South African delegation from the Department of Science and Innovation-National Research Foundation (DSI-NRF) Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (CIKS), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, visited the University of Hyderabad (UoH) on July 21, 2024.

A five-member delegation consisted of Prof. Vivian Ojong (Dean of Research, College of Humanities, University of KwaZulu-Natal), Prof. Hassan Kaya (Director, DSI-NRF, CIKS; and Coordinator, African Institute in Indigenous Knowledge Systems, University of KwaZulu-Natal), Prof. Yonah Seleti (Former Chief Director: Science Missions, South African National Department of Science and Innovation; and Research Expert, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa), Dr. Mayashree Chinsamy (Research Manager, DSI-NRF, CIKS; and Secretariat, African Institute in Indigenous Knowledge Systems, University of KwaZulu-Natal), and Mr. Tez Mothibe (Media and Communications Practitioner, Affiliated to CIKS Team).

The visit was arranged by the Consulate General of India, Durban, in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India, and facilitated by the Office of International Affairs (OIA), University of Hyderabad. Dr. M. Muthamilarasan, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, was the nodal officer for the visit of South African delegates.

During the visit, Prof. B. J. Rao, Vice-Chancellor, welcomed the delegates and outlined the potential benefits of the collaboration between the University of Hyderabad and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He highlighted the unique position of the University of Hyderabad as the only central university to work on the omics of millets.

Prof. Rao emphasized identifying the areas that can be synergistically worked together to develop a partnership towards facilitating knowledge sharing and capacity building. He also outlined the importance of establishing collaborative research centers dedicated to millet research and securing joint funding to support continuous innovation.

To take this collaboration forward, the Vice-Chancellor stressed the importance of signing an MoU between the University of Hyderabad and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, as it will encourage research on millets in both countries, sharing of resources, academic exchanges, supporting millet start-ups, and floating distance learning programs benefiting the students of India and South Africa. His vision of collaboration promises a propitious future for millet research and development, instilling a sense of optimism in the academic and research communities of both countries.

Following this, Prof. Bramanandam, Director-OIA, formally welcomed the delegates on behalf of the Office of International Affairs, expressing his pleasure in hosting them for a fruitful collaboration and partnership. Prof. Arvind Susarla, Assistant Director-OIA, joined Prof. Bramanandam in welcoming the delegates. In this welcome meet, Prof. Kaya expressed that the collaboration between the two Universities should focus on research and development to contribute to the economic growth and social upliftment of millet farmers. Agreeing with this, Prof. Ojong discussed the possibility of having generic doctoral degree programs jointly supported by the University of Hyderabad along with thematic training and involving students of both countries through millets. Dr. Chinsamy explained the mandate of CIKS to systematize indigenous science, innovation, technology, social, cultural, spiritual, linguistic, political, economic, and business thought in the global knowledge economy for international social and epistemic justice. She underscored the importance of the delegation’s visit to the University and how their visit contributes to the mandate of CIKS.

The delegation then visited the Office of International Affairs to meet Prof. Appa Rao Podile, Senior Professor and former Vice-Chancellor, UoH, Prof. Anand K Kondapi, Dean of the School of Life Sciences, and Prof. S. Rajagopal, Head of the Department of Plant Sciences. Prof. Appa Podile briefed his work on microbiomes and cited his collaborative research on exploring the microbiome of pearl millet and his ongoing research on legume microbiomes. Prof. Kondapi extended his welcome to the delegates on behalf of the School of Life Sciences and summarized the research activities of SLS. Prof. Rajagopal described the ongoing research in the Department of Plant Sciences, and as the Director of BioNEST, he also gave an overview of the companies that work in the areas relevant to millet and millet-based products. The delegation toured the School of Life Sciences before moving to the Repository of Tomato Genomics Resources (RTGR).

At RTGR, Dr. Muthamilarasan welcomed the delegation and presented his work on millet-omics. The delegates were shown the progress of ongoing research activities on millets, particularly foxtail millet and kodo millet. The delegation was optimistic that addressing climate change by promoting climate-resilient and sustainable farming practices can further enhance the productivity of millets, where the University of Hyderabad can assist the University of KwaZulu-Natal in this regard. The delegation was impressed by the genesis of the research question from Tamil literature, wherein millets were mentioned more than rice or any other cereal. The work being done in the lab and field to identify the genetic determinants underlying key traits related to climate resilience and nutri-potential of millets through integrated omics approaches was demonstrated to the delegation. Following this, the delegation visited the labs and other facilities housed in the RTGR and interviewed the students working on millets. The delegation realized that the potential for student exchanges between Africa and India to communicate science at the community level is substantial and multifaceted.

The delegation underlined that the academic exchanges foster cross-cultural understanding, allowing students to adapt scientific solutions to diverse local contexts, particularly in millet farming. Academic exchanges help build skills in science communication and community engagement, translating complex concepts into practical advice for local communities. Such programs strengthen networks between universities, research organizations, and local communities, facilitating ongoing collaboration. Collaborative projects ensure solutions are relevant and practical, while field visits provide firsthand experience in local millet agricultural practices and community life.

By leveraging these exchanges, Africa and India can enhance the impact of scientific research on millet, promote sustainable practices, and foster a deeper understanding of millet science within local communities, ultimately inspiring future leaders in millet science and community development.

Overall, it was a fruitful visit providing an enriching experience to the University of Hyderabad and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, which can foster a robust partnership that facilitates collaborative research, enhances millet cultivation, improves livelihoods, and contributes to economic development and resilience to climate change in both the countries.