The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) extends its warmest congratulations to Dr Mangi Lal Jat on his appointment as Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Government of India, approved Dr Jat’s appointment on 17 April 2025 for a period of three years. Prior to this, Dr Jat served as Global Research Program Director-Resilient Farm and Food Systems at ICRISAT, where he played a pivotal role in advancing climate-resilient agricultural innovations.
“On behalf of the ICRISAT community, I warmly congratulate Dr Jat on his well-deserved appointment. His strong leadership and commitment to science-driven agricultural development make him an excellent choice to lead ICAR and DARE,” said Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT.
“This moment also presents a unique opportunity for deeper collaboration between ICAR and ICRISAT, supported by leadership with a shared familiarity of both institutions’ mandates and contributions. We look forward to strengthening this partnership to deliver greater impact for farmers and food systems.”
Dr Jat is a globally respected Systems Agronomist with over 25 years of experience in systems science across the developing world. Prior to his tenure at ICRISAT, he held senior scientific and leadership roles at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). He also served for 12 years within ICAR itself, laying a strong foundation in systems-based agronomy and climate-smart agriculture.
“I am deeply honored by this opportunity to serve Indian agriculture in such a pivotal capacity. ICRISAT has been a tremendous platform for global research and collaboration, and I carry with me the values of innovation, partnership, and resilience that are at the heart of its mission. I look forward to strengthening India’s agricultural research ecosystem in service of our farmers and food systems,” Dr Jat said, reacting to the news of his appointment.
Dr Mangi Lal Jat holds a PhD in Agronomy from ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, with specialization in Soil Moisture Conservation in Rainfed Pearl Millet—a field that continues to underpin dryland agricultural strategies.
ICRISAT is proud to have been part of Dr Jat’s journey and is pleased to welcome him as an ex officio member of the ICRISAT Governing Board in his new capacity.