bio personality
The father of Indian
seeds industry, Dr B R
Barwale is no more
The founder
and chairman of
Maharashtra Hybrid
Seeds Company
Limited (Mahyco), Dr
B R Barwale passed
away on July 24, 2017.
He was 86. Dr Barwale
has been also a
renowned figure for his
philanthropic activities
and varied interests.
Born in Hingoli
(Maharashtra), Dr
Barwale went on to
become one of the
iconic figures in the
agriculture sector
and is known for
his contribution
to seed sector and
food security. He is
widely regarded as
father of the Indian
seed industry due
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BioVoiceNews | August 2017
to his efforts to
develop a strong seed
pipeline in India.
With the influence
of institutions like
Indian Agricultural
Research Institute
and Rockefeller
Foundation, he
established Mahyco in
1964 and thus became
a doyen of the seed
industry in India. Nadu Agricultural
University. More
recently, the Prime
Minister Narendra
Modi felicitated
him during the 1st
International Agro-
biodiversity Congress
2016, at Vigyan
Bhawan, in New Delhi,
in recognition of his
immense contribution
to Indian agriculture.
As a recognition
for his “superior
accomplishments
in developing the
role of private seeds
enterprise in India,
Dr Barwale was aptly
felicitated with 12th
World Food Prize in
1998. The President
of India awarded him
with Padma Bhushan
Award in 2001 for his
distinguished service
of high order in the
field of Trade and
Economic Activity. On
14th March 2002, he
received the Honorary
Degree of Doctor of
Science ( Honoris
Causa ) from Tamil Dr Barwale’s other
main mission in life
was to provide the
best care for the eyes.
Getting inspiration
from the famous
Sankara Netralaya
in Chennai, he
established, about a
decade ago, the now
famous Shri Ganapati
Netralaya in Jalna,
Maharashtra. The
world class facility,
was built in 7.5 acres
of land with 141 beds
and 36 fully equipped
consulting rooms.
He devoted his life
for the upliftment of
Indian farmers