14 August 2026 | New Delhi

H.E. Ambassador Nebiyu Tedla, Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ethiopia in New Delhi, along with officials from the mission, visited the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI), New Delhi, to explore opportunities for knowledge exchange, capacity building and cooperation in agricultural research and technology.

ICAR-IARI Highlights India’s Agricultural Transformation

Welcoming the Ethiopian delegation, Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR-IARI, highlighted the Institute’s historic contribution to India’s transformation from a food-deficit nation into a food-surplus country.

He briefed the delegation on the mandate and major achievements of ICAR-IARI in advancing Indian agriculture through scientific research, technological innovation and human resource development.

Dr. Rao highlighted the Institute’s work in developing high-yielding and climate-resilient crop varieties, along with its research in Integrated Farming Systems (IFS), precision agriculture, protected cultivation and sustainable natural resource management. He also outlined the Institute’s advanced research infrastructure and academic capabilities.

India-Ethiopia Agricultural Cooperation Discussed

The discussions focused on common agricultural challenges confronting India and Ethiopia, including increasing food and nutritional requirements, climate change impacts and the need for appropriate mechanisation for small and medium-sized landholdings.

Dr. Rao noted that Ethiopia, along with other countries in Asia and Africa, could benefit from technologies developed at ICAR-IARI as well as the Institute’s training and capacity-building programmes.

The exchange also highlighted opportunities to strengthen cooperation through the sharing of agricultural technologies, scientific knowledge and institutional expertise.

Delegation Visits Advanced Research Facilities

During the visit, the Ethiopian delegation toured several major facilities at ICAR-IARI, including the Nanaji Deshmukh Plant Phenomics Facility Centre, described as one of the world’s largest plant phenomics facilities, the Integrated Farming System Model, and the Centre for Protected Cultivation Technology (CPCT).

The visits provided the delegation with first-hand exposure to advanced agricultural research infrastructure and innovative technologies designed to support sustainable and climate-resilient farming.

Scope for Stronger International Collaboration

The visit highlighted the potential for deeper India-Ethiopia collaboration in agricultural research, technology transfer, training and capacity building. Such cooperation could contribute to addressing shared challenges related to food security, climate resilience and sustainable agricultural development.

The interaction also reinforced the role of international knowledge exchange in promoting innovative and practical agricultural solutions across developing regions.

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