MS Swaminathan receives honorary doctorate, says first rice cultivators were women

TNN | Jun 20, 2018, 06.17 PM IST

 

CHENNAI: An honorary doctorate of letters was conferred on agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan on Wednesday by Gwalior-based ITM University, in recognition of his contribution to sustainable agriculture leading to global food security. 

Kamal Kant Dwivedi, vice-chancellor of ITM University, presented the degree to Swaminathan at a special convocation held at M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) here.

Sustainable development goal 2 (zero hunger) can only be achieved through sustainable agriculture, said Swaminathan, after accepting the honour.

The veteran agriculture scientist expressed happiness that ITM University had produced 1,000 agricultural degree holders. He said it was important that the core of that learning include the dimensions of social, gender equality, economics and ethics.

Swaminathan said biodiversity conservation was a key step in sustainable agriculture. He gave the example of how the germplasms of thousands of varieties of rice available now could be attributed to the work of farmers, who originally discovered it.

“The first rice cultivators were women,” Swaminathan said, noting that there was a portrait of a woman in a temple at Along in Arunachal Pradesh, whom the local people consider to be the one who introduced rice into cultivation.

Speaking on the ethical aspect of patenting new discoveries, he said its high time institutions were put in place to maintain equity.