9th March 2025, Modipuram
An International Farming Systems Conference (IFSC 2025), themed ‘Transforming Food, Land, and Water Systems under Global Climate Change,’ was organized at ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems, Modipuram from 7th-9th March 2025. The event was jointly organized by the Farming Systems Research and Development Association (FSRDA) and ICAR-IIFSR, Modipuram, and encompassed a broad spectrum of topics on farming systems and their related aspects.
The Chief Guest, Dr Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary (DA&FW) and Secretary (DARE), emphasized the urgent need to deliver ready-to-use eco-friendly technologies to farmers' fields in the changing climate scenario. He highlighted the importance of integrating these innovations with ongoing central and state government schemes to enhance farmers' livelihoods to ensure a sustainable agri-food system globally.
Dr Arvind Kumar, Former Vice-Chancellor, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, Dr A.K. Singh, Former Vice-Chancellor, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Gwalior; Dr A. K. Singh, Former Vice-Chancellor, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Dr Rajbir Singh, Deputy Director General (Agril Extension), Dr M.L. Jat, Global Research Program Director, ICRISAT, Hyderabad, Dr I.M. Mishra, Vice-Chancellor, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, Dr A.K. Sikka, Country Representative, IWMI, New Delhi, Dr Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Dr P.K. Ghosh, Former Vice-Chancellor and Director, ICAR-National Institute of Biotic Stresses Management , Dr J.P. Sharma, Former Vice-Chancellor, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, J&K, Dr A.K. Vyas, Vice-Chancellor, Agriculture University, Kota, Dr K.K. Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut and Dr S.K. Choudhary, Director General, FAI, New Delhi, presided as Chair of the various sessions of the conference.
During the three-day deliberations a total of 14 concurrent sessions on various sub-themes, one plenary session, a side event on Farmers-Scientist Interaction (OLM-UPRKVY-ICRISAT Initiative), and a Farmer–Scientist–Industry–Policy Interface meeting was held where more than 340 National and International delegates namely from CIIMYT, Mexico, ICRISAT, Hyderabad, WU&R, The CIFOR-ICRAF, India Netherlands, ACIAR, New Delhi, IWMI, New Delhi, CIMMYT, India, UNEP, Nairobi, World Fish, Malaysia, participated.
Around 25 directors from ICAR and international organizations participated in the conference, sharing insights on their respective research domains. Furthermore, about 116 farmers/entrepreneurs from Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Odisha, and Telangana attended the conference as witnesses to the discussions and events.
The plenary session, titled ‘Building Resilience towards Global Climate Change for Sustainable Food, Land, and Water Systems,’ was organised on March 7, 2025, under the chairmanship of Dr Panjab Singh, along with Dr Arvind Kumar as Co-Chair.
Dr Asok Dalwai, Commissioner (KAPC, GOI) and CEO (NRRA, New Delhi), delivered the keynote lecture, highlighting the growing impact of climate change on the entire ecosystem and strategies for its management from local to global levels.
The conference featured 155 oral and 125 poster presentations across seven technical sessions, with 340 scientists, researchers, students, and 116 entrepreneurs, farmers, and stakeholders attending. Outstanding participants were recognized with awards.
In the valedictory session on March 9, 2025, Dr Sunil Kumar, Chairman, Organizing Committee, summarized the conference’s achievements.
Experts presented key recommendations, including crop diversification, livestock integration, GIS tools, farmer-centric policies, AI, drones, precision irrigation, and strengthening agribusiness and youth participation for long-term rural prosperity. They also emphasized publishing the recommendations in Hindi for wider outreach, using digital platforms for agri-tech dissemination, and submitting the proceedings to ICAR and DA&FW for policy integration.
The conference marked a significant step toward developing resilient farming systems, emphasizing sustainability, technological advancements, and farmer empowerment in the face of global climate change.
(Source: ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems, Modipuram)
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