Hyderabad: A transformative three-week International Training on Landscape Resource Conservation concluded on Friday at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), strengthening south-south collaboration in the global fight against land degradation and climate change.
The program brought together 24 participants from 14 countries—Ghana, Tajikistan, South Sudan, Myanmar, Morocco, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Liberia, Mali, Chad, Sri Lanka, Lesotho, Iran, and the Philippines—to tackle critical challenges such as land restoration, carbon neutrality and smallholder farming sustainability.
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Organized by ICRISAT, under the aegis of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Program of the Government of India and supported by ICRISAT’s Dryland Academy, the program provided a platform for sharing global best practices.
Addressing participants, Stanford Blade, director general-interim of ICRISAT, highlighted the importance of two-way knowledge exchange and encouraged continued collaboration beyond the workshop. “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,” Blade emphasized. He also acknowledged the support of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, for facilitating the program.
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ML Jat, deputy director general-research (acting) and Global Program Director, Resilient Farm and Food Systems, ICRISAT, encouraged participants to translate their learnings into tangible actions. “When you return to your countries, consider how you can apply these insights to benefit your communities. We deeply appreciate the support of your governments and institutions in sponsoring your participation,” added Dr Jat.
At the inaugural session, Ramesh Singh, principal scientist & cluster lead-ICRISAT Development Center, provided an overview of the course, while ICRISAT’s Global Research Program Directors, Sean Mayes and Victor Afari-Sefa, emphasized the role of collaborative research in addressing global challenges.
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The training covered 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.
Learning Through Immersive Experiences
Participants also engaged in hands-on learning through 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 specialize in grassland and fodder research, as well as agroforestry.
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“The agroforestry and water harvesting projects we visited are good examples that can be implemented in Iran, as they are beneficial to us. Additionally, ICRISAT’s laboratories are outstanding, and the work being done by the scientists is impressive,” said Dr Somayeh Naseri, Head of the Forest Rangeland Department at the Semnan Agriculture and Natural Resources Research & Education Center, Iran.
“India is experiencing climate change impacts similar to those in Cambodia. The country has advanced technology and has achieved notable research advancements. The knowledge I’ve gained here can be applied to both research and policy in Cambodia,” shared Chumnan Ith, officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The program facilitated knowledge exchange in landscape conservation, sustainable farming, and carbon neutrality, fostering a network of professionals committed to addressing land degradation and strengthening smallholder resilience.
