Dr Swaminathan’s visionary leadership has not only transformed Indian agriculture but also ensured the nation’s food security and prosperity
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, today posted on X that Dr MS Swaminathan, known for his pivotal role in the Green Revolution, will be conferred the highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna.
He said that Dr Swaminathan’s visionary leadership has not only transformed Indian agriculture but also ensured the nation’s food security and prosperity.
The Prime Minister posted on X:
“It is a matter of immense joy that the Government of India is conferring the Bharat Ratna on Dr MS Swaminathan Ji, in recognition of his monumental contributions to our nation in agriculture and farmers’ welfare. He played a pivotal role in helping India achieve self-reliance in agriculture during challenging times and made outstanding efforts towards modernising Indian agriculture. We also recognise his invaluable work as an innovator and mentor and encourage learning and research among several students. Dr Swaminathan’s visionary leadership has not only transformed Indian agriculture but also ensured the nation’s food security and prosperity. He was someone I knew closely and l always valued his insights and inputs.”
R G Agarwal, Chairman Dhanuka Group said, “Bharat Ratna to both Choudhary Charan Singh and MS Swaminathan is in the way a recognition to all the hardworking farmers of the country. Both of them continuously strived for the betterment of farmers and by acknowledging both of them with Bharat Ratna, the Government has fulfilled a long-standing demand of various stakeholders of the agriculture sector.”
Mohan Kumar Mishra, Secretary, National Council of Cooperative Training (NCCT) said, “Indeed, M S Swaminathan made a significant contribution to Indian agriculture. It was the Swaminathan Committee report, which advocated the establishment of the National Council of Cooperative Training in New Delhi. This autonomous agency plays a crucial role in enhancing skills and abilities among personnel in diverse cooperative sectors, aiming for excellence in cooperative management and leadership. This is indeed a joyous moment for all of us at NCCT and the cooperation sector at large.”
Binod Anand, member MSP Committee said, “We are taking ahead the initiatives of Late Dr. MS Swaminathan especially to change the crop pattern keeping in mind the changing needs of the country. Hope we will take his dream further to make the value chain democratic Farmer Centric. With the newly created World Cooperation Economic Forum, a global thinktank will work hard to integrate the Co-operators, Social scientists, Cooperative economists, Public Affairs professionals, and Policymakers to not only make the Global value chain participatory but also make the supply chain of Indian farmers centric by bringing Structural changes in Cooperative and Agri- Economic framework “.