Renowned agricultural scientist and the chief architect of the green revolution in India, MS Swaminathan, was awarded the first World Agriculture Prize for his contributions to Indian agriculture by Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu here on Friday.
While giving away the award, which carries prize money of $1,00,000 (₹73,45,500), instituted by the nongovernmental Indian Council of Food and Agriculture, Naidu said “like we have most favoured nation, we should give most favoured status to agriculture.” Agriculture renaissance is the need of the hour, he added.
Receiving the prize, Swaminathan said: “There is no agriculture without farmers. It is the basic need of people and it cannot be commercialised”.