Delhi Declaration Sets Shared Agenda to Transform Arid‑Land Agriculture

New Delhi – The closing session of the Dryland Congress 2026 on September 12 marked the launch of the Delhi Declaration on Drylands (3D), a collaborative roadmap aimed at overhauling agriculture in arid and semi‑arid zones. The declaration, released alongside United Nations South‑South Cooperation Day, calls for intensified South‑South and triangular cooperation to accelerate research, technology transfer and policy alignment.

Key speakers, including Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of ICRISAT, argued for a robust data and information infrastructure to underpin dry‑land farming systems. He advocated granting ICRISAT‑NIAP the authority to lead visionary work on these challenges.

ICRISAT Director General Dr. Himanshu Pathak highlighted drylands as a strategic pillar for global food security. He urged the translation of three days of dialogue into concrete actions, prioritizing both immediate and long‑term interventions, and leveraging expertise, knowledge sharing and collaborative networks.

The conference also formalized new partnerships with the Global Crop Diversity Trust and recognized outstanding innovations through the ISSCA Global Awards 2026, which celebrate agricultural breakthroughs from Global South institutions capable of scaling across borders.