ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics)

June 5, 2025

Current Context : ICRISAT launched its Centre of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture(with RIS) and signed an MoU with DAKSHIN to strengthen development partnerships.

ABOUT

Founded in the 1970s under the CGIAR consortium; headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana.
Functions under the governance of an international Board of Trustees representing partner countries and donor agencies.
- Goal: Improve food security and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in semi-arid tropics.
- Focus Crops: Sorghum, pearl millet, chickpea, pigeon pea, groundnut, and finger millet.
- Research Areas:
  - Crop improvement (drought-resilient varieties).
  - Natural resource management (water-use efficiency).
  - Climate-smart agriculture and digital agronomy tools.
- Key Achievements :
  - Africa Food Prize 2021 for contributions to African agricultural productivity.
  - Developed the world’s first pigeon pea hybrid, significantly increasing yields and resilience in dry regions. (user data)
  - Pioneered millet value chains in East and West Africa to diversify diets and income sources.