MS Swaminathan award to be presented in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, May 18 (IANS) The Retired Indian Council for Agricultural Research Employees Association and Nuziveedu Seeds Pvt. ltd. (NSPL) will jointly present the MS Swaminathan award to the leading Indian scientists and agriculturalists, to acknowledge their outstanding work in the field of agricultural innovation and research.

The award will be presented to the winners on Saturday here.

The award, named after the doyen of Indian agriculture M.S. Swaminathan, carries a prize money of Rs.2 lakh. It is conferred upon eminent Indian scientists who worked in India in any branch of agricultural sciences, animal sciences or fisheries.

"The innovative ideas and work done by Indian scientists have an overwhelming potential to changing the entire agricultural landscape of the country and we feel extremely proud and happy to be a part of this revolutionary process," said M.V.S. Sastry, president of the association.

NSPL, India's largest seed producer, is the principal sponsor of these awards.

The company, which started in 1973, has been consistently introducing new seed varieties into the Indian market by continuously investing in its research and development capabilities.

"We are very happy to be associated with these awards as we have always encouraged science-based solutions to enhance productivity and yields," said Mandava Prabhakar Rao, chief managing director, Nuziveedu Seeds Private ltd.