ICRISAT, CIMMYT start new crop research program for dryland farmers
The five year program will help researchers develop stronger sorghum and groundnut varieties faster for farmers in Africa and India facing drought, heat, and poor rainfall.
KENYA – The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, ICRISAT, and CIMMYT have started a new research program aimed at helping dryland farmers in Africa and India access stronger crop varieties faster.
The project, launched in Nairobi on May 14 with support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, will run for five years and focus first on sorghum and groundnut crops.
Researchers want to cut crop breeding time by at least two years through the use of artificial intelligence, genomic selection, speed breeding, and advanced data systems.
The program will involve research partners from Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, India, and the University of Queensland.
Dr de Bang, Senior Scientific Lead at the Novo Nordisk Foundation, said stronger partnerships remain important in helping farmers deal with climate pressure in dryland areas.
“This project exemplifies the value of sharing data, infrastructure, genetic resources, and know how across institutional boundaries to deliver meaningful solutions for farmers,” said Dr de Bang.
Climate change continues to affect dryland farming areas through drought, heat stress, crop disease, and uneven rainfall. The partners said faster crop development could help protect food supplies and incomes for millions of people who depend on farming.
Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, said the program shows how research groups can work together to respond to climate and food system pressures.
“Through frontier science, AI, and deep expertise in dryland agriculture, we are building a new generation of breeding systems capable of delivering faster, smarter, and more climate resilient solutions for farmers,” said Dr Pathak.
Dr Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT, added that no single institution can solve food security and climate problems alone.
The launch comes days after ICRISAT introduced a new logo for its Center of Excellence for South South Cooperation in Agriculture, known as ISSCA, during its 55th Foundation Day event in India. The center supports agricultural cooperation, technology sharing, and training across countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
ISSCA also plans to host a special session during Dryland Congress 2026 in New Delhi from September 10 to 12, where member institutions will review joint work on agriculture and climate resilience.
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