ICRISAT

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is a global leader in dryland agriculture research. Founded in 1972 by the Government of India in partnership with CGIAR, ICRISAT tackles hunger, poverty, and malnutrition for over 2.1 billion people in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

ICRISAT has developed several world-first agricultural innovations. These include the first commercial pigeonpea hybrid, early-maturing groundnut varieties, Africa’s first biofortified pearl millet, and the sequencing of the cultivated groundnut genome. The institute focuses on key dryland crops such as sorghum, millet, chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, and oilseeds, which are essential for food security, improved nutrition, and climate-resilient farming.

The institute operates three main programs. First, Accelerated Crop Improvement promotes climate-smart crop breeding to enhance yield and resilience. Second, Resilient Farm and Food Systems strengthens sustainable resource management, market access, and farm productivity. Third, Enabling Systems Transformation focuses on digital agriculture, policy support, and extension services. Additionally, ICRISAT empowers smallholder farmers while advancing gender equality and youth inclusion across rural communities.

Headquartered in India, ICRISAT also has offices across Africa. The institute partners with governments, research institutions, development agencies, and the private sector. As a CGIAR centre, ICRISAT drives sustainable and resilient agriculture worldwide. Through research, training, and collaboration, it improves crop productivity, farmer livelihoods, and climate resilience for millions of smallholder farmers in dryland regions.