Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao Honoured with 9th Prof. M.S. Swaminathan Award

• 21 Apr 2026

Why in News?

Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director of the ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), has been conferred with the prestigious 9th Prof. M.S. Swaminathan Award for the 2024-2025 period. The award recognises his pioneering contribution to Climate-Resilient Agriculture (CRA) and sustainable dryland farming in India.  

Key Points: 

• Climate Adaptation: Dr. Rao has played a critical role in developing and scaling climate-resilient technologies across rainfed regions in India, focusing on soil health and carbon sequestration. 
• Policy Planning: He was instrumental in designing the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project, which helps farmers adapt to extreme weather events like droughts and heatwaves. 
• Contingency Mapping: His work includes the development of district-level agricultural contingency plans for over 650 districts in India, providing a roadmap for state governments to handle monsoon variability. 
• Soil Management: His research on soil carbon sequestration and "Climate-Smart" villages has helped smallholder farmers improve crop yields while reducing the environmental footprint of farming. 
• Significance: In the era of global boiling and unpredictable monsoons, Dr. Rao’s recognition underscores the shift in Indian agriculture from "production-centric" to "resilience-centric."  
• Climate Goals Alignment: His efforts align with India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and the goal of making Indian agriculture self-reliant (Atmanirbhar) in the face of climate challenges. 

Read More: M.S. Swaminathan Award