Dr Mangi Lal Jat takes charge as Secretary of DARE and Director General of ICAR

New Delhi: Dr Mangi Lal Jat, a renowned agronomist and expert in climate-resilient agriculture, has taken charge as the Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General (DG) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) on Monday. The appointment, cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) last week, will be for a period of three years.

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Dr Jat steps into the dual role with over 25 years of experience in sustainable farming practices, agronomy, and conservation agriculture. His leadership is expected to usher in a renewed focus on innovation, sustainability, and farmer-centric research in the country’s agricultural research ecosystem.

Prior to his appointment, Dr Jat served as Deputy Director General (Research) and Director of the Global Research Program at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad. He has also held senior leadership roles at globally recognised agricultural institutions such as the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

An alumnus of the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, Dr Jat holds a Ph.D. in Agronomy with a focus on soil moisture conservation in rain-fed pearl millet—an area vital for food security in arid zones. His pioneering work has influenced sustainable intensification strategies for smallholder farmers across Asia and Africa, contributing significantly to global food systems resilience.

With over 350 peer-reviewed publications to his credit, Dr Jat has been a vocal advocate of climate-smart technologies, regenerative farming, and digital innovations in agriculture. He has also been associated with the International Society of Precision Agriculture (ISPA) and is a Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS).

Among his many accolades, he is a recipient of the prestigious Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award, one of ICAR’s highest honours for excellence in agricultural research. As he takes on the leadership of DARE and ICAR, Dr Jat is expected to steer the organisations through critical challenges such as climate change, soil degradation, and food system transformation, in alignment with India’s broader goals of sustainable development and nutritional security.

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