Minister Pandiarajan pitches for Bharat Ratna for the agriculture scientist

Chennai, January 24, 2018: Prof M S Swaminathan today received the ‘National Basava Krushi Award’ 2018 for life time achievement and contribution to the farming community. Instituted by the Lingayat Panchamasali Mahapeetha it was presented to Prof Swaminathan by Jagadguru Shri. Basava Jayamruthyunjaya Swamiji in the presence of Thiru K. Pandiarajan Honourable Minister for Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture, Government of Tamil Nadu.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Pandiarajan said that Prof Swaminathan had already been felicitated by Tamil Nadu last month with the ‘Erairgnar’ award for his immense contribution and now this award was from Karnataka. “The Tamil Nadu government strongly endorses that Prof Swaminathan has to be given the Bharat Ratna for his work for the community,” he said.

Shri Basava Jayamruthyunjaya Swamiji, spoke of the importance of farmers and said that while different religions had their own sacred texts, for farmers, the sacred text was the Swaminathan Commission Report. This was the way the farmers had been persistently quoting from and depending on these reports, he said.

In his acceptance speech, Prof Swaminathan welcomed the fact that farmers from different states were at the function. “A farmer is a farmer,” he said, no matter, where they are from. He emphasized that the monsoon and the market were the most important aspects in farming. “Assured market and remunerative pricing are crucial for the lives and livelihood of farmers.”

Other speakers on the occasion included Dr.Vijayananda Kashappanavar, MLA, Hunagund, Karnataka, Dr. Rajendra Poddar, Agricultural Economist, University of Agricultural Sciences,  Dharwad, Karnataka, Dr.S.B.Dandin,  Ex. Vice Chancellor, University of Horticulture Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka, Dr A B Patil, Registrar, University of Agricultural Sciences,  Bengaluru, farmer leaders representatives Shri L Nagaraj, Smt Pakkirichi, Smt, Akka Mahadevi, Shri Balasubramaniam and others. Farmers from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as well as from other parts of South India were present on the occasion besides representatives from the scientific, academic and political fraternity.

The award recognizes the contributions made by revolutionary individuals for development of agriculture, welfare of farmers and protection of natural resources.  In earlier years, the award has been conferred on Dr.Rajendra Singh (2012) for Water Resource Conservation, Gandhian Sri. Anna Hazare (2013) for his contribution to Rural Development and Organizing farmers, Smt. Medha Patkar (2014) in recognition of her contributions to the Save Narmada Campaign, Dr.Baba Adave (2015) for creating awareness among labour and coolies and Sri. Manik Sarkar, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tripura (2016-17) for contribution to the pro-poor, rural and agriculture development.