Renowned Agricultural Scientist and the 'Father of Green Revolution in India', Padma Vibhushan Dr. M. S. Swaminathan visited the ICAR- Directorate of Research on Women in Agriculture (ICAR-DRWA), Bhubaneswar on 18th November 2014. On the occasion, Dr. Neelam Grewal, Director of the Institute extended a warm welcome to Dr. Swaminathan, and made a brief presentation on the research and development activities of the Directorate carried out with a gender perspective.

In his address, Dr. Swaminathan, highlighted the equivalent role played by men and women in achieving food security in the country. He was of the view that women play a pivotal role in achieving the nutrition security for the family, post harvest management and conservation of agro-biodiversity, and emphasized the fact that the milk revolution owes its success to 75 million women of the country. He also stressed that apart from technological support, the fundamental handicaps of farm women such as land rights and access, needs to be addressed through adequate policy support, as it severely impacts their access to other agricultural services and inputs such as credit, extension, seeds, fertilizers etc. Appreciating the work being carried out in the Directorate, Dr. Swaminathan strongly advocated establishment of a unit for 'Policy Planning and Gender Issues' in the Directorate.

The address by the Chief Guest was followed by an interaction meet with the scientific fraternity of ICAR-DRWA and the Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute, Bhubaneswar. Dr. Anil Kumar, Principal Scientist coordinated the programme. Dr. H. K. Dash, Senior Scientist proposed a vote of thanks.