Indian scientist Modadugu V Gupta has been awarded the prestigious World Food Prize for 2005 in recognition of his work to enhance nutrition for rural poor, through expansion of aquaculture and fish farming in Asia and Southeast Asia.
The annual award, widely regarded as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in the field of food and agriculture, was given to Gupta at a glittering ceremony held at the majestic Iowa State Capitol building in Des Moines recently.
Created by Nobel Laureate Norman Borlaug in 1986 for outstanding achievements in food and agriculture aimed at reducing hunger, malnutrition and rural poverty, the award carries a proclamation by the Governor of Ohio and a citation, an original sculpture created by Saul Bass and a cash award of $ 250,000. It is funded by prominent Ohio philanthropist, John Ruan.
The first World Food Prize was awarded to M S Swaminathan in 1986, and, thereafter, to four other Indian scientists.
Gupta is the sixth Indian to get this coveted recognition for his work in improving nutrition, substantially raising income and empowering women in over one million poor rural families in Bangladesh, Laos, Vietnam and some African countries by dramatically increasing freshwater fish production.
At the ceremony, Indian Ambassador to the US, Ronen Sen, read out a message from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, felicitating Gupta for his path-breaking work and for the distinction conferred on him.
Sen also recalled the India-US Knowledge Initiative in the field of Agricultural Research, launched during the Prime Minister's visit to the US, and the role that the eminent Iowan, Norman Borlaug, and centres of excellence like the Iowa State University would play in taking this initiative forward.
The President of the World Food Prize Organisation, Ambassador Quinn, recalled the personal correspondence between George Washington Carver, the former Iowa slave who emerged as a renowned scientist, and Mahatma Gandhi in 1929.
Carver had advised his friend, the Mahatma, to augment his vegetarian diet with ingredients like soyabeans to give him the strength to carry out his noble mission, Quinn said.
A number of Ambassadors of African countries were also present at the ceremony at which Governor Thomas J Vilsack read out the proclamation honouring Gupta.
