The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has hosted the Dryland Congress 2026 in New Delhi, bringing together over 800 delegates from more than 25 countries to discuss how to strengthen farming in dry regions. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that drylands, with proper scientific support, government policy and market access, can become a major asset rather than a limitation for India and other drought-prone areas. The three-day congress focuses on making dryland agriculture more productive, climate-resistant and profitable.
What the Congress Covers
The Dryland Congress 2026 runs from 10 September 2026 at the National Agricultural Science Complex in New Delhi. It brings together scientists, policymakers, industry representatives, farmers, development organisations and academics from across the globe to find solutions for sustainable dryland farming.
The congress examines three main areas on its opening day:
- Crop breeding and genetic improvement to speed up agricultural gains
- Building climate-resistant farming systems across dryland landscapes
- Improving nutrition and livelihoods through better markets and policies
The Ministry’s Secretary, Dr M. L. Jat, stressed that transforming drylands demands a coordinated approach across government, society and different sectors—not just farming alone. He called this moving “from recommendations to action, from silos to systems.” Other officials highlighted the importance of water management, digital tools for land management, community participation and cooperation between countries of the Global South to share successful dryland farming models.
Several publications were launched during the opening session, including a book documenting over five decades of research by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and an abstract book containing more than 250 research submissions.
What This Means for You
If you are a farmer in a dryland region, this congress signals government focus on making your farm more resilient to climate changes and more profitable through improved crop varieties and market connections. The emphasis on nutrition suggests policy support may expand toward crops and farming systems that improve food quality, not just quantity. The congress’s multi-country participation means successful dryland farming techniques developed in India could be adapted and shared across similar regions globally, potentially creating new knowledge and opportunities for dry-region farmers everywhere.