Drylands Can Become a Great Strength with Right Science, Policy and Market Support: Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the Dryland Congress 2026 in New Delhi, emphasizing that drylands can become a strength for India and other regions through science, policy, and market support. The three-day event brings together over 800 delegates from more than 25 countries to discuss resilient dryland agriculture, crop resilience, landscape management, and nutrition. Key publications, including an ICRISAT journey documentation and an abstract book, were launched during the opening session. Discussions focused on a whole-of-system approach, digital public infrastructure, water management, genetic gains, and South-South cooperation to ensure food security and improve farmers' livelihoods in dryland regions.