BAIF Development Research Foundation

𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮'𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗩𝗶𝗸𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗕𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁 @𝟮𝟬𝟰𝟳

At CHARCHA 2026 (15 Sept, Delhi), BAIF Development Research Foundation in partnership with ITC, brought together leading voices from science, government, industry, academia and development practice for a stimulating session on transforming India's food systems.

A key insight emerged: India already has solutions on the ground — the opportunity now is to connect the dots.

Key takeaways:

Position farmers especially women farmers at the centre
Take science from lab to land
Move from isolated interventions to integrated systems
Recognise diversity - no single blueprint fits all
Strengthen collectives & partnerships
Create the right incentives and markets
Unlock the wider potential of the agri-food sector

The pathway ahead: Praxis → Evidence → Policy → Investment → Scale through sustained partnerships across Samaj, Sarkar and Bazaar.

Sincere thanks to our panellists for a rich dialogue: Dr. Bharat Kakade, President & Managing Trustee, BAIF Development Research Foundation, Dr. Pramod Aggarwal, Regional Program Leader, BISA-CIMMYT, Smt. Rajeshwari S. Mallegowda, Director, NRLM, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India Mr. Giresh Mohan, General Manager & Head – Operations, Social Investments, ITC Ltd. Prof. Soutrik Basu, Associate Professor, School of Public Policy, IIT Delhi

Moderated by Dr. Rajashree Joshi, Vice President – Programmes, BAIF Development Research Foundation.

For a resilient, inclusive and prosperous India — not just more food, but better nutrition, sustainable livelihoods, healthy ecosystems and greater prosperity for farming communities.

India's food systems stand at a crossroads climate risk, market volatility and unequal access to technology and finance are testing farmer resilience like never before. But the solutions exist: climate-smart agriculture, diversified farming systems and stronger science–policy–practice links.

As cohost of alongside the*spark forum, BAIF Development Research Foundation with ITC's support brings together government, science, private sector and development practice to move this conversation from vulnerability to resilience, from isolated solutions to systems transformation.

Be part of it: 15–17 September | India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

Register for charcha: https://bit.ly/4cx85HN | See You There!

BAIF's session at , with ITC, brings together voices from science, policy and practice:

Dr. Pramod Aggarwal, Regional Program Leader, Borlaug Institute for South Asia-CIMMYT, Delhi — climate risk & adaptation pathways

Giresh Mohan, General Manager & Head Operations, Social Investments, ITC Ltd — climate-resilient agriculture for smallholder farmers

Smt. Rajeshwari S. Mallegowda, Director, National Rural Livelihood Mission, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India — policy & institutional convergence

Soutrik Basu, Associate Professor, School of Public Policy, IIT Delhi innovation and scaling pathways

Together with BAIF's Dr. Bharat Kakade and Dr. Rajashree Joshi, they will chart a shared agenda for India's climate-resilient food future.

15 September | 3:30–4:30 PM | India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

Register for charcha: https://bit.ly/4cx85HN | See You There!

Proud Moment for Team BAIF!

We are delighted to share that Ms. Pranjali Prakash Mahadik, Creative Media & Graphic Designer at BAIF, has been honoured as a Runner-Up in the IYWF 2026 Photo Competition, a global initiative under the United Nations' International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF) 2026, organised by the Coalition of Action for Soil Health (CA4SH).

Her winning photograph, "The White Blossoms," captures the quiet strength and dedication of women farmers — echoing the very spirit of IYWF 2026: celebrating the skills, resilience and innovation of women across agriculture and food systems worldwide.

This recognition reflects not just an eye for a powerful frame, but a deep sense of connection to the communities BAIF works with every day.

Congratulations, Pranjali! We are proud to see your work shine on a global platform.