The XIX Working Group Meeting of All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture (AICRPDA) and XII Annual Review Meeting of AICRPDA-National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) was organized at Vasanthrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, (VNMKV) at Parbhani during 6-8th January 2025.

Dr. S.K. Chaudhari, Deputy Director General, Natural Resources Management, ICAR was the Chief Guest and Prof.(Dr) Indra Mani Mishra, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, VNMKV-Parbhani, presided over the function. Dr. Vinod Kumar Singh, Director, ICAR-CRIDA, Dr K.S. Baig, Director of Research, VNMKV, Dr. Sunil Kumar, Director, ICAR-IIFSR, Modipuram, Dr. JVNS Prasad, Project Coordinator (Dryland Research), Dr. N.P. Singh, Former Director, ICAR-NIASAM, Baramati, Dr Venugopalan, Former, Head PME, ICAR-CICR, Nagpur, Dr K. Ramesh, Principal Scientist, ICAR-IIOR, Hyderabad, Dr M. Prabhakar, PI, NICRA, Hyderabad (virtually)and Dr B. Venkateshwarlu, Former Vice Chancellor, VNMKV, Parbhani attended (virtually). Scientists from the AICRPDA centers and ICAR-CRIDA also attended the Group Meet.

Dr. S.K. Chaudhari emphasized that more focus be on precision rainfed agriculture and on enhancing income of dryland farmers. Dr Indra Mani Mishra, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, VNMKV-Parbhani stressed on timeliness in dryland agriculture through mechanization, risk management, newly developed drought resistant varieties and livestock-based agriculture. Dr. V. K. Singh, Director, ICAR-CRIDA elaborated on the impact of dryland technologies developed by AICRPDA network. Emphasized for transfer of proven climate resilient technologies through convergence with Government at landscape level. Dr Sunil Kumar, Director, ICAR-IIFSR, Modipuram,

highlighted IFS models in agriculture, natural farming and integration of land, water and vegetation for enhancing the farmers’ yield and income levels. Dr K.S. Baig suggested for use of improved and drought resistant varieties for climate resilient dryland farming. Dr. JVNS Prasad, Project Coordinator (DLA) welcome all the guests and presented the progress of the network. Dr W.N. Narkhede, Chief Scientist, AICRPDA centre, Parbhani and Organizing Secretary presented the formal vote of thanks.

During the workshop the progress of ongoing AICRPDA activities and AICRPDA-NICRA project were reviewed. There were about 6 technical sessions which were held concurrently in 3 days and suitable suggestions were made for strengthening of the program.