Paroda, Rajendra
Dr. R. S. Paroda is an accomplished plant breeder and an able research administrator. He has made significant contributions in the field of crop science and towards strengthening the national agricultural research systems in India as well as in Central Asia and the Caucasus. He was instrumental in establishing the Asia Pacific Seed Association and the Asia Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions. He served as Chairman of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research from 1998 to 2001. He headed the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) from 1994 to 2001. Under his leadership, the ICAR attained new heights with greater expansion of infrastructure, formulation on long-term priorities and programs in the form of vision documents, and management reforms. Dr. Paroda has the unique distinction of being the main architect of one of the largest and most modern national genebanks in the world. He is a fellow of almost all the prestigious science Academies in India and a foreign fellow of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Third World Academy of Science (TWAS), Italy. He is also Fellow of Agricultural Academies of Armenia, Georgia and Tajikistan. He was the President of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (India) from 1996 to 2001. He was elected as General President of the Indian Science Congress Association in 2000-2001.
In recognition of his meritorious contribution to agricultural research, the President of India conferred on him PADMA BHUSHAN in 1998. Other prestigious awards conferred on him include Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Memorial Prize (1982-3), Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Award (1988), Om Prakash Bhasin Award (1992) and Special Asia Pacific Seed Association Award (1995). In recent past, he received the prestigious Dr. B. P. Pal Gold Medal from the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) and Dr. Borlang Award from the President of India in the Indian Science Congress in January 2006. A number of national and foreign universities have awarded him the honorary D. Sc. Degrees, including the Ohio State University, USA.
His current passion is linking science to society and working for Evergreen Revolution.
