On ICRISAT’s 45th anniversary, we take you on a journey of milestones that shaped the science we do today.
ICRISAT in the beginning
1 January, 1970
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ICRISAT at its beginning Caption: Construction of the main drain.
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ICRISAT takes shape
1 February, 1970
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Steps taken to set up a single research institute for semi-arid crops Caption: The Foundation stone laid by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Others present were MS Swaminathan, Fred Bentley, AP Chief Minister J Vengal Rao and Ralph Cummings.
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1970s Attention on aflatoxin
3 March, 1970
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Pioneering science to help overcome the problem of aflatoxin in crops Caption: Aflatoxin-infected groundnut.
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1972 ICRISAT gets a logo
20 January, 1972
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A security officer designs the first logo Caption: ICRISAT’s first visual identity.
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1975 Village Level Studies
1 August, 1975
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Understanding socio-economic and other constraints to agricultural development Caption: Village investigators gathering information from villagers.
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1976 A Watershed moment
2 February, 1976
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ICRISAT has always believed in environmentally friendly construction Caption: A masonry check dam at Kothapally watershed, Telangana state, India.
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1979 First farmers' day
27 January, 1979
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Bringing together farmers and scientists to find solutions Caption: ICRISAT throws its gates open on the first Farmer’s Day.
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1979 Genebanks
27 January, 1979
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Genebanks set up in Asia and Africa as insure against future seed loss Caption: The genebank was started with a short-term storage facility.
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1979 First marker-assisted pearl millet
1 June, 1979
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A downy mildew resistant pearl millet hybrid Caption: ICRISAT scientist C T Hash (in hat) with scientists, identifying an off-type plant in a field of HHB 67 –Improved.
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1983 First ICRISAT varieties released
30 January, 1983
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Sorghum and pearl millet varieties released for farmers in Sudan Caption: Gebisa Ejeta with sorghum variety Hageen Dura.
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1983 Queen Elizabeth II visits ICRISAT
30 January, 1983
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The British queen gives her royal seal of approval for ICRISAT Caption: Director General Leslie D Swindale welcomes Queen Elizabeth II.
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1989 Short-duration chickpea
3 February, 1989
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A wilt and heat resistant Kabuli variety for Asia and Africa Caption: ICCV 2: The climate-smart variety for tropical environments.
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1991 World’s first hybrid pigeonpea released
26 January, 1991
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The world’s first hybrid of a pulse crop was a high yielding pigeonpea plant Caption: ICRISAT scientist KB Saxena (extreme left) worked with partners to develop ICPH 8.
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1994 Microdosing starts in Niger
31 January, 1994
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Boosts productivity and increases drought and heat tolerance of crops Caption: Microdoses of inorganic fertilizer for macro benefits.
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1994 Sowing seeds of hope
2 February, 1994
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Providing seeds during times of extreme crisis such as wars and earthquakes Caption: Relief material being distributed in Latur, Maharashtra, following a massive earthquake.
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1996 First CGIAR King Baudouin Award
26 January, 1996
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Proud moment as first CGIAR center to win the award consecutively Caption: The award conferred on ICRISAT for pearl millet improvement.
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1996 Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug visits ICRISAT
5 February, 1996
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Nobel winner endorses work done by ICRISAT scientists Caption: Nobel Laureate Norman Borlaug on a tour of the ICRISAT campus.
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1999 Start of core and mini core germplasm collection
27 January, 1999
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Enhancing the use of germplasm in breeding programs globally Caption: The ICRISAT genebank.
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2000 Hybrid Parents Research Consortium
27 January, 2000
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An innovative partnership for greater collaboration in agriculture Caption: Seed company officials check out seeds of interest.
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2000's Boost to infrastructure
3 February, 2000
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Adding cutting edge technologies and facilities Caption: President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam inaugurating the greenhouse containment facility of the PTTC.
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2004 Guinea race hybrids for West Africa
31 January, 2004
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Unlocking the genetic potential of the dominant sorghum variety Caption: Sorghum breeders from Mali and Burkina Faso collaborating in the development of Guinea race hybrids
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2006 First CGIAR science award
31 January, 2006
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Awards for the genebank and for outstanding partnership Caption: ICRISAT’s genebank was one of the recipients of the Partnership award.
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2006 ICRISAT adopts IGNRM research strategy
3 February, 2006
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Adopted to maximize the synergies of agricultural research Caption: Promoting greater synergy between biotechnology, plant breeding, agronomy, agroecosystems and social sciences.
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2007 Ramadjita Tabo shares Nobel Peace Prize
27 January, 2007
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Recognition for increasing awareness about man-made climate change Caption: Ramadjita Tabo with his Nobel Peace Prize.
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2007 Pro-poor BioPower strategy devised
30 January, 2007
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Harnessing the power of sweet sorghum to make bio-fuel Caption: AR Palaniswamy of Rusni Distilleries displaying ethanol extracted from sweet sorghum.
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2008 World’s first commercial pigeonpea hybrid
27 January, 2008
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Successfully bred after years of intense research Caption: ICPH 2671, the world's first cytoplasmic male sterility-based pigeonpea hybrid.
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2009 Platform for Translational Research on Transgenic Crops
30 January, 2009
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Launched to help process and evaluate crops from the lab to the land Caption: The hub of pipeline solutions to develop transgenic products.
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2010 New Inclusive Market Oriented Strategy for 2020
30 January, 2010
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Aimed at halving global poverty, hunger and malnutrition Caption: The way to transit from subsistence to market-oriented agriculture.
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2010 ICRISAT joins Molecular Breeding Platform
30 January, 2010
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To revolutionize crop breeding and meet the challenges of food security Caption: Revolutionizing crop breeding to meet food security challenges.
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2011 Corporate Social Responsibility activities begin
26 January, 2011
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Working closely with private partners to improve livelihoods of farmers Caption: Partnering with PowerGrid Corporation of India Ltd in promoting watershed management interventions.
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2011 ICRISAT-led global team cracks pigeonpea genome
27 January, 2011
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Helps identify unique traits, like drought tolerance, in pigeonpea Caption: 48,680 pigeonpea genes identified
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2012 First marker-assisted sorghum varieties released in sub-Saharan Africa
26 January, 2012
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Makes Striga resistant varieties of sorghum available to cultivate Caption: One of the Striga-resistant varieties in the field.
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2012 Promoting women entrepreneurship
26 January, 2012
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Women entrepreneurs get a boost from agribusiness incubator Caption: ALEAP President Mrs Rama Devi and KK Sharma exchange the MoA as Governor of Andhra Pradesh Honorable ESL Narasimhan looks on.
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2012 Pigeonpea breeders develop a new CMS system
26 January, 2012
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A new cytoplasmic-nuclear male sterility system for sustainability
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2012 Providing knowhow to set up India's first private sector seed bank
26 January, 2012
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A public private partnership to set up a seed bank Caption: Preserving seed is key to crop diversity.
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2013 Bill Gates visits ICRISAT
25 January, 2013
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Recognizes the ability of ICRISAT’S research to help millions of farmers Caption: Mr Bill Gates at ICRISAT’s lysimeter facility for phenotyping. Others in the photo, L-R: Drs Prem Warrior, David Hoisington, William Dar, and Vincent Vadez.
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2013 High-iron biofortified pearl millet released in India
26 January, 2013
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Dhanashakti is first biofortified crop to reach farmers’ fields Caption: High-Iron pearl millet variety ICTP 8203Fe
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2013 ICRISAT Ambassadors of Goodwill launched
26 January, 2013
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To enlist the support of personalities to champion ICRISAT’s mission
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2013 Two ICRISAT-led CGIAR Research Programs launched
27 January, 2013
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As part of efforts to help reduce world hunger, malnutrition and poverty Caption: At the launch of the ICRISAT-led CGIAR Research Programs on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals
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2013 Genome sequence of 90 chickpea lines decoded
27 January, 2013
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Leads to increased yield and enhanced traits in chickpea
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2014 New significant investments in Africa
1 January, 2014
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US$ 5 million to improve facilities and scientific skills Caption: New investments to open up opportunities for collaborative research
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2014 First Agribusiness incubator in West Africa
23 January, 2014
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The West African Agri-Business Resource Incubator (WAARI) was inaugurated Caption: Agribusiness products at the stalls set up by women cooperative groups.
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2014 First peanut genome sequenced
27 January, 2014
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To aid in breeding more productive and resilient varieties Caption: Groundnuts/peanuts are an important crop both commercially and nutritionally.
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2015 Finger millet now a mandate crop
30 January, 2015
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Formally becomes ICRISAT’S sixth mandate crop Caption: A smart food that is critical to nutrition in women and babies.
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2015 Digital Agriculture initiatives launch
30 January, 2015
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ICT-based technology to improve productivity of farmers Caption: Dr David Bergvinson exchanging the MoU with Mr Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Minister for Agriculture, Telangana State. Also seen are Mr KT Rama Rao, Minister for Information Technology & Panchayat Raj, Mr C Parthasarathi, Secretary and Agri Production Commissioner and others.
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2016 Popularizing millets through product development
30 January, 2016
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To breakdown the perception of millets as food for the poor Caption: Dr Bergvinson demonstrating millet products to Mr Byre Gowda. Also seen is Dr Wani.
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2016 First genome code of cultivated peanut cracked
30 January, 2016
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Aimed at accelerating gene discovery and improved cultivars Caption: A breakthrough that promises accelerated gene discovery and development of improved peanut ( groundnut) cultivars
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2016 First Machine-harvestable chickpea variety released
1 February, 2016
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To help address labor shortage and drudgery for women workers Caption: A combine harvester harvesting NBeG 47, the first machine harvestable variety released in Andhra Pradesh.
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2016 A new sowing application for farmers
2 February, 2016
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Successfully minimizes loss of crops and increase yields Caption: Timely information is critical to sowing for smallholder farmers.
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2016 Smart Food initiative
2 February, 2016
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Legumes and cereals are ‘good for you, good for the planet and good for farmers’ Caption: Smart foods are good for you, the planet and the smallholder farmer.
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2016 Working in synchrony with the SDGs
6 June, 2016
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Integrating ICRISAT’S research to achieve the SDGs by 2030
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2017 Innovation hub for agri-tech entrepreneurs
3 July, 2017
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Innovative digital technology in the service of smallholder farmers. Caption: PS Reddy, Telangana Agriculture Minister and KT Rama Rao, Telangana IT Minister inaugurating the ihub.
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2017 Pigeonpea genome re-sequenced
4 July, 2017
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Breakthrough pigeonpea genome re-sequencing will lead to superior varieties. Caption: ICRISAT scientists inspect pigeonpea accessions for agronomically important traits and disease resistance.
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2017 Two new machine-harvestable chickpea varieties released
5 July, 2017
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To foster demand-driven innovation Caption: Demonstration on machine harvesting of chickpea variety Phule Vikram at a farmer’s field in Maharashtra.
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2017 Plant disease and pest diagnostic app released
5 July, 2017
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For early recognition and tailor-made treatment plans to overcome crop damage. Caption: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu launches Plantix app at Vijayawada.
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Pearl Millet Genome Sequence
8 September, 2017
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Clue to pearl millet's heat tolerance may help fight climate chaos
LAMP: A visual, fast and low-cost diagnostic device to fight a deadly, emerging disease
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My wish for the drylands
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