13 January 2026, New Delhi
In a significant initiative aimed at strengthening climate-resilient agriculture and empowering farming communities, the ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.
The MoU was signed by Dr Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR–IARI, and Mr. Yashvardhana Tripathi, Zonal Head, ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth, New Delhi, for establishing a Climate Resilient Green Agriculture (CARIGAR) Laboratory at ICAR–IARI.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ch. Srinivasa Rao emphasized that climate change has emerged as one of the most critical challenges confronting Indian agriculture, particularly affecting small and marginal farmers. He stated that the CARIGAR Laboratory will serve as a dedicated national platform for hands-on training, capacity building, and skill development, enabling farmers to adopt climate-smart technologies, resource-efficient practices, and environmentally responsible farming systems.
The Director highlighted that strengthening farmers’ adaptive capacity through practical exposure, field demonstrations, and technology-led learning is essential for sustaining productivity under increasing climatic uncertainties. He further underlined that the laboratory will bridge the gap between scientific research and field-level application, ensuring that innovations developed in laboratories reach farmers in usable and scalable forms.
Dr. Rao also stressed the importance of youth engagement and experiential learning, noting that the CARIGAR Laboratory will significantly enhance practical training opportunities for students and provide advanced research exposure for scientists working on climate resilience, sustainability, and post-harvest value addition. He described the collaboration as a model example of public–private partnership contributing to national priorities of sustainable agriculture, environmental conservation, and farmers’ income enhancement.
The signing ceremony was held in the presence of Dr. Viswanathan Chinnusamy, Joint Director (Research), ICAR–IARI; along with other senior officials.
The CARIGAR Laboratory will function as a hub for training programmes, awareness campaigns, demonstrations, and interactive learning modules, focusing on climate-resilient crop production, sustainable farming systems, and development of post-harvest products.
Representatives from the ICICI Foundation stated that the collaboration reflects their commitment towards inclusive growth, farmer empowerment, and strengthening climate-resilient agricultural development, by integrating scientific expertise with grassroots-level needs.
The initiative is expected to make a meaningful contribution towards promoting sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation strategies, and environmentally responsible farming practices, supporting India’s long-term agricultural resilience.
(Source: ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi)
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