Collaborative Efforts in Agricultural Research by Various Institutions

India’s agricultural research landscape is far broader than any single institution. While ICAR remains the central coordinating body, a wide range of state universities, private companies, international research centres, and NGOs play equally vital roles in driving agricultural innovation. These collaborative efforts help develop region-specific crop varieties, improve farming practices, and strengthen post-harvest systems – all essential for a country with over 15 agro-ecological zones and diverse farming challenges.

The national agricultural research system: a framework for collaboration 🔗

India’s National Agricultural Research System (NARS) is not a single organisation. It is a collaborative framework that brings together ICAR institutes, state agricultural universities, private research firms, and international centres working in India. This structure ensures that research priorities align with national food security goals while also addressing the unique needs of each region. For instance, developing a climate-resilient crop variety may require plant breeders at an ICAR institute, climate scientists at a university, and field testing by a private seed company – all coordinated through NARS.

Under this system, ICAR’s Crop Science Division alone has worked with NARS partners on 85 crops and released over 5,800 varieties. Between May 2014 and 2022, the system released 1,956 high-yielding, stress-tolerant crop varieties and hybrids, covering cereals, oilseeds, pulses, fibre crops, forage, and sugarcane. This output reflects the strength of institutional collaboration rather than the effort of any single body.

State agricultural universities: regional research powerhouses 🔗

State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) serve as the backbone of region-specific agricultural research in India. There are over 70 SAUs across the country, each established under state legislation and modelled on the American land-grant university pattern. Their key advantage is a deep understanding of local agro-climatic conditions, soil types, and farming challenges.

Pioneering contributions from leading SAUs 🔗

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, played a historic role during the Green Revolution by developing high-yielding wheat and rice varieties suited specifically to Punjab’s conditions. PAU is known for releasing over 250 crop varieties and continues to be a leading institution for crop science and dairy research.

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has focused on developing technologies for the state’s diverse cropping systems – from rice cultivation in delta regions to millet production in drought-prone areas. Similarly, Bihar Agricultural University (BAU), Sabour, has developed flood-tolerant paddy varieties like Sabour Sampann and Sabour Shree, directly addressing the recurring flood damage in Bihar’s Gangetic plains.

The first agricultural university in India was the Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT), established in Pantnagar in 1960. It set the model for integrating teaching, research, and extension under one roof – a pattern all subsequent SAUs have followed.

How SAUs bridge research and farmers 🔗

SAUs maintain a network of regional agricultural research stations spread across different agro-climatic zones. A new drought-resistant sorghum variety developed in a central lab, for example, can be tested at stations in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Karnataka before being recommended to local farmers. SAUs also run extension services, conduct farmer training workshops, and operate Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) at the district level, ensuring that research outcomes reach the field quickly.

International research organisations operating in India 🔗

India collaborates with several international agricultural research centres, most of which are part of the CGIAR system – a global partnership of 15 research centres focused on food security, poverty reduction, and sustainable resource management. ICAR has signed agreements with 12 of these centres, making India one of the most active partners in the CGIAR network.

ICRISAT: headquartered in India 🔗

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), headquartered in Patancheru, Hyderabad, was founded in 1972. It conducts research on dryland crops such as chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, pearl millet, and sorghum. Working with ICAR and state universities, ICRISAT has helped develop approximately 316 improved varieties and hybrids across its mandate crops. Its genebank holds over 128,000 germplasm accessions from 144 countries, serving as a critical resource for crop improvement programmes.

IRRI, CIMMYT, and ICARDA 🔗

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) contributed the first flood-tolerant rice variety, Swarna-Sub 1, which has been adopted across millions of hectares in India. It also supports hybrid rice development, conservation agriculture in rice-wheat systems, and post-harvest technology improvement.

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) has supported establishment of the Borlaug Institute of South Asia (BISA) with field locations in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab. This institute focuses on wheat and maize improvement, building directly on the legacy of the Green Revolution.

The International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) established its South Asia office in New Delhi in 2008. ICARDA’s work in India centres on pulse-based production systems, particularly in rice-fallow areas. Its research has led to the development of 35 varieties in India – including 16 lentil, 12 kabuli chickpea, and 7 barley varieties. ICARDA has also introduced 67 spineless cactus varieties in India as an alternative fodder source for dryland regions, with over 350,000 cladodes distributed across six states.

Private sector contributions to agricultural research 🔗

The private sector has become an increasingly important player in India’s agricultural research landscape, particularly in seed technology, biotechnology, and agri-input development.

Seed companies and biotech firms 🔗

Companies such as Mahyco, Rasi Seeds, Kaveri Seeds, and Nuziveedu Seeds conduct research on hybrid seed development, crop trait improvement, and biotechnology applications. The most prominent example of private-sector research impact is Bt cotton – developed through a collaboration involving Indian research institutions and private firms – which significantly increased cotton productivity across the country.

Private agribusiness firms also invest in developing proprietary crop varieties tailored for specific markets. For example, seed companies develop early-maturing, pest-resistant hybrid vegetable varieties that cater to the growing commercial horticulture sector.

Corporate social responsibility in agricultural research 🔗

Several large Indian corporations channel funds into agricultural research and farmer support through CSR initiatives. Some companies run agriculture development laboratories and mobile soil testing vans that provide soil health analysis and farm advisory services to small and marginal farmers. These efforts complement government research by providing direct, on-ground technical support.

Role of NGOs in agricultural research and extension 🔗

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) act as a critical bridge between research institutions and farming communities, especially in remote and underserved regions. India has over 800 NGOs working in the agriculture sector, each addressing specific gaps in the research-to-field pipeline.

Key areas of NGO intervention 🔗

NGOs contribute to agricultural development through several focused activities. Research and extension NGOs help disseminate new farming knowledge and technologies to farmers, enabling faster adoption of improved practices. Sustainable agriculture NGOs promote organic farming, water conservation, and integrated pest management. Livelihood-focused NGOs take a broader approach by combining agricultural support with education, healthcare, and microfinance.

The S M Sehgal Foundation, for instance, works to build the capacities of farmers – including women producers – on improved agricultural practices and new technologies. It has implemented projects in Haryana to control crop residue burning and promote sustainable agriculture. Similarly, the Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) in Maharashtra focuses on climate-resilient farming through watershed development, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable agriculture, and was awarded the UN’s Land for Life Award in 2017.

NGOs addressing post-harvest challenges 🔗

Post-harvest losses remain a significant issue in Indian agriculture. Some NGOs focus specifically on cold-storage solutions and food processing technologies. Promethean Power Systems, for example, developed thermal energy battery-based refrigeration systems specifically for India’s rural dairy industry, where intermittent electricity supply makes conventional cold storage impractical. Such innovations directly reduce spoilage and increase farmer income.

Collaborative models driving agricultural innovation 🔗

What makes India’s agricultural research ecosystem effective is not any one institution, but the network of collaboration between them. Several models demonstrate how this collaboration works in practice.

All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) 🔗

ICAR operates 25 All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) and several All India Network Projects (AINPs) through 732 centres located across ICAR institutes and state agricultural universities. These projects enable multi-location testing of new crop varieties and technologies across diverse agro-climatic zones, ensuring that a new variety performs well not just in a laboratory but in real farming conditions across the country.

Public-private-international partnerships 🔗

Some of the most impactful agricultural innovations have come from partnerships that cross institutional boundaries. The IRRI-ICRISAT joint research vision for 2025-2027, for instance, focuses on integrated seed systems for dryland farming in India, combining IRRI’s expertise in rice-based systems with ICRISAT’s leadership in dryland agriculture. Such partnerships aim to deliver solutions that are scientifically robust, socially inclusive, and economically viable for smallholder farmers.

Krishi Vigyan Kendras: the last-mile link 🔗

Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) – farm science centres operating at the district level – serve as the critical last-mile link between research and farmers. These centres demonstrate new technologies, conduct on-farm trials, and provide training. Whether a new variety comes from an ICAR institute, a state university, an international centre, or a private company, KVKs help ensure it reaches the farmer who needs it.

Challenges and the path forward 🔗

Despite these extensive collaborative efforts, challenges remain. Funding constraints limit the scope of research at many SAUs. Translating laboratory innovations into practical, adoptable farming solutions still takes too long. Infrastructure at regional research stations needs continuous upgrading. And coordination between public, private, and international actors can be improved.

Looking ahead, several trends promise to strengthen these collaborations further. Digital agriculture tools – including remote sensing and AI-based crop advisory systems – are being developed jointly by ICARDA, ICRISAT, and Indian institutions. Climate-smart crop breeding, biofortification for improved nutrition, and precision agriculture are emerging as shared priority areas across all types of institutions.

The growing involvement of the private sector and the increasing sophistication of NGO-led interventions suggest that India’s agricultural research system will continue to become more networked and responsive to regional needs.

What do you think? How can India further strengthen the collaboration between state universities, private companies, and international research centres to accelerate the adoption of improved agricultural technologies by smallholder farmers? And which type of institution – public, private, or non-governmental – do you think has the greatest untapped potential to transform Indian agriculture?

References

1. https://www.icar.org.in/en/crop-science/crop-science
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Agricultural_Research_Institute
3. https://grokipedia.com/page/List_of_agricultural_universities_in_India
4. https://www.cgiar.org/research/research-centers/
5. https://www.icrisat.org/
6. https://icar.org.in/sites/default/files/2022-06/ICAR-CGIARAgricultura-CooperationBook.pdf
7. https://icarda.org/research/country/india
8. https://csrbox.org/Impact/description/Article_full_Top-20-Companies-with-CSR-Activities-in-Agriculture-in-India_41
9. https://www.smsfoundation.org/
10. https://give.do/blog/10-ngos-empowering-indian-farmers-to-grow-and-sustain/
11. https://www.cgiar.org/news-events/news/irri-and-icrisat-set-a-joint-vision-to-demonstrate-integrated-seed-systems-for-dryland-farming-in-south-asia/