IARI Shares Agri Solutions with African Delegates

New Delhi: A 35-member delegation from ten African countries visited the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) on April 4 as part of the International Training Programme titled “Livelihood Promotion through Self Employment at the Grassroots Level.” The programme is organized by the National Institute of Labour Economics Research and Development (NILERD), an autonomous institute under NITI Aayog, aimed at promoting self-employment in agriculture and rural development.

The African delegation comprised district-level officials and policymakers actively engaged in grassroots-level livelihood development. Their visit to IARI, India’s premier institution for agricultural research and innovation, was designed to provide insights into cutting-edge agriculture technologies, sustainable farming practices, and climate-resilient crop development.

The delegation was welcomed by Dr. R.N. Padaria, Joint Director (Extension), who highlighted IARI’s transformative role in India’s Green Revolution and its continued leadership in developing advanced, biofortified, and climate-resilient crop varieties. Dr. Padaria also emphasized the institute’s efforts in using innovative extension approaches to ensure effective dissemination of agricultural technologies directly to farmers.

“IARI has been at the forefront of agricultural innovation in India. We are developing solutions not only for increased productivity but also to address climate challenges and nutritional security,” said Dr. Padaria during the session.

Dr. Anupama Sarkar, Deputy Director at NILERD, noted the significance of the visit. “Our participants are deeply involved in rural development across Africa. Understanding how institutions like IARI promote agricultural self-employment and sustainable livelihoods is essential for shaping similar initiatives in their countries,” she said.

The interactive session saw the African delegates raising several important questions related to agricultural technology transfer, climate change mitigation, youth engagement in farming, and post-harvest management. Specific queries included:

• How does IARI ensure the successful implementation of technologies at the farmer level?
• What initiatives are in place to combat the effects of climate change in agriculture?
• How is India encouraging educated youth to remain in farming?
• What strategies are being used for cost-effective soil testing and crop productivity?
• Why do hybrid maize seeds require farmers to buy new seeds each year?

Dr. Padaria and his team addressed each question, elaborating on IARI’s farmer-centric approach, soil health card initiatives, and the science behind hybrid seed production. The session also touched on India’s strategies to enhance the sustainability of agriculture while ensuring long-term profitability for small and marginal farmers.

In a bid to strengthen Indo-African cooperation in agriculture, Dr. Padaria proposed customized capacity-building programs for African professionals and encouraged technology licensing by relevant firms. He also emphasized the scope for bilateral agreements, such as Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), to facilitate the exchange of researchers, students, and policymakers between India and African nations.

Following the discussions, the delegation toured various innovative agricultural models at IARI. Notable among them were the Integrated Farming System (IFS) model and advanced research facilities in hydroponics and aquaponics at the Center for Protected Cultivation Technology. These modern farming systems showcased how India is moving toward climate-smart and resource-efficient agriculture.

The visiting delegates were highly impressed by the demonstrated technologies and expressed keen interest in adopting similar models in their own countries. They acknowledged the scalability and relevance of IARI’s innovations and committed to advocating for their implementation through engagement with their national ministries and agricultural policymakers.

The IARI visit underscored the importance of international collaboration in promoting agricultural innovation, climate-resilient farming, and sustainable development. With shared goals and challenges, the interaction opened avenues for future partnerships between India and African nations in the field of agricultural research and rural empowerment.

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