Capitalizing knowledge: Farmer Field Day organized in Amlaha, India

More than 300 participants including farmers, agricultural scientists, researchers and policy makers attended the ‘Farmers’ Day’ workshop on 20 March 2017, organized by the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) in Amlaha, Madhya Pradesh, India.

“The purpose of the event, funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), was to present how science can serve farmers for enhanced income, food and nutritional security in the region,” said Dr. Ashutosh Sarker, Regional Coordinator, ICARDA South Asia & China Regional Program.

During the sessions, the participants were familiarized with research activities of ICARDA Food and Legume Research platform and new varieties of climate resilient crops developed by ICARDA breeders.

Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Prem Chand Meena, Madhya-Pradesh State Agriculture Production Commissioner, gave a positive feedback on ICARDA activities in the region. Madhya-Pradesh state will further cooperate with ICARDA to meet the challenges of ensuring food security despite water scarcity and resource degradation, he assured.

Dryland areas in India cover more than 85 million hectares and highly affected by climate change. ICARDA’s South Asia and China Regional Program is working with ICAR research centers and state agricultural universities to tap drylands agriculture potential for growth, promoting climate smart technologies for cultivating pulse crops, incorporating pulses for diversification and sustainable cereal-based production systems, and improving pulse production technology for food and fodder in rain-fed areas.