Dar gets lifetime agri leadership award

Hyderabad, Telangana, India –  In recognition of his relentless efforts to improve the livelihoods of poor smallholder farmers in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, Dr. William Dar, director general of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), was conferred the prestigious Agriculture Leadership Award 2014 (Life Time Achievements) at the 7th Agriculture Leadership Summit, held in New Delhi on Sept. 27, 2014.

Under the chairmanship of Prof. MS Swaminathan, the Father of India’s Green Revolution, the National Organizing Committee of the Agriculture Leadership Awards 2014, conferred the honor on Dr. Dar for his exceptional service to society through science with a human face. His pioneering work in dryland agriculture spanning over four decades towards empowering farm and farmers through agriculture research, extension, technology development, partnerships and international cooperation, positively impacted the lives of large number of farmers in India and beyond.

“The survival of one billion people – the weakest and most vulnerable on the planet, the forgotten poor – will depend upon us finding answers to hunger, poverty and malnutrition. I humbly dedicate this Life Time Achievement Award to the smallholder farmers of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa,” Dr. Dar said after receiving the award. 

Dr. Dar, an accomplished researcher, science leader and administrator, now joins an illustrious list of past recipients of the award that includes Dr. Verghese Kurien, the Father of India’s White Revolution; Dr. R S Paroda, the former director general of the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR); Dr. RB Singh, Chancellor of the Central Agriculture University; Dr. Prem Lal Gautam, chairperson, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority; and Dr. Amrita Patel, chairman, National Dairy Development Board.

Dr. Dar’s dynamic and visionary leadership of ICRISAT, fostered science with a human face, and, with a global network of partners, the Institute is advancing inclusive market-oriented development for the smallholder farmers of the semi-arid tropics of Asia and Africa. ICRISAT’s research agenda is now more focused, decentralized and regionally targeted; projects are more sharply formulated and implemented solving smallholder farmers concerns, major crop and system issues and opportunities. Dr. Dar’s transformational leadership has shaped ICRISAT into a forward looking institution.