Diaspora Youth Delegation under Know India Programme Visits ICAR–IARI, New Delhi

12 December 2025, New Delhi

A 39-member delegation of Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) youth from 17 countries visited the ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, under the 80th Know India Programme (KIP), a flagship initiative of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. The programme aims to reconnect diaspora youth with India’s rich heritage while familiarising them with the country’s scientific, economic, and technological advancements.

The delegation was warmly received by Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR-IARI. In his welcome address, Dr. Rao highlighted the institute’s 120-year legacy in shaping modern Indian agriculture through path-breaking research, excellence in agricultural education, and robust, farmer-centric extension systems. He elaborated on ICAR-IARI’s pivotal role in the Green Revolution and its continued leadership in developing innovations for climate-resilient, resource-efficient, and sustainable agriculture.

Dr. Rao underscored ICAR-IARI’s globally recognised research contributions, including its world-renowned Basmati rice varieties, improved cereal and pulse cultivars, precision nutrient and water management technologies, and protected cultivation solutions. He also highlighted the institute’s expanding international collaborations and its role in supporting global food and nutritional security.

During the interaction, emerging challenges such as climate change, natural resource degradation, food system sustainability, and youth engagement in agriculture were discussed. Dr. Rao encouraged the diaspora youth to serve as ambassadors of Indian science and innovation, fostering global linkages in agri-food systems, research, entrepreneurship, and policy dialogue.

The delegation visited several state-of-the-art facilities, including the National Plant Phenomics Facility, the Centre for Protected Cultivation Technology, and the Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) Unit. Scientists briefed the participants on advanced phenotyping platforms, hi-tech horticulture, diversification-based farming systems, and ICAR-IARI’s integrated approach to enhancing farm productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability.

Members of the delegation expressed appreciation for the scale, scientific depth, and impact of agricultural research in India. Many participants noted that the visit offered new insights into India’s leadership in crop improvement, digital agriculture, and climate-smart farming, while acknowledging ICAR-IARI’s alignment of research with national development priorities.

The visit concluded with an interactive session during which delegates shared positive feedback and expressed interest in future collaborations, academic exchanges, and innovation partnerships with Indian institutions. The programme successfully strengthened the diaspora youth’s connection with India’s scientific heritage and showcased ICAR-IARI as a global hub of excellence in agricultural research and education.

(Source: ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi)