The three-day Global Dryland Congress 2026 began on 10 September 2026 at the National Agricultural Science Complex in New Delhi. The event is jointly organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, with participation from scientists, policymakers, farmer representatives, and development partners from Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
Dryland Agriculture
Dryland agriculture refers to farming in regions that receive limited and variable rainfall. Such regions are common in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid zones, where crop production depends on moisture conservation, drought-tolerant varieties, and efficient water use.
ICAR and ICRISAT Partnership
The Congress marks 50 years of the ICAR-ICRISAT partnership. ICAR is India’s apex agricultural research body under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, while ICRISAT is an international research institute based in Hyderabad that works on crops suited to semi-arid tropics.
Agenda and Themes
The conference agenda covers six core themes of dryland agriculture. These themes are breeding, climate resilience, nutrition and markets, farming systems, seed systems, and youth and gender inclusion. The theme of the Congress is “Transforming Dryland Agriculture with South–South Cooperation”.
Important Facts for Exams
- The Global Dryland Congress 2026 is being held at the National Agricultural Science Complex in New Delhi.
- The event is linked to the United Nations’ International Year of Women Farmers 2026.
- The final day of the Congress is scheduled to coincide with United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation on 12 September 2026.
- The proceedings are expected to end with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration on Dryland, also called the 3D.
South-South Cooperation
South-South Cooperation is a framework for collaboration among developing countries in areas such as agriculture, technology, health, and capacity building. The Congress includes specialised sessions with CGIAR on this theme.
Expected Outcomes
The Congress is expected to conclude with new bilateral Memoranda of Understanding. Such MoUs are formal agreements between two parties and are commonly used in research, training, and institutional cooperation.
