Dryland Congress 2026 adopts Delhi Declaration on Drylands

The three-day ‘Dryland Congress 2026’ in New Delhi concluded with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration on Drylands (3D). The declaration establishes a shared agenda for transforming dryland agriculture through collective action, knowledge exchange, and innovation across the Global South.

Experts and government officials emphasized the necessity of robust data and information systems for dryland agri-food systems. They also called for the creation of common innovation grounds or living laboratories to bridge the gap between research, policy, and practical application.

Dr. ML Jat, Director General of ICAR, proposed that the ICAR-National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research (ICAR-NIAP) be mandated to lead foresight efforts in the sector. Additionally, Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, highlighted the strategic role of drylands in global food security and urged the translation of congress deliberations into concrete short- and long-term actions. The event also saw the announcement of new agreements and memoranda of understanding with the Global Crop Diversity Trust.