Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed the Global Dryland Congress 2026 in New Delhi, emphasizing the urgent need to promote dryland farming practices as a solution for improved agricultural productivity, better farmer incomes, and tackling global water scarcity. The three-day Congress, themed 'Transforming Dryland Agriculture with South-South Cooperation', began on September 10 at the National Agricultural Science Complex and will conclude on September 12. According to reports from Devdiscourse, the conference is a collaborative effort between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, gathering over 800 scientists, policymakers, farmer representatives and development partners from across Asia, Africa and the Americas. Chouhan emphasized the significance of enhancing production in dryland regions to align with the vision of a developed India by 2047. The minister called for a renewed focus on providing the right science, policies and markets to dryland areas, stating that 'Drylands are not our weakness. With the right science, the right policies and the right markets, drylands can become one of the biggest strengths of India and Africa'. Drylands are classified as areas that face acute water scarcity and where agriculture is highly difficult.
The Congress will address six key themes over three days: breeding, climate resilience, nutrition and markets, farming systems, seed systems, and gender and youth inclusion. As reported by Devdiscourse, the event will feature panel discussions, keynote and lead presentations, parallel sessions and poster exhibitions, providing a comprehensive platform for knowledge exchange. The proceedings will culminate in the adoption of the Delhi Declaration on Dryland (3D), marking a significant milestone in global dryland agriculture policy. Chouhan highlighted India's deep-rooted tradition of crop diversification and the consumption of millets, pulses and lentils, stating 'Our elders used to say that you should sow four different things in the four corners, not just one. Diversification was in our roots'. He noted that 'Earlier, we used to make rotis from jowar and bajra. We would make wheat rotis when guests came. Eating millets was part of our way of life. When dryland farming disappeared, millets disappeared with it'.
The 9th ASEAN–India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry, held on September 9, 2026 in New Delhi, reaffirmed India and ASEAN's shared commitment to building a more food-secure, sustainable and resilient agricultural future. Co-chaired by H.E. Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, The Philippines, and Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, India, the Meeting placed strong emphasis on practical, farmer-centred cooperation and strengthening the ASEAN–India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in agriculture and forestry. The Ministers welcomed ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future and the ASEAN Food, Agriculture and Forestry Sectoral Plan 2026–2030 as strategic frameworks for advancing sustainable and resilient development. They also looked forward to the adoption and implementation of the ASEAN–India Medium-Term Plan of Action for Cooperation in Agriculture and Forestry 2026–2030, with priorities spanning policy dialogue, digital innovation, technology cooperation, joint research, capacity building and farmer exchanges.
According to the minister, water scarcity is becoming a critical constraint for agriculture, with farmers competing for the resource. As reported by Business Standard, changing climatic patterns such as El Niño are adding to rainfall uncertainty. Chouhan emphasized the need to 'figure out how to grow good crops with less water. In a changing climate, every drop of rain must be utilised'. He linked water conservation to the VB-GRAM G programme, under which ₹1,52,282 crore is to be spent until March. The Congress comes at a time when drylands account for around 45% of the world's land surface and support the livelihoods of more than two billion people, making sustainable agriculture practices essential for global food security. Smallholder farmers in these regions face challenges including climate variability, land degradation, water scarcity and changing markets.
Chouhan outlined a strategic spending approach for the VB-GRAM G programme, with 65 per cent of spending directed towards critical blocks facing water shortages, 40 per cent towards semi-critical blocks and 30 per cent towards general blocks. According to Business Standard, he said 'Employment should create assets such as ponds, dams and canals'. The minister concluded that 'Water should be conserved, and production should come from that water, thereby increasing farmers' income'. The Global Dryland Congress 2026 addresses the critical importance of drylands, which cover 45% of the planet and house two billion people, making sustainable agriculture practices essential for global food security. The 10th ASEAN–India Agriculture Working Group Meeting, held on September 8, 2026, brought together 45 delegates from 11 ASEAN Member States for deliberations focused on strengthening ASEAN–India cooperation in agriculture and forestry.
