Era of agriculture research, education comes to end, says IARI Director on MS Swaminathan's death

NEW DELHI: An era of agricultural research, education and extension marked by disruptive innovations has come to an end with the death of MS Swaminathan, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) director AK Singh said on Thursday.

Renowned agricultural scientist Swaminathan (98), also known as the father of Green Revolution in India, died on Thursday in Chennai due to age-related illness. He is survived by three daughters. "In passing away of Swaminathan, ends an era of agricultural research, education and extension that was full of disruptive innovation. If God appears to poor and hungry in form of bread as said by Mahatma Gandhi, that God is Swaminathan who should be worshipped by every citizen while taking daily meals," Singh said in a statement. The celebrated agriculture icon was being treated for age-related illness for quite some time, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation sources said.

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MS Swaminathan played a significant role in developing high-yielding varieties of paddy, which helped India to attain food security. His innovation and leadership role in mass movement with farmers and other scientists, backed by public policies, resisted famine-like situations in the country.