Hyderabad, October 30, 2025 — The ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (ICAR-CRIDA), in collaboration with the Indian Society of Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, inaugurated a three-day National Workshop on “National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) – Technology Demonstration Component (TDC) Review and Future Roadmap” today at ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad. The workshop will continue till November 1, 2025.

Over 350 delegates from across the country — including Directors of ATARIs and ICAR institutes, Nodal Scientists, ZMC Members, Researchers, KVK Scientists, Research Associates, Young Professionals, and students — attended the inaugural session.

The inaugural function was graced by Dr. R. S. Paroda, Chairman, TASS and former Secretary (DARE) and DG (ICAR), as the Chief Guest. Other dignitaries included Dr. A.K. Nayak, Deputy Director General (Natural Resource Management), ICAR; Dr. Rajbir Singh, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR; and Dr. A.K. Singh, Former DDG (NRM), ICAR. The event commenced with the lighting of the lamp, symbolizing the eternal quest for knowledge.

In his welcome address, Dr. V. K. Singh, Director, ICAR-CRIDA, emphasized the crucial role of rainfed agriculture in India’s economy and the purpose of organizing the workshop — to consolidate learnings and define strategies for the next phase of the NICRA programme. He highlighted that the NICRA–TDC, implemented through 151 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) across 33 states, has greatly improved farmers’ resilience to climate change through location-specific interventions.

Dr. A.K. Singh shared insights into the origins of the NICRA programme and lauded initiatives like Seed Banks, Fodder Banks, and Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs) in NICRA villages, recommending their expansion. He also stressed the need to address the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.

Dr. A.K. Nayak, DDG (NRM), ICAR, commended the success of the NICRA-TDC component and urged all stakeholders to develop a comprehensive future roadmap. He emphasized the importance of data-driven evidence, documentation of success stories, and linking the NICRA framework with the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY).

Dr. Rajbir Singh, DDG (Extension), appreciated the effective role of KVKs in NICRA villages and shared success stories, calling for greater visibility and expansion of the initiative.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. R. S. Paroda applauded the achievements under NICRA–TDC and stressed the need for integrating promising technologies into district development programs. He called for a holistic approach to mitigate climate change impacts, the preparation of land-use planning maps, and the strengthening of weather advisory systems and contingency plans.

A special brainstorming session on “Leveraging NICRA Initiative for Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY)” followed the inaugural session, focusing on key themes such as:

1. Leveraging NICRA in Aspirational Districts of PMDDKY
2. Enhancing Resilience through Climate-Smart Technologies
3. Mainstreaming Agromet Advisories from NICRA Villages to PMDDKY Districts
4. Developing a National Framework for Climate-Resilient District Agriculture (2025–2031)

During the event, publications related to NICRA–TDC were released.

The three-day workshop will conclude with deliberations and recommendations expected to guide national strategies for strengthening the climate resilience of Indian agriculture and shaping the future direction of this flagship ICAR initiative.