Dr. S.M. Bokhtiar, Director, SAC participated a launch meeting on “ Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals Agri –food Systems CGIAR Research Program (CRP-GLDC)” held at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia during 14-16 February 2018 organized by International  Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) with support of the CGIAR Institutes. The GLDC launch meeting had three objectives:

• Launch a demand –driven CRP GLDC that will increase the productivity, profitability, resilience and marketability of critical and nutritious grain legume (chickpea, cowpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, lentil, soybean) and cereal (sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet) crops grown within the semi-arid and sub-humid dryland agroecologies of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia;
• Seek commitment from partners to join the GLDC network and prospectus to leverage joint actions towards its mission; and
• Establish priority GLDC activity planning for 2018 at the Flagship Program and Cross-Cutting Program  levels.

Dr. Bokhtiar gave a presentation “SAC Activities and Agricultural Research: Challenges and Priorities in South Asia” as keynote speaker in the CRP-GLDC launch meeting. The representative of CGIAR Institutes, Scientists of ICRISAT and guests from International & National organizations were attended in the meeting.