ICRISAT Board Reaffirms Commitment to Food Security and Dryland Agriculture in Africa

ICRISAT Board Reaffirms Commitment to Food Security and Dryland Agriculture in Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya — October 7, 2026

 The Governing Board of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening agricultural research, education and partnerships to improve food and nutrition security across Africa.

Speaking during a dinner with partners at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, ICRISAT Governing Board Chair Cathy Reade said sustained investment in science and innovation would be critical as African countries confront climate change, food insecurity and pressure on natural resources.

Reade said ICRISAT would continue working with governments, universities, research institutions and the private sector to ensure scientific research translates into practical solutions for communities living in the drylands.

“Our commitment is to ensure that research continues to translate into practical solutions for the communities that depend on the drylands,” she said.

She added that stronger partnerships were needed to move knowledge, technology and innovation from research institutions to farmers more quickly.

ICRISAT focuses on improving farming and agri-food systems in the drylands of Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, with the aim of tackling hunger, malnutrition, poverty and environmental degradation.

 Kenya–India partnership to boost research and education

The Board Chair said the longstanding Kenya–India relationship presents an opportunity to expand training, research and innovation opportunities for Kenyan universities, students and scientists.

She noted that universities located in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid regions could become centres of excellence in areas such as climate-resilient agriculture, mechanisation, seed systems, water management and value addition.

Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research Dr Beatrice Muganda Inyangala welcomed the initiative, saying Kenya must invest in the institutions and young professionals who will develop solutions for the country’s drylands.

“About 80 percent of Kenya is arid and semi-arid. For us, dryland agriculture is not agriculture at the margins; it is the agriculture of our future,” Dr Inyangala said.

She called for increased opportunities for Kenyan students and researchers to access training, fellowships, academic exchanges and collaborative research through the Kenya–India partnership and ICRISAT.

Dr Inyangala specifically highlighted the potential of universities such as Garissa University and Tharaka University to become important research and innovation hubs serving dryland communities.

She also pointed to ICRISAT’s longstanding partnership with Egerton University as a foundation for expanding collaboration with more Kenyan universities.

Greater opportunities through South-South cooperation

The PS further urged ICRISAT to expand Kenya’s participation in the Maharishi initiative and ICRISAT’s Center of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA).

ISSCA provides a platform for countries in the Global South to share and scale agricultural innovations in areas including crop improvement, digital agriculture, climate resilience, agribusiness and livestock production.

Dr Inyangala said the initiatives could strengthen academic and research links between Kenya and India while creating new opportunities for students, researchers and universities.

“Let us create pathways for our students, researchers and universities to learn, collaborate and innovate together,” she said.

She said the ultimate goal should be to create a stronger connection between higher education, research, innovation, enterprise and farmers.

Turning research into solutions for farmers

ICRISAT Director General Dr Himanshu Pathak said the institute would continue focusing on turning scientific research into solutions that can be adopted by farmers at scale.

“No single institution can solve the food, climate and livelihood challenges facing the drylands. We need partnerships that bring together science, policy, education, industry and farmers,” Dr Pathak said.

He said Kenya and India have an opportunity to combine their knowledge, institutions and innovations to develop solutions suited to African conditions.

“India has an enormous body of experience in agricultural transformation. Kenya has its own knowledge, institutions and innovations. The opportunity is to bring these strengths together and co-create solutions that are relevant to African conditions,” he said.

 Investing in the future of dryland agriculture

Dr Inyangala said Kenya should increasingly view its drylands as areas of opportunity and investment rather than regions defined by agricultural challenges.

She highlighted the importance of investing in drought-tolerant crops, improved seed systems, mechanisation, digital agriculture, water-efficient farming, post-harvest management and value addition.

“When we invest in dryland agriculture, we are not investing in the margins of our economy. We are investing in its future,” she said.

The dinner brought together the ICRISAT Governing Board, government officials, academic and research institutions and other partners to discuss ways of accelerating agricultural transformation through science and collaboration.

The engagement reinforced a shared commitment to strengthening links between Kenya, India, ICRISAT and African universities while ensuring that research and innovation deliver practical benefits to farmers and communities.

Dr Pathak said ICRISAT would continue working with partners to scale agricultural technologies and build capacity across the drylands.

“Our vision is a food-secure and resilient world where the drylands are not defined by their challenges, but by their potential,” he said.