We recognize the urgent need to address climate change and its impacts on agriculture as part of our commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG 13): Climate Action
We are at the forefront of developing climate-resilient crops and strengthening farming systems to cope with the challenges posed by climate change in the drylands of Asia and Africa.
Through our cutting-edge research and innovative approaches, we actively work towards building resilience and sustainability in agricultural systems.
Climate-Resilient Crop Research: ICRISAT's research focuses on developing and promoting climate-resilient crop varieties such as chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, and other small millets. These crops are well-suited to withstand the adverse effects of climate change, including prolonged droughts, increased temperatures, and unpredictable rainfall patterns. By providing farmers with these climate-resilient varieties, we help them adapt to changing climatic conditions and maintain their agricultural productivity and livelihoods.
Drought and Heat Tolerance: In the face of escalating water scarcity and rising temperatures, drought and heat-tolerant crop varieties are essential to ensure food security and sustainability. ICRISAT's research focuses on enhancing the drought and heat tolerance of crops, such as chickpea and pearl millet, which are critical for food and nutritional security in the drylands. By developing varieties that can thrive under such stress conditions, we support farmers in mitigating the impacts of climate change on their crops.
Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices: ICRISAT advocates for and promotes climate-smart agricultural practices that enable farmers to adapt to and mitigate climate change. Through conservation agriculture, agroforestry, water-efficient irrigation techniques, and soil health management, we encourage sustainable practices that optimize resource use and enhance climate resilience in farming systems.
Strengthening Farming Systems: ICRISAT works closely with farmers to strengthen their agricultural systems to cope with climate change. By providing training, capacity building, and access to knowledge and resources, we empower farmers to make informed decisions about their farming practices. Strengthening farming systems helps farmers diversify their income sources, adopt resilient crop varieties, and improve overall resilience to climate-related shocks.
Weather and Climate Information Services: ICRISAT collaborates with meteorological agencies and stakeholders to develop and disseminate weather and climate information services tailored to farmers' needs. By providing timely and accurate climate information, we enable farmers to make climate-smart decisions in their agricultural activities, enhancing their preparedness for climate-related challenges.
Policy Advocacy and Partnerships: ICRISAT actively engages in policy advocacy and partnership building to promote climate-resilient agriculture at regional, national, and international levels. By advocating for climate-smart policies and programs, we contribute to creating an enabling environment for sustainable agricultural practices that support SDG 13.
Transformation of 15 million hectares of degraded lands benefiting around 10 million smallholder farmers
Landscape restoration interventions led to:
Harvesting of surface water runoff of about 6.0 million cubic meters per year
Enhancing groundwater availability by 50-150%
Increasing base flow by 30-50%
Reducing soil loss by 70-80% compared to the baseline situation
Africa
ICRISAT pioneered watershed management in Ethiopia by integrating agricultural development. ICRISAT and its partners have developed a watershed learning site in Yewol, Ethiopia, where the physical soil and water Management work was done in about 7500 ha of land.
ICRISAT’s has been standing as an important partner in Zimbabwe’s efforts to build resilient food and nutrition systems.
ICRISAT's Digital soil health mapping over 10 million hectares and agro-advisory on precision nutrient application benefited >5 million farmers with economic benefit of US$ 453 million.
Our science and digital tools for Climate Smart Agriculture practices and Climate Information Services help manage climate risks and build resilience for >10 million smallholder farmers.
Digital tool (Plantix app) has helped 50 million users/farmers diagnose pest and disease incidence and nutrient deficiency in 35 crops with 20-40% reduction in crop damage.
Asia
Successful deployment and validation of landscape management approaches in Indian states: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, etc.
In 1976 ICRISAT started on-site trials at its headquarters in India and have since introduced watershed management across more than 300 locations across Asia and Africa.
ICRISAT takes pride in being a science partner in the Government’s initiatives leading collaboration teams in 13 model watersheds in various agroecological zones in 9 states of India.
Several decentralized wastewater treatment units have been established by ICRISAT in partnership with local governments and private companies to supply quality water for irrigation. With a pathogen removal efficiency of 87%, decentralized wastewater treatment units reduce health risks and provide water security to smallholder farmers.
Drought tolerant variety of chickpea and an improved pearl millet varieties developed in coloboration with ICRISAT were launched as part of the 35 crop varieties to tackle climate change and malnutrition by the Government of India.
