Internationally acclaimed scientist and presently Deputy Director General (Research) & Director Global Research Program, ICRISAT, Dr Mangi Lal Jat has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) of the Central Government. The prestigious appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), following a rigorous selection process led by a panel of eminent scientists.
The selection committee was chaired by the Cabinet Secretary and included two former Director Generals of ICAR, the Director of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and other leading experts from the scientific community.
Dr. M L Jat brings over 25 years of experience in agricultural systems science to the role. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Deputy Director General (Research) and Director of the Global Research Program at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), where he led the Resilient Farm and Food Systems (RF & FS) program. His leadership spanned five research clusters—Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Science, Geo-spatial and Big Data Sciences, Digital Agriculture, Landscapes, Soil Health and Water Science, and the ICRISAT Development Center.
A globally respected Systems Agronomist, Dr. M L Jat has held senior research and leadership roles at leading international research institutions, including 13 years at CGIAR—12 at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and one at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). His early career began with a 12-year tenure at ICAR, where he made significant contributions to sustainable farming systems.
Dr. M L Jat holds a PhD in Agronomy with a specialization in Soil Moisture Conservation in Rainfed Pearl Millet from ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. A mentor to more than four dozen students worldwide, Dr. M L Jat has also contributed his expertise to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Society of Precision Agriculture (ISPA), and other prominent international and national bodies.
His areas of specialization include Cropping Systems Science, Conservation and Regenerative Agriculture, Climate Smart Agriculture, Precision Farming, Scale-Appropriate Mechanization, and Farming Systems Design. A Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), Dr. M L Jat is also a recipient of numerous accolades, including ICAR’s prestigious Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award.
Dr. M L Jat’s appointment signals a new era of innovation and resilience in India’s agricultural research and education landscape, with an emphasis on climate-smart, data-driven, and sustainable farming practices.
