NICRA-TDC Stakeholders’ Meeting Focuses on Location-Specific Climate Resilience Action Plans at ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad

6–8 October 2026, Hyderabad

A three-day Stakeholders’ Meeting on “Preparing and Operationalizing the Location-Specific Action Plans” under the National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture–Technology Demonstration Component (NICRA-TDC) was inaugurated at ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad, today. The meeting is being organised by ICAR-CRIDA from 6–8 October 2026.

Dr Manmohan Singh Chauhan, Former Vice-Chancellor, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT), Pantnagar, was the Chief Guest at the inaugural session. Dr N. Rakesh Kumar, Assistant Director General (Agronomy, Agroforestry and Climate Change), ICAR, and Dr Shaik N. Meera, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Hyderabad, were among the other dignitaries. Dr Rajbir Singh, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR, and Dr Ranjay Singh, Assistant Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR, joined the programme virtually.

The meeting aims to review the achievements and lessons of the past five years and translate the approved NICRA-TDC Action Plan into location-specific action plans for the next phase.

Dr Rajbir Singh, who joined virtually, highlighted the implementation of NICRA-TDC at the grassroots level and acknowledged the role of KVKs in its success. He emphasised convergence with State departments and suggested establishing a district-level feedback mechanism to support timely development and updating of action plans.

Dr N. Rakesh Kumar appreciated the NICRA-TDC team for providing timely inputs for planning and emphasised the need to assess the impact of proven technologies demonstrated at the field level. 

Dr Shaik N. Meera highlighted the contribution of NICRA-TDC, implemented through KVKs and ATARIs, in strengthening climate resilience. He also stressed the need to develop contingency plans at the block level.

Dr Manmohan Singh Chauhan appreciated the work undertaken under NICRA-TDC over the past 15 years and stressed the need for effective transfer of technologies from laboratories to farmers’ fields. He also emphasised the importance of scientific validation of technologies for wider adoption.

Dr V. K. Singh, Director, ICAR-CRIDA, welcomed the dignitaries and delegates and outlined the objectives of the meeting. He highlighted the significance of NICRA-TDC and acknowledged the contribution of KVKs over the past 15 years. He also noted the utility of contingency plans prepared by ICAR-CRIDA by several States.

The inaugural session was followed by concurrent zone-wise review sessions on NICRA-TDC progress, during which scientists from KVKs presented their experiences and achievements of the past five years. The deliberations focused on reviewing progress, identifying gaps, sharing successful experiences and operationalising the approved Action Plan for the next phase.

The recommendations emerging from the meeting will guide the implementation of NICRA-TDC, with emphasis on location-specific farming-system interventions, institutional convergence, digital monitoring and sustainable climate resilience at the village level.

More than 100 delegates, including Directors of ATARIs and ICAR institutes in Hyderabad, Nodal Scientists, Zonal Monitoring Committee members, scientists from ICAR institutes and KVKs, and other programme stakeholders, participated in the meeting.

(Source: ICAR- Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad)