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HomePosts Tagged "Padma Shri Award"
AgroPolicy, Animal Health, India, People, R&D

Dr Surinder Kumar Vasal is a distinguished Indian geneticist and plant breeder, and alumni of IARI, New Delhi.

 The government of India conferred Padma Shri award to Dr Surinder Kumar Vasal for his contributions to agriculture in the fields of science and engineering.

Born in Amritsar, Punjab, on 12 April 1938, Dr Surinder completed B.Sc. from Khalsa College, Amritsar in 1957 and M.Sc. from Kanpur Agricultural College in 1959.  He has completed his Ph.D. from IARI in 1966 and also Post-doctoral Fellow, CIMMYT, Mexico, 1970.

 Dr Surinder Kumar Vasal is a distinguished scientist, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico to date. Dr Surinder Kumar Vasal is a distinguished Indian geneticist and plant breeder, and alumni of IARI, New Delhi. He is renowned for development of Quality Protein Maize (QPM), while working at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico. Dr Vasal worked with biochemist Dr Evangelina Villegas for 35 years to develop a protein enriched form of maize in the 1970s. The QPM is created by adding protein to low nutrient corn and is referenced as “miracle maize” because of its role in alleviating malnourishment.

 He worked as Research Assistant in 1959-66, and Assistant Botanist Maize-cum-Assistant Professor in 1966-67, Department of Agriculture, H.P; Research Associate, Rockefeller Foundation, Thailand, 1967. He worked as International Staff in 1971-84 and as Germplasm Coordinator in 1985-90. Dr Surinder worked as Coordinator Lowland Tropical in 1991-98, Maize Program at CIMMYT, Mexico.

Dr Surinder Kumar has received many prestigious awards at international level. He has received La Asociacion Mexicana de Semilleros ‘Premio Cesar Garza’ Award in 1993; International Service in Crop Science Award, in 1996; International Agronomy Award in 1999; World Food Prize in 2000 and Dr M.S. Swaminathan Award by TAAS. Dr Surinder is a Fellow of American Society of Agronomy; Crop Science Society of America.

Dr Surinder Kumar Vasal is a distinguished

Agro Universities, Award, India, People, R&D, Seeds

Dr Singh’s groundbreaking work includes the development and release of over 550 wheat varieties.

Dr Ravi Prakash Singh, a globally recognised wheat scientist, has been honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri award for his exceptional contributions to wheat research and development. As the Head of Global Wheat Improvement at CIMMYT, Dr Singh has dedicated nearly four decades to enhancing wheat yields and combating hunger worldwide. His journey in plant breeding, beginning with his master’s at BHU and culminating in a Ph.D. from the University of Sydney, has been marked by significant breakthroughs in wheat disease resistance and yield improvement.

Dr Ravi Prakash Singh, a distinguished wheat scientist and Padma Shri awardee, has significantly enhanced global wheat production with his pioneering research at CIMMYT. Recognised for developing over 550 wheat varieties and his focus on genetic disease resistance, Dr Singh’s work has been pivotal in increasing food production and nutritional quality worldwide. His efforts have strengthened partnerships between CIMMYT, ICAR, and various Indian institutions, making a profound impact on global food security and agricultural sustainability.

Dr Singh’s groundbreaking work includes the development and release of over 550 wheat varieties. His focus on genetic resistance against rust diseases has been instrumental in safeguarding wheat crops globally. At CIMMYT, his post-doctoral research has led to innovations that have bolstered partnerships with ICAR and agricultural universities in India, benefiting millions of farmers with higher-yielding, disease-resistant wheat varieties.

Dr. Singh’s contributions to wheat science have earned him numerous accolades, including the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, the Young Scientist Award from INSA, and honors from various international organizations. His work has not only advanced scientific understanding but has also had a tangible impact on farmers’ livelihoods and global food production.

Dr Singh’s groundbreaking work includes the development

Agro Universities, People

Amai Mahalinga Naik’s farm has become a model farmland and has over 1,000 visitors a Year including foreign tourists

Amai Mahalinga Naik, age 77 years, an innovative farmer from Adyanadka village of Coastal Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka has been conferred with the Padma Shri Award – 2022 for transforming an arid sloping hill into a fertile farm through the Innovative Zero-Energy Micro-Irrigation System.

Naik single-handedly dug six tunnels of 315 Ft length to bring over water to his farm. He also constructed 300 percolation trenches alone in the hills surrounding the farm with around 5,000 large laterite stones that he carried himself to his farm. Naik built two revetments (15-Ft long, 30-Ft wide and 5-Ft high) and a tank of 12,000 Litres capacity to fill up the revetments. He turned a deserted and barren plot of land into a lush oasis comprising 300 areca nut palms, 75 coconut trees, 150 cashew trees, 200 banana saplings and pepper nines.

In addition to this, he also keeps bees and produces Azolla for his cows as a dietary supplement. For all his efforts, he is also known as the ‘One-Man Army’ and ‘Tunnel Man’ in his surrounding areas. Naik’s farm has become model farmland and has over 1,000 visitors a year including foreign tourists.

Amai Mahalinga Naik's farm has become a