International Year of Millets 2023 Ends, but failed to recognise the contribution of C.H. Lakshmanaiah, World's greatest Millet Breeder (Ragi Brahma)

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International Year of Millets 2023 ends! But failed to recognise the contribution of the greatest millet breeder of world "C. H. Lakshmanaiah". He was popularly known as "Ragi Brahma" and developed 16 Indo-African varieties of Ragi designated as “INDAF" and screened the world ragi germplasm and identified 5 African donor parents.

Very regret to note that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and United Nations (UN) including Government of India/ICAR/CGIAR institutes not conducted any seminar/lecture etc at national and international level on his contribution to the world millets!! Despite having a huge grants available for #IYM2023

Ragi Lakshmanaiah was born on May 15, 1921 in Harohalli, Mysore Taluk. Father Shri Chaluviah and Mother Shrimati Channamma. Lakshmanaiah was the eldest son of this family. Brought up in abject poverty and surrounded by parental affection, he received his primary education in Hattur and completed his secondary and intermediate education in Mysore. High school education was done in Hassan. After completing his science degree from Bangalore Central College, he worked for some time as a Goods Inspector in the Railway Department and as a Manager at Birur Seed Production Center, fed up with the corruption in those departments and resigned and returned to his hometown to establish a a development association and formulate programs for rural development. But the agriculture department did not accept his resignation and transferred him to the post of Junior Assistant Plant Scientist at VC Farm near Mandya. Confused whether to go back to government work or work for a village development association, he rejoined the agriculture department on the advice of his well-wishers and close friends. His association with Ragi, which started from here, continued till his death. Although the opportunity to pursue higher studies abroad came easily to him, he thought that what can I do in that country where millet cannot be grown, he avoided that opportunity with great difficulty and devoted himself to millet research. Thus ragi became a complete life instead of a part of his life.

An integral part of the southern rural part of our state, many hybrid varieties of "Ramdhanya" millet, suitable for all seasons (monsoon, winter, winter) were created and became the home of the state. From 1951 to 1964 he created hybrid varieties from different millet varieties of our country, from 1964 to 1984 he created "Indaf" hybrid varieties from Indian and African millet varieties. And even after his retirement, he continued his millet work with the help of his son.

Awards and honours:
1. Commemoration of highest yielding variety "Kaveri" by Shri Hari Khode and cash award - 1968
2. State Award, Public Service Award - 1968
3. Karnataka Agricultural Society Cash Award, Presented and Honored by Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi -1975
4. Cash prize from Agricultural University - 1977
5. State Award - 1982
6. Awarded Honorary Doctorate Degree by Bangalore Agricultural University - 1989
7. Honored by Hassan District Kannada and Culture Department - 1991
8. Formation of "Ragi Lakshmanaiah Memorial Committee" - 1994
9. Naming of the Assembly Hall of Agricultural Research Center, Naganahalli as "Dr. CH Lakshmanaiah Hall" - 2003
10. Mandya V.C. Naming of Farm Road as "Ragi Lakshmanaiah Road" -2004
11. Installation and unveiling of Lakshmanaiah Navra statue in Bangalore Agricultural University premises - 2005
12. Awarded Posthumous Honorary Doctorate Degree by Karnataka State Open University - 2010

Ref: Wikipedia/Internet 

~Manu Sundavalu

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