23rd September 2024, Tamil Nadu
Dr D. Puthira Prathap, Principal Scientist, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, has been chosen for the Tamil Nadu Scientist Award by the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology, Govt of Tamil Nadu, for 2021, under the social sciences category. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 50000/- and a citation.
Dr Prathap, belongs to the 1995 batch of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and has had a remarkable career spanning more than 26 years, with notable contributions and profound impact on the agricultural & rural development sector. His work primarily revolves around the dissemination of agricultural technologies, fostering rural development, and knowledge dissemination in remote areas. Notably, Dr Prathap has, over the years, played a pivotal role in shaping the decision-making processes of sugarcane, sheep, and rabbit farmers in Tamil Nadu through innovative extension methods.
Dr Prathap is currently the Chief Editor of two scientific journals, viz., Journal of Extension Education (UGC-CARE listed) and Journal of Sugarcane Research (EBSCO/DOAJ-indexed).
Dr Prathap initiated a transformative project by creating Canelnfo, a dynamic, user-centric, award-winning website aimed at connecting stakeholders with valuable knowledge. He served as the Principal Investigator of ‘Farmers Participatory Action Research Project’, whose findings resulted in enhanced sugarcane productivity, increased profitability for sugarcane growers, and a significant conservation of precious water resources, of about 19%. One of the noteworthy outcomes of this project was the collaborative development of the ‘Soil Moisture Indicator (SMI),’ a device which won the First Prize in the National Water Awards in 2019, awarded by the Ministry of Water Resources (Jal Shakti), Government of India. Additionally, it received the TERI-IWA-UNDP Water Sustainability Award (Team) in 2021, for Excellence in Water Use Efficiency in the Agricultural Sector.
Dr Prathap’s involvement in various research projects extends to mass media and information and communication technology (ICT) diffusion among rural women and rural youth in economically disadvantaged districts of Tamil Nadu. He systematically assessed the needs of the Malasar and Mala Malasar tribes in six remote tribal settlements within the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Pollachi and Urali tribes in seven settlements in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, Erode, conducted knowledge empowerment campaigns and arranged to distribute essential inputs, contributing to the welfare and development of these communities.
Dr Prathap’s doctoral dissertation earned him the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Award for Outstanding Postgraduate Research in 2005, presented by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Other notable accolades received by him includes ‘Best Telecentre Initiative award for Canelnfo portal by the eWorld forum, New Delhi , Dr Narasinga Rao’s Founders Day Prize for General Knowledge, ‘Best multimedia instructional module’ recognition from ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad; and Best Accomplishment report recognition from ICDF (International Co-operation & Development Fund), Taiwan.
(Source: ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Tamil Nadu)
Read more: https://icar.org.in/icar-sugarcane-breeding-institutes-scientist-chosen-tamil-nadu-scientist-award
