ICARDA Strengthens India’s Pulse Research with Inauguration of Food Legume Research Facilities

08 April 2026, New Delhi: ICARDA inaugurated the newly developed facilities of its Food Legume Research Platform (FLRP) in Amlaha, near Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, reinforcing India’s leadership in pulse research and its long-standing partnership with international agricultural science to advance climate-resilient and nutrition-secure farming systems.

The inauguration was held in the presence of Mr. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India; Dr. Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh; and Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). They were joined by Mr. Aly Abousabaa, Director General of ICARDA, alongside senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, state governments, research institutions, development partners, scientists, and farmers.

“India has developed a self-reliant mindset. Our growing collaboration with international institutions such as ICARDA reflects India’s deepening engagement with the world, while keeping farmers at the center. Through this long-standing partnership, global science is translated into locally relevant solutions, reinforcing the confident forward march of New India.” – Mr. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India

Building national scientific capacity for pulses

The newly inaugurated facilities comprise a modern administrative building, a dedicated farmers’ training center, and state-of-the-art laboratories for plant genomics, tissue culture, plant breeding, and plant pathology. Together, they significantly strengthen India’s domestic research infrastructure for food legumes, supporting faster varietal development, improved disease resistance, and climate-adaptive traits tailored to India’s diverse agro-ecologies.

Located in the heart of Madhya Pradesh, India’s leading pulse-producing state, the FLRP serves as a national hub for pulse research, while also contributing innovations that can be scaled across South Asia and other dryland regions.

A platform anchored in India, serving the region

Established with the support of the Government of India and granted United Nations status by the Union Cabinet, the FLRP reflects India’s strategic investment in agricultural science, food security, and rural livelihoods. Since its launch in Amlaha in 2014, the platform has become a cornerstone of ICARDA’s engagement in South Asia, working hand in hand with Indian institutions to address yield gaps, climate risks, and nutrition challenges.

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