A three-week international training on landscape resource conservation recently concluded at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) bringing together 24 participants from 14 countries
These include Ghana, Tajikistan, South Sudan, Myanmar, Morocco, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Liberia, Mali, Chad, Sri Lanka, Lesotho, Iran, and the Philippines. The programme is aimed at tackling challenges such as land restoration, carbon neutrality, and smallholder farming sustainability. It also provides a platform for sharing global best practices. During the training, director general-interim of ICRISAT, Dr Stanford Blade highlighted the importance of two-way knowledge exchange and encouraged continued collaboration beyond the workshop.
Key themes such as landscape hydrology, land resource inventory, natural resource management (NRM) structures, digital tools for landscape management, water budgeting, climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable farming practices, and nutrient management were covered during the training. Participants were also urged to translate their learnings into tangible actions.
At the inaugural session, Dr Ramesh Singh, principal scientist & cluster lead-ICRISAT at Development Centre, provided an overview of the course, while ICRISAT’s Global Research Programme directors, Dr Sean Mayes and Dr Victor Afari-Sefa, emphasised the role of collaborative research in addressing global challenges.
Participants engaged in immersive tour experiences which included an ICRISAT field visit and a one-week exposure visit to landscape intervention sites in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. The tour included the World Heritage Irrigation Structure – Sukma Dukma Dam – and visits to ICAR institutes IGFRI and CAFRI, which specialise in grassland and fodder research, as well as agroforestry.
“This training is not just an academic exercise; it embodies the spirit of South-South collaboration. I urge you to stay connected and build on this resource base to drive meaningful change,” Dr Blade emphasised. He also acknowledged the support of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, for facilitating the programme.
ICRISAT conducts training for officials from 14 nations
The programme is aimed at tackling challenges such as land restoration, carbon neutrality, and smallholder farming sustainability. (Image source: ICRISAT)
