| Monkombu Sambasivan Swaminathan (Born 1925) |
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In the '60s, as a cytogeneticist and administrator of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, he made major scientific advances, pioneering solutions to major agricultural problems in Asia. He led the way in introducing high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice to India, starting the "Green Revolution" that subsequently swept Southeast Asia. This work resulted in doubling the total crop yield in India, from 12 million tons to 23 million tons in four crop seasons, and transforming India from a "begging bowl" to a "breadbasket" overnight. He is widely recognized as the architect of the "Green Revolution" in India.
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His work in crop genetics and sustainable agricultural development in India and the Third World earned him the first World Food Prize in 1987, the Tyler and Honda Prizes in 1991 and the UNEP Sasakawa Award in 1994.
He has been honored with the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India, the Magsaysay Award, the Borlaug Award, the first World Food Prize and the Fellowship of the Royal Society of London.
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| Category filed under: Scientist |
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