The “Pattikaadu Agricultural Producer Company Ltd”, was launched by Dr Ajay Parida, Executive Director, MSSRF at Illupur, Pudukkottai , Tamil Nadu on 12th July. This is a joint venture by Producer organization (SVAPO) and Rural Women Entrepreneur Federation (RWEF). The producer company will help facilitate business linkages for greater profit for its members. Speaking at the launch, Dr. Ajay Parida said the Central Government had named 2014 as the year of producer organisations and allocated 200 cores across the country, for this purpose. He called upon community members to use this opportunity and contribute to the growth of the new company. Dr. Hopper, Director, Ecotechnology, Mr. Singaram, Joint Director, Department of Agriculture, Annavasal and Dr. Marimuthu, Asst. Professor, National Pulses Research Centre, spoke on the occasion. About 800 community members participated in the event. Earlier, during their joint 2nd annual day and general body meeting, Mr. Palaniappan, president of VAPO and Mrs. Nagalakshmi, President of RWEF, presented their annual reports and financial reports. New representatives were elected for 2014-2015.

A three-pronged action plan was suggested by experts and various stakeholders to address the issue of occupation-related health ailments among salt workers. This was the result of a consultative meeting held at the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation here today.

Distinguished plant scientist, Dr Sanjaya Rajaram is the winner of the prestigious World Food Prize for 2014.

If you have just written your Class X exams and have a keen interest in nature, here is a green opportunity for you. The M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) has announced an essay contest on “What can we do to address the issue of climate change” that will help select students for their annual camp on biodiversity, climate change and biotechnology.

To commemmorate the International Year of Family Farming an Asia-Pacific Conferene will be held at MSSSRF,Chennai on August, 2014. One of the major objectives of the confrence is the launch of Zero Hunger Programme in India.

CGIAR, the world’s largest agriculture research partnership, has reached $1 billion in funding, a  hugely important sign that the world is focusing on the importance of agricultural research.  However, there remains a great need to research the forgotten crops of the world. One of the  founders of the agricultural green revolution a generation ago is now calling for us to revitalize the  crops that revolution left behind. Prof. M S Swaminathan wants the UN to devote a year to the world’s “orphan crops” working with agricultural research organizations including Bioversity International.  

Dr. Ajay Kumar Parida has been conferred the Padma Shri as part of the Republic Day awards in 2014. Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. It is awarded by the Government of India. He has been recognized for his significant contributions to Science and Engineering. The trustees, staff and scholars of MSSRF take great pride in congratulating him on this joyous occasion.

We are happy to announce Ms. S.Velvizhi recently awarded Ph.D. from Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Parangipettai, Annamalai University Tamil nadu, India in the topic “Socio-economic and livelihood study of mangrove-dependent Irular tribal fishers of Pitchavaram, Southeast coast of India, with special reference to women”. Currently she coordinates the entire Fisher Friend Programme of IEC division that provides precision forecast services, capacity building on new fishing technologies, literacy on sustainable fisheries and Fish quality control measures to the fishing community by using multiple technological platform predominantly mobile in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andra Pradesh, 

Smt Mina Swaminathan elected as the Distinguished Chair : Gender and Development in recognition of her multi-faceted contributions to the genesis and growth of MSSRF.

It is the centenary year of the person who has been referred to as “the man who saved a billion lives”.

2013 saw the completion of 25 years of research, education outreach and networking by our scientists and scholars.