AUG 07: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bharat Ratna Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Centenary International Conference at Pusa, New Delhi. Organised from August 7–9, 2025, the conference marks the birth centenary of Dr. Swaminathan, widely hailed as the father of India’s Green Revolution. The event is jointly hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, ICAR, and the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences under the theme “Evergreen Revolution – The Path to Bio-Happiness.”
Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired the inaugural ceremony. Paying tribute, he said, “Dr. Swaminathan dedicated his life to eliminating hunger. We must follow his path to ensure food security globally.”
He recounted how Dr. Swaminathan was inspired by the 1942–43 Bengal famine and later drove agricultural transformation by developing hybrid wheat in Punjab in the 1960s. Wheat production soared from 5 to 17 million tonnes within a year — a historic feat.
Chouhan highlighted government initiatives inspired by PM Modi’s vision, especially the ‘Lab to Land’ campaign. He said, “Without integrating science into agriculture, progress is not possible.” Initiatives like Krishi Chaupal and Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan have been launched, with over 2,170 teams reaching 64,000 villages and 1 crore farmers.
India, he added, now has surplus rice, is wheat self-sufficient, and continues to expand foodgrain storage. Under PM Modi’s leadership, 80 crore citizens receive free rations.
He stressed increasing productivity of pulses and oilseeds like soybean, mustard, lentils, and arhar. He also spoke about the National Mission on Natural Farming, aimed at sustainable food production for future generations.
The Minister also visited an exhibition on Dr. Swaminathan’s life. The event saw participation from NITI Aayog’s Dr. Ramesh Chand, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, scientists, farmers, and agriculture experts.
