ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad in association with Indian Society of Dryland Agriculture organized the inaugural function of the International conference on Rainfed Agriculture: Building Pathways for Resilience & Sustainable Livelihoods at ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad on 29th January 2025. More than 750 delegates across different countries, farmers, NGO officials, officials of private sector dealing with various agricultural inputs participated in the inaugural function. The event was initiated by lighting the lamp by the dignitaries as a symbol of bestowing knowledge eternally.

Dr JVNS Prasad , Project Coordinator,AICRPDA and Secretary ISDA welcomed all the delegates and distinguished dignitaries to the function and briefed about the conference. Dr V. K. Singh, Director ICAR-CRIDA and President ISDA, welcomed the delegates and dignitaries and apprised the gathering about the importance of rainfed agriculture to the Indian economy and also informed that the main reason for organizing the conference is to bring the researchers, farmers, NGOs, policy makers and private sector on the same platform so that the recommendations that are useful to the farming community can be made.

Dr S. K. Chaudhary, DDG (NRM) in his address emphasized about the importance and need of development in rainfed agriculture. He argued the delegates to come up technologies, recommendations and policy briefs that will of help to the farming community in overcoming the different stresses and problems being encountered in rainfed farming.

Dr Stanford Blade DG ICRISAT highlighted on ICRISAT works on dryland agriculture and appraised about ICRISAT and CRIDA collaboration

Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General (ICAR) and Secretary (DARE) in his address congratulated the researchers of rainfed farming for enhancing the productivity, and bringing in the resilience to the rainfed farming. He emphasised the importance of dryland agriculture and climate resilience and its impact on national development also shared valuable insights and recent advancement in the field of dryland agriculture.He also stressed that efforts are needed to be made by the researchers in developing new extension methodologies that can still enhance the productivity and resilience of rainfed farming.

Compendium of Extended summaries of this conference and other publications related the conference was released by the dignitaries. Presentation of Awards Felicitation of Luminaries of Dryland Agriculture was done during this program. The program ended with vote of thanks by Dr.Pk.Pankaj, Treasurer of ISDA. After inauguration Exhibition stall was inaugurated.