22 May 2012: The International Center Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) highlighted their collaboration on measures to address climate risks and constraints through their “Vulnerability to Climate Change: Adaptation Strategies and Layers of Resilience” project at a policy dialogue on Climate Resilient Agriculture in India.

The policy dialogue on “Building Climate Resilient Agriculture in India” was organized by the Research Program on Markets, Institutions and Policies (RP-MIP) of ICRISAT in collaboration with ICAR with support from Asian Development Bank (ADB). It brought together 60 policy makers, stakeholders and ministry representatives.

ICRISAT Director General William Dar described the activities of the seven country ICRISAT and ICAR project on Vulnerability to Climate Change: Adaptation Strategies and Layers of Resilience, which is funded by ADB. He noted the goals of boosting farmer income for 50 million people over the coming decade, with a focus on the arid tropics and coastal areas affected by climate change impacts. Dar drew attention to the large areas of land in India that are prone to drought, noting that the New Alliance for Food Security investments of $3 billion announced by US President Barack Obama is only a small contribution to the 2009 G8 pledge of $22 billion toward addressing food security. The policy dialogue offered the opportunity for ICRISAT and ICAR to discuss the conclusions of their joint work and link their in-depth analysis of datasets and micro-level perspectives with broader trends and policy.

ICRISAT belongs to the Consortium of Centers supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). [ICRISAT Press Release]