He was a farmers’ scientist – on contribution of M.S. Swaminathan

Source: The post is based on the article “He Was A Farmers’ Scientist” published in The Times of India on 7^th October 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Agriculture

Relevance: About M.S. Swaminathan’s contribution in agriculture

News: M.S. Swaminathan, a respected agricultural scientist from India, recently passed away.

Who was M.S. Swaminathan?

Read Here: Swaminathan walked ahead of his time: scientific community

He wanted farmers of India to lead a life of prosperity.

The Tamil classic, “The Kural” emphasizes the role of farmers in feeding the world, a principle Swaminathan deeply understood and dedicated his life to helping farmers.

The Kural also underscores the importance of determination for success, which Swaminathan adopted by pursuing his goal of strengthening agriculture and serving farmers with remarkable innovation and passion from a young age.

Due to his dedication and work, a lot of people called him an agricultural scientist (krishi vaigyanik). However, he was more than that, and can also be referred to as a true farmers’ scientist (kisan vaigyanik).

He also paid special attention to improving the lives of small farmers, especially women farmers.

What are his significant contributions?

During Green Revolution: India faced food shortages in the first two decades after independence. In the early 1960s, India was on the verge of famine.

However, the remarkable work of Swaminathan in agriculture, particularly in wheat breeding, resulted in a substantial increase in wheat production.  As a result, India became a self-sufficient nation in terms of food production.

For this achievement, M.S. Swaminathan came to be known as the “Father of the Indian Green Revolution.”

Innovation in Agriculture: He developed new ways to protect potato crops from pests and to make them more cold-tolerant. He also advocated for millets as superfoods since the 1990s.

Advocating Sustainable Agriculture: Swaminathan had a deep connection to farming, and his achievements extended beyond academia to practical impact in the fields.

He bridged the gap between scientific knowledge and real-world application and advocated for sustainable agriculture that balanced human progress with environmental protection.

Mentorship: After winning the World Food Prize in 1987, as the first recipient of this prestigious award, he used the prize money to establish a non-profit research foundation that continues to do extensive work in many different areas. He also established various research centers.

His leadership roles included serving as the director of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Manila. In 2018, the South Asia Regional Centre of IRRI was inaugurated in Varanasi under his leadership.

What lies ahead?

Dr. Swaminathan’s legacy inspires us to lead farmers and promote agricultural innovation for a sustainable and prosperous future.