Man pioneers sustainable agriculture | Fusion - WeRIndia

Dr K Sivannarayana Varaprasad is an acclaimed agroecologist from Andhra Pradesh.

He received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement in Global Agriculture Award for his extensive contributions to sustainable farming and bio-agricultural technologies worldwide.

The award was presented at the 8th Asian PGPR Society International Conference held at the World Vegetable Centre in Taiwan from September 25 to 27.

The conference celebrated Dr Varaprasad’s dedication to advancing eco-friendly agricultural practices.

Reflecting on the honour, Dr Varaprasad emphasized the importance of agroecology in achieving global food security and sustainable agriculture.

Born in Mandatta village, Krishna district, and now 70, Dr Varaprasad completed his MSc and PhD from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.

His career has focused on promoting Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and leading international agricultural research projects.

Dr Varaprasad’s work extends far beyond India; he has contributed significantly as an international consultant for the AP-ISU Mega Seed Project and served as the Director of ICAR-IIOR and Head of the NBPGR Regional Station in Hyderabad.

Throughout his career, Dr Varaprasad promoted agroecology, emphasized under-utilised crops, and strengthened Indigenous seed systems.

His research areas also include photo-sanitation, oil seeds, and Plant Genetic Resources (PGR).

Dr Varaprasad has worked with Rythu Sadhikaraka Samstha, spreading the principles of natural farming across Andhra Pradesh and beyond.

He played a key role in establishing the Indo-German Global Academy for Agroecological Research and Learning in Andhra Pradesh, a crucial institution supporting global research on agroecology.

He has led multiple projects with the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions and currently manages a USDA-funded project on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Capacity in Bangladesh.

His extensive research includes 126 research and review papers, with 46 published internationally and 80 in national journals.

Additionally, he established a PGR collection, conservation, and exchange facility in South India, facilitating the exchange of one million samples across 150 countries.

Dr Varaprasad’s achievements reinforce the role of agroecology in transforming agriculture for a healthier planet.

Image by icon0com from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on July 16, 2018

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1442155