be held at the National Agricultural Science Complex and commemorates 50 years of ICAR-ICRISAT partnership.
Over 800 scientists, policymakers, farmer representatives, and development partners from Asia, Africa, and the Americas will participate in the congress. The deliberations will focus on six key themes: breeding, climate resilience, nutrition and markets, farming systems, seed systems, and gender and youth inclusion. The program includes panel discussions, keynote presentations, parallel sessions, and poster exhibitions.
The congress coincides with critical global agricultural challenges, as drylands span approximately 45% of the world's land surface and support over two billion people, many of whom are smallholder farmers facing climate variability, land degradation, water scarcity, and market shifts.
On the final day, the event will commemorate the United Nations Day for South–South Cooperation with a special ceremony and dedicated sessions on advancing South–South and Triangular Cooperation in agricultural research, convened jointly with CGIAR. The proceedings will conclude with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration on Dryland (3D), along with announcements of new partnerships, MOUs, and awards recognizing outstanding contributions to dryland science.
Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will address the congress as Chief Guest. Other distinguished participants include Dr. Himanshu Pathak (Director General, ICRISAT), Ms. Cathy Reade (ICRISAT Board Chair), Dr. M.L. Jat (Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR), Dr. Sandra Milach (CGIAR Chief Scientist), and several former ICAR Director Generals and international agricultural leaders.