Drylands, covering approximately 40% of Earth’s land surface and home to over 2 billion people, play a crucial role in global ecosystems, agriculture, and biodiversity. Presently it faces significant challenges due to climate change, land degradation, and socio-economic pressures. Thus, the Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD) 2030, launched by CGIAR at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16) in Riyadh, aims to transform agriculture in arid regions.
This initiative focuses on enhancing food security, conserving biodiversity, and building resilient livelihoods for the 2.7 billion people inhabiting drylands, particularly in Asia and Africa. Traditionally seen as fragile ecosystems, drylands house one in three people, nearly half of the livestock, and 44% of global food systems. About 20-35% of these areas are degraded, facing water scarcity, land degradation, and desertification.
The GSRD introduces solutions to tackle these challenges in technologies like solar-powered agrivoltaics, agroforestry, improved livestock feeding, and breeding climate-resilient crops like barley, lentils, chickpeas, and cacti form the cornerstone of this strategy. Leveraging CGIAR’s expertise, the initiative delivers transformative, context-specific solutions to secure the livelihoods of communities dependent on these fragile ecosystems.
In India, drylands form a significant part of the country’s agricultural landscape. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched the All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture (AICRPDA) in 1970 to address the unique challenges of these regions. This project focuses on developing and implementing sustainable agricultural practices tailored to India’s diverse dryland ecosystems.
Indian scientists are also developing climate-resilient seed varieties to manage increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. For example, in Rayanpet, a village in India’s arid south, farmers are adopting climate-resilient seeds developed by agricultural research organizations.
The GSRD’s focus is on adapting agrifood systems to climate change, conserving biodiversity, managing soil and water sustainably, promoting healthy diets, and fostering inclusive development. By integrating global strategies with local initiatives, India’s efforts to empower dryland communities and strengthen agricultural resilience contribute to global food security.
It is a collaborative effort among research organizations, governments, and private sector partners, underscoring CGIAR’s commitment to uniting its 15 research centers to tackle agriculture’s challenges. By transforming drylands, it will ensure food security and sustainable livelihoods in these areas.