Maintain biodiversity
It is crucial that genetic diversity of indigenous crops be maintained so that their adaptation plasticity is not lost. ICRISAT has a diverse array of germplasm of its mandate crops with adaptation traits to different challenges, preserved in a Genebank. The genebank can be a veritable source of genetic material that can be improved and developed into climate-resilient varieties. E.g. the pearl millet variety Okashana 1 was identified and improved by ICRISAT-India and further developed by its partners in Zimbabwe and Namibia to yield a variety that is well suited to local conditions and preferences.