ICARDA to Inaugurate the Food Legume Research Platform in India

ICARDA will officially inaugurate the newly established facilities of its Food Legume Research Platform (FLRP) in Amlaha, Madhya Pradesh, on 7 February 2026, marking a major milestone in India’s and South Asia’s efforts to strengthen climate-resilient agriculture, food security, and rural livelihoods.

Shri. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, will serve as Chief Guest of the ceremony, with Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary (DARE) and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), as Presiding Guest of Honor. ICARDA Director General Mr. Aly Abousabaa will host the event alongside senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, State Governments, international development partners, scientists, and farming communities.

With generous support from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Government of India, and the Government of Madhya Pradesh, ICARDA established the FLRP in Amlaha, a village in the district of Sehore, as a regional hub for research, innovation, and capacity development. In recognition of its strategic importance, the platform has been granted United Nations status by the Union Cabinet, underscoring its role in advancing sustainable agriculture and food systems in the region.

The inauguration ceremony will formally open the platform’s new administrative building, farmers’ training center, and advanced laboratories for plant genomics, plant tissue culture, plant breeding, and plant pathology. These facilities will strengthen ICARDA’s ability to deliver cutting-edge research, develop climate-smart crop varieties, and support the dissemination of technologies at scale.

The program will also include a guided tour of the facilities and field demonstrations showcasing improved technologies designed to enhance productivity, resilience, and water-use efficiency in dryland farming systems.

The inauguration will be followed by a Farmers’ Day and a stakeholders’ consultation meeting under the National Pulses Mission, during which the Hon’ble Minister will interact with and address more than 1,000 farmers and stakeholders from across the country, celebrating innovation, knowledge exchange, and farmer-led progress. The consultation will provide a platform for stakeholders to engage directly with farmers, understand their needs, and jointly develop a roadmap towards making India self-sufficient in pulse production. The programme will feature interactions with dignitaries, the felicitation of progressive farmers through the presentation of commemorative mementos in recognition of their contributions, seed distribution, and exhibitions showcasing climate-smart agricultural solutions. Since its establishment, the FLRP has delivered tangible results across research, development, and capacity building:

• 34 projects implemented

• USD 50 million mobilized in resources

• 158 crop varieties released

• 240,662 hectares covered with improved technologies

• 550,000 direct beneficiaries, including 34% women

• 15,000 capacity development events

• 520 scientific publications

The platform’s mandate crops include lentil, chickpea, grasspea, faba bean, wheat, barley, and cactus, reflecting both regional priorities and global food system needs.