The International Crops Reserch Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has named Professor MS Swaminathan, renowned agricultural scientist and Father of India's Green Revolution, and Ms Saina Nehwal, Olympic medalist, ace badminton player and youth icon of India, as ICRISAT Ambassadors of Goodwill. The recognition was conferred to them by ICRISAT Director General Dr William D Dar in a momentous ceremony held today at the ICRISAT global headquarters in Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
As ICRISAT Ambassadors, Prof. Swaminathan and Ms Nehwal have agreed to champion the Institute’s mission to make a difference by promoting science-based agricultural solutions in the fight against poverty, hunger, malnutrition and environmental degradation in the dryland tropics of the world.
“Inclusive agriculture is the key to a prosperous, food secure and resilient dryland tropics,” said Prof Swaminathan. “By giving smallholder farmers access to technologies and connecting them to markets, they will have options for a more profitable and resilient agriculture towards achieving sustainable food, nutrition, economic and environmental security,” he continued.
“ICRISAT plays an important role in this through its inclusive market-oriented development strategy, particularly focusing on the need to empower resource-poor farmers in marginalized environments. I am therefore pleased and proud to be an Ambassador of Goodwill for the works and initiatives of ICRISAT.”
"Being asked to serve is truly humbling, and the chance to make a real difference is not an opportunity that everyone is given. I proudly accept the role of ICRISAT Ambassador, and hope to inspire and encourage particularly the youth in seeing the uniqueness and importance of the works and initiatives of ICRISAT,” said Ms Nehwal.
“As an athlete, I hope I can help make people understand and appreciate the nutritional importance of ICRISAT crops such as millets and sorghum, and grain legumes such as chickpea, pigeonpea and groundnut. I strongly believe these crops are important for both poor farmers and consumers because of their high nutritional value and for a diverse diet and farming, and are critical in fighting malnutrition and food insecurity,” she continued.
“We cannot be any prouder of all our Ambassadors of Goodwill, now joined by Prof Swaminathan and Ms Nehwal,” said Dr William D Dar, ICRISAT Director General.
