Ajil Mankunnummal, Research Officer at Foundation for Agrarian Studies, visited ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi, during the fourth week (25-27) of March 2026 as part of the CGIAR Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA)-funded research projects titled “Dynamics of Agricultural Innovation in North India” and “Dynamics of Agricultural Innovation in South India.” These projects are being undertaken in collaboration with Monash University, Australia, and ICAR-NBPGR. The primary objective of the visit was to gather information regarding crop improvement innovations in India. 

During the visit, he worked closely with Dr. Sherry Jacob (Project Collaborator and Principal Scientist at NBPGR) and Dr. Manoj Patel (Research Associate at NBPGR) on crop improvement innovations. As part of this, the three-member team, comprising Ajil Mankunnummal, Dr. Sherry Jacob, and Dr. Manoj Patel, visited ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR), New Delhi office, to document maize-related crop improvement innovations in India and to better understand the institutional and research processes underpinning varietal development.

The team engaged in detailed discussions with Dr. Bhupender Kumar (Principal Scientist, Plant Breeding) and Dr. Shankar Lal Jat (Principal Scientist, Agronomy). Emphasis was placed on the role of CGIAR in supporting maize research in India, especially through germplasm provision and contributions to varietal development.

The scientists also provided a comprehensive overview of maize research activities at ICAR-IIMR, including breeding strategies, varietal development pipelines, and India-specific research priorities such as nutrient use efficiency (NUE), resistance to diseases such as banded leaf and sheath blight (BLSB), sorghum downy mildew (SDM), and fall armyworm (FAW), along with traits like high starch content and suitability for ethanol production.

The IIMR scientists also shared relevant datasets, technical reports, and other materials, which will contribute substantially to the ongoing projects.