Dr. Surinder (Suri) Sehgal, an Indian-American philanthropist renowned for his extensive career as a crop scientist, entrepreneur, and global hybrid seed industry expert, has been honored with the esteemed Dr. M S Swaminathan Award for Leadership in Agriculture for the year 2022. This annual accolade recognizes distinguished agricultural professionals who have significantly contributed to enhancing food security, reducing poverty, and creating positive transformations within the farming community and the national agricultural landscape.
Dr. Suri Sehgal has played a pivotal role in advancing the hybrid seed industry on a worldwide scale. He played a key part in establishing the Proagro Group of seed companies (now Bayer) and Hytech Seed India in Hyderabad, India, which greatly contributed to the growth of the Indian seed sector.
His commitment to community empowerment and sustainable agricultural practices is evident through his initiatives with the S M Sehgal Foundation (India) and Sehgal Foundation (USA). The S M Sehgal Foundation has impacted over 4.2 million individuals in 2,040 Indian villages, driving improvements in water availability, farming practices, farmer income, local participation (especially of women) in government programs, digital and life skills learning for village youth (especially girls), school environments, and the overall empowerment of rural India.
The award ceremony showcased a short film highlighting Dr. Sehgal’s life and his transformative influence on farmers and rural communities in India and beyond. The event was graced by Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, chairperson of MSSRF, who conveyed Dr. M S Swaminathan’s blessings to Dr. Sehgal online. Dr. Gurbachan Singh, vice chairman and trustee of TAAS, read the citation, and the award was presented by Dr. S. K. Vasal, a renowned maize breeder and previous recipient of the award.
During his acceptance speech, Dr. Sehgal reflected on his journey as a plant breeder and his contributions to social development. He emphasized his lifelong commitment to addressing global hunger, promoting food security, and preserving biodiversity—a vision championed by Dr. M S Swaminathan, after whom the award is named.
Dr. Suri Sehgal expressed his gratitude to TAAS for bestowing the prestigious award and extended his thanks to everyone who supported him throughout his transition from a plant scientist to a philanthropist, with a special mention of his wife, Edda.
The Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), a renowned Think Tank based in India, established this award in 2004 to honor the legacy of Dr. M S Swaminathan, a prominent figure in Indian agriculture. Over the years, twelve eminent agricultural leaders have been recipients of this distinguished award.
