Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
Researchers plan transformation of agrifood systems in South Asia
Nutrition, health and food security
CGIAR Initiative will put nutrition first, to increase access to sustainable healthy diets, and will work with partners across the production-to-consumption spectrum.
A climate-smart remodeling of South Asia’s rice-wheat cropping is urgent
Environmental health and biodiversity
Multiple studies show conventional farming practices degrade soils, deplete aquifers and feed rampant greenhouse gas emissions.
Two approaches better than one: identifying spot blotch resistance in wheat varieties
Environmental health and biodiversity
Genomic selection is a promising tool to select for spot blotch resistance and index-based selection to select for spot blotch resistance, heading and plant height.
CIMMYT scientists identify novel genomic regions associated with spot blotch resistance
Environmental health and biodiversity
Researchers use genome-wide association mapping approach to identify new regions with resistance to the disease.
Q&A: Regenerative agriculture for soil health
Environmental health and biodiversity
Farming system harnesses the power of biology to rebuild soil organic matter, diversify crop systems, and improve water retention and nutrient uptake.
New publications: Caste-gender intersectionalities in wheat-growing communities in Madhya Pradesh, India
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Study reveals gaps and interactions between caste, gender and agricultural decision-making.
Being the change you wanted to see as a young girl
Capacity development
Agricultural scientist Madhulika Singh shares her experience as the first woman in STEM in her family and in her society in Bihar, India.
CIMMYT scientist receives award for weed research
Environmental health and biodiversity
Ram Kanwar Malik named Honorary Member by the Weed Science Society of America for research on herbicide-resistant weed Phalaris minor affecting wheat crops.
Bending gender norms: women’s engagement in agriculture
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
On International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we spoke to Pragya Timsina about how women’s participation in agriculture is evolving across the Eastern Gangetic Plains and her findings which will be included in a paper coming out later this year: ‘Necessity as a driver of bending agricultural gender norms in South Asia’.
Wheat titan honored posthumously by India
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Sanjaya Rajaram, former CIMMYT Wheat Program Director, has been recognized with the Padma Bhushan Award for his contributions to wheat improvement worldwide.
New publications: Genome-wide breeding to curtail wheat blast
Environmental health and biodiversity
Researchers evaluate the use of genomic selection in wheat breeding against deadly fungal disease.
State-of-the-art maize doubled haploid facility inaugurated in India
Innovations
The facility will offer maize doubled haploid production services to public and private sector partners in South Asia.
Bringing wild wheat’s untapped diversity into elite lines
Environmental health and biodiversity
Researchers hypothesized that many wild wheat accessions in genebanks feature useful traits that can help diversify breeding programs.
Pakistan, India transboundary dialogue imperative to resolve Lahore’s pollution: Amin
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: Daily Times (21 Nov 2021)
At COP26, Special Assistant to Pakistan’s Prime Minister on Climate Change said that a transboundary dialogue on mitigating air pollution was imperative to resolve Lahore’s smog.
Less water for better crops
Innovations
Researchers explore how coupling automation with drip irrigation can enhance water use efficiency and productivity, especially in South Asia’s cereal-based systems.