Context:
ICRISAT, in collaboration with the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), has launched the ICRISAT Centre of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA) to enhance agricultural collaboration among developing nations.
Overview of ICRISAT
- A non-profit, apolitical international research organization dedicated to improving agriculture in dryland regions of Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, benefiting over 2 billion people.
- Established in 1972 through a partnership between the Government of India and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
- Granted “International Organization” status by India under the United Nations (Privileges and Immunities) Act, 1947.
- Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana (India)
- Regional Hubs: Nairobi (Kenya) and Bamako (Mali)
Vision & Mandate
- Vision: A prosperous, food-secure, and climate-resilient dryland tropics.
- Mandate: Develop climate-resilient, nutrient-rich, and drought-tolerant crops to combat hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and environmental degradation.
Key Research Crops
Focuses on nutritious, drought-resistant crops, including:
- Chickpea, Pigeonpea, Pearl Millet, Sorghum
- Groundnut, Finger Millet, Small Millets, Oilseeds
Key Focus Areas
- Sustainable & Climate-Smart Agriculture
- Promotes natural resource management and digital innovations like the MRIDA mobile app.
- Empowering Smallholder Farmers
- Enhances livelihoods through market access, skill development, and financial inclusion, with special emphasis on women and marginalized communities.
- Aligning with Global Goals
- Supports SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) through agricultural innovation.
Major Achievements
- First to sequence the genome of cultivated groundnut.
- Developed India’s first commercial pigeonpea hybrid.
- Introduced Africa’s first biofortified pearl millet.
- Awarded the 2021 Africa Food Prize for the Tropical Legumes Project, which improved food security in 13 Sub-Saharan African countries.