Renowned scientist Dr R S Paroda conferred with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Lifetime Achievement Award
A visionary in agricultural innovation, Dr Paroda is credited as the architect of India’s National Gene Bank, one of the world’s largest, housing over 250,000 germplasm accessions.
Renowned agricultural scientist Dr Rajendra Singh Paroda has been conferred with the prestigious Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Academy of Biological Sciences (NABS). The honor was presented during the 14th NABS National Conference on Innovations in Biology and Biotechnology for Agriculture and Animal Sciences, held at the Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Kudumiyanmalai.
Dr Paroda, the founding Chairman of the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), has made significant contributions to India’s agricultural research and development. A distinguished scientist and administrator, he held key positions, including Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Government of India.
Dr Paroda’s contributions to agriculture, particularly in plant breeding and genetic resource management, are globally recognized. Under his leadership from 1994 to 2001, India’s National Agricultural Research System (NARS) was modernized, resulting in the establishment of over 30 national institutions across diverse sectors, including crops, horticulture, livestock, natural resource management, fisheries, agricultural engineering, and social sciences.
A visionary in agricultural innovation, Dr Paroda is credited as the architect of India’s National Gene Bank, one of the world’s largest, housing over 250,000 germplasm accessions. The National Agricultural Science Centre (NASC) Complex in New Delhi stands as another testament to his vision and leadership.
Dr Paroda’s remarkable career has earned him numerous accolades, including the Padma Bhushan in 1998 and the Norman Borlaug Award in 2006, which was presented by then-President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam at the 93rd Indian Science Congress in Hyderabad.
His contributions have also been recognized internationally, with gene banks at the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, and the Agriculture Research Institute of Kazakhstan named in his honor. With an illustrious career spanning decade, Dr Paroda continues to be a guiding force in agricultural sciences, driving innovation and sustainability for global food security.
A visionary in agricultural innovation, Dr Paroda