ICRISAT and RIS Launch ISSCA to Boost Agricultural Growth via South-South Cooperation.
National
In June 2025, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), based in Hyderabad (Telangana), in collaboration with the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), based in New Delhi (Delhi) and functioning under the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), launched the ICRISAT Centre of Excellence (COE) for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA).
- The launch took place during the Conference on Global South and Triangular Cooperation: Emerging Facets, held in New Delhi, Delhi.
- The ISSCA aims to foster agricultural innovation and strengthen collaboration among nations of the Global South.
- During the event, ICRISAT signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Development and Knowledge Sharing Initiative (DAKSHIN), a flagship initiative of the Government of India (GoI), focused on promoting South-South cooperation through capacity building and development partnerships.
Main Point :- (i) The inauguration of the ICRISAT Centre of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA) marks a pivotal step in global agricultural development, providing a dedicated platform for sharing knowledge, enhancing innovations, and fostering partnerships among countries with similar agricultural, climatic, and socio-economic challenges.
(ii) Headquartered in Hyderabad (Telangana), ISSCA is supported by a strong coalition of key partners, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
(iii) ISSCA serves as a catalyst for scaling up proven agricultural solutions through a digital platform that acts as a living repository of validated innovations. It facilitates peer-to-peer learning, partnership building, and the dissemination of low-cost, high-impact technologies and policy models tailored to the needs of dryland and developing regions.
About Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS)
Director General (DG) : Professor Sachin Chaturvedi
Headquarters: New Delhi
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