>BattyBot at 15:17, 1 October 2021

2021-10-01T15:17:37Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{use Indian English|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name = B. R. Barwale
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = 1931
| birth_place = [[Hingoli]]
| death_date = 24 July 2017
| death_place = [[Mumbai]]
| nationality = Indian
| other_names =
| known_for =
| occupation = [[Farmer]]
| awards = {{unbulleted list
|[[World Food Prize]], 1998
|[[Padma Bhushan]], 2001}}
}}
'''Badrinarayan Ramulal Barwale''' (1931 – 24 July 2017) is widely regarded<ref name=":0" /> as the father of the Indian seeds industry, who revolutionised farming practices by producing cheaper and higher-yield seeds in the [[Marathwada]] region of India.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/mahyco-founder-b-r-barwale-no-more/article9787486.ece|title=BR Barwale, father of the Indian seed industry, is no more|date=2017-07-25|work=The Hindu Business Line|access-date=2017-07-30|language=en}}</ref>

Barwale was born in 1931 in [[Hingoli]], [[Hyderabad State|Nizam state]] (now [[Maharashtra]]), India. He began farming on his family's land in the 1950s, experimenting with a high-yield [[okra]] hybrid given to him at the World Agricultural Fair in [[New Delhi]]. In 1964, he started the Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company, also known as [[Mahyco]], where he cultivated the higher efficiency seeds and began selling them to area farmers at an affordable price.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.barwalefoundation.org/html/dr-brbarwale.htm|title=:: Welcome to BARWALE FOUNDATION ::|website=www.barwalefoundation.org|access-date=2017-07-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813055432/http://www.barwalefoundation.org/html/dr-brbarwale.htm|archive-date=13 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Mahyco expanded to a network of farmers producing new seed varieties of several different crops.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/1999/99_24/b3633052.htm |title=B. R. Barwale: Seeds Of Change |publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek |date=1999-06-14 |access-date=2012-05-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105204325/http://www.businessweek.com/1999/99_24/b3633052.htm |archive-date=2012-11-05 }}</ref> By providing assistance and guaranteeing loans for farmers cultivating Mahyco's seeds, Barwale's team was able to gain valuable feedback on various crop strains and make subsequent improvements to their yield and quality.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl1523/15230900.htm |title=Honour for a 'seedsman' |work=Frontline |publisher=The Hindu |date=1998-04-24 |access-date=2012-05-13}}</ref>

Barwale was awarded the 12th [[World Food Prize]] in 1998 for his work in providing affordable, high-yield seed varieties and agronomic training to farmers across India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldfoodprize.org/en/laureates/19871999_laureates/1998_barwale/ |title=1998: Barwale |publisher=The World Food Prize |access-date=2012-05-13}}</ref> The President of India awarded him the [[Padma Bhushan|Padma Bhushan Award]] in 2001 for his distinguished service in the field of trade and economic activity.

He died on 24 July 2017 in Mumbai at the age of 86.<ref name=":0" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2000–09}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barwale, B. R.}}
[[Category:Agriculture in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Indian farmers]]
[[Category:People from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in trade and industry]]
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:2017 deaths]]
[[Category:Farmers' rights activists]]

B. R. Barwale - Revision history

>BattyBot at 15:17, 1 October 2021