Brandon81T at 00:26, 1 February 2026

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{{Short description|Indian agricultural scientist (1937–2026)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = E. A. Siddiq
| image = EA Siddiq interviewed by International Rice Research Institute (cropped).jpg
| imagesize =
| alt = Headshot of Siddiq in a blue shirt against a white background
| caption = Siddiq in 2015
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1937|07|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Ilayangudi]], composite [[Ramanathapuram district|Ramnad district]], [[Madras Province]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and given age|df=yes|2026|1|22|88}}
| death_place = [[Hyderabad]], [[Telangana]], India
| restingplace =
| restingplacecoordinates =
| othername =
| occupation = Agricultural scientist
| yearsactive =
| spouse =
| domesticpartner =
| children =
| parents =
| website = 
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] Hari Om Ashram Trust National Award [[VASVIK Industrial Research Award]] [[Om Prakash Bhasin Award]] [[Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award]] [[Borlaug Award]] [[Directorate of Rice Research|DRR]] Silver Jubilee Medal [[Indian National Science Academy|INSA]] Silver Jubilee Medal GP Chatterjee Memorial Lecture Award Agricultural Leadership Award [[INSA]] Professor Sundar Lal Hora Medal [[National Academy of Agricultural Sciences|NAAS]] Dr. B. P. Pal Memorial Award
}}

'''Ebrahimali Abubacker Siddiq''' (15 July 1937 – 22 January 2026) was an Indian agricultural scientist, whose research in [[genetics]] and [[plant breeding]] assisted in the development of various high-yielding rice varieties, such as dwarf [[basmati]] and hybrid rice.<ref name="ABF">{{cite web |date=2014 |title=Prof E A Siddiq |url=http://www.abfindia.org/PeopleECMSiddiq.aspx |url-status=live |access-date=22 November 2014 |publisher=ABF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019142158/http://www.abfindia.org:80/PeopleECMSiddiq.aspx |archive-date=19 October 2015}}</ref> The government of India honoured Siddiq in 2011 with its fourth-highest civilian award, [[Padma Shri]].<ref name="Padma Shri">{{cite web |url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Shri |publisher=Padma Shri |date=2014 |access-date=11 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 }}</ref>

==Background==
E. A. Siddiq was born on 15 July 1937 in [[Ilaiyangudi|Ilayangudi]], a town in [[Sivaganga district|Sivaganga District]], Madras Province, then a part of [[British India]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=National Academy of Agricultural Sciences|url=https://naas.org.in/detail.php?id=473|website=naas.org.in|access-date=29 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Dr EA Siddiq, legendary rice scientist, passes away at 88 in Hyderabad|url=https://www.siasat.com/dr-ea-siddiq-legendary-rice-scientist-passes-away-at-88-in-hyderabad-3330333/|website=The Siasat Daily|date=23 January 2026|access-date=29 January 2026|language=en|first=M.|last=Somasekhar}}</ref> His graduate studies were completed in Botany (1959)<ref name="INSA">{{cite web|date=2014|title=INSA Indian Fellow Dr EA Siddiq|url=http://www.insaindia.org.in/detail.php?id=N95-1187|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813085256/http://www.insaindia.org.in/detail.php?id=N95-1187|archive-date=13 August 2016|access-date=22 November 2014|publisher=INSA}}</ref> from the [[University of Madras]] following which he obtained masters (1964)<ref name="INSA" /> and doctoral degrees (1968)<ref name="INSA" /> in [[Cytogenetics]], under the supervision of renowned botanist, [[M. S. Swaminathan]], from the [[Indian Agricultural Research Institute]] (IARI).<ref name="ABF" /><ref name="CDFD">{{cite web|date=2014|title=CDFD. Computational & Functional Genomics. Dr. E.A.Siddiq|url=http://www.cdfd.org.in/labpages/e_a_saddiq.html|url-status=live|access-date=22 November 2014|publisher=Centre for DNA Finger printing and Diagnostics|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827135653/http://www.cdfd.org.in:80/labpages/e_a_saddiq.html |archive-date=27 August 2009 }}</ref> His career started at his alma mater, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, as a cytogeneticist in 1968,<ref name="ABF" /><ref name="CDFD" /><ref name="Padmashree Prof Dr E A Siddiq">{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4S5vckzsqY | title=Padmashree Prof Dr E A Siddiq | publisher=YouTube | work=Video | date=10 February 2014 | access-date=22 November 2014}}</ref> a post he held till 1976 when he was promoted as the Senior Scientist.<ref name="INSA" /><ref name="ABF" /><ref name="CDFD" /> In 1983, he was deputed to Egypt as the Rice Breeder and in 1986, he was transferred to Philippines as the Professor of Genetics.<ref name="ABF" /> In 1987, he returned to India as the Project Director of the [[Directorate of Rice Research]], Hyderabad and worked there till 1994.<ref name="INSA" /><ref name="ABF" /> The next move was to [[Indian Council of Agricultural Research]] (ICAR), New Delhi as the Deputy Director General of the Crop Science Division.<ref name="CDFD" />

In 1997 Siddiq was honoured as the National Professor of ICAR and in 2002,<ref name="ABF" /><ref name="Padmashree Prof Dr E A Siddiq" /> he took charge of the [[Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics]] (CDFD) as the Distinguished Chair.<ref name="INSA" /><ref name="CDFD" /> On his retirement in 2007, he was appointed the Adjunct Scientist at CFFD.<ref name="INSA" /> He also held the positions of Adjunct Professor of the [[University of Hyderabad]], Adjunct Professor of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and the Honorary Professor of Biotechnology at [[Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University]], Hyderabad.<ref name="INSA" /><ref name="ABF" /><ref name="CDFD" />

Siddiq died on 22 January 2026, at the age of 88.<ref>{{Cite web |last=telugu |first=NT News |date=23 January 2026 |title=ప్రముఖ వ్యవసాయ శాస్త్రవేత్త సిద్ధిక్‌ కన్నుమూత |url=https://www.ntnews.com/telangana/8-renowned-agricultural-scientist-siddiqui-passes-away-2279674 |access-date=23 January 2026 |website=www.ntnews.com |language=te}}</ref>

==Positions==
Siddiq was a member of the scientific advisory council of the [[Prime Minister of India]] from 2004 to 2009.<ref name="ABF" /> He sat on the Board of Members of the [[International Rice Research Institute]] as well as on the Executive Committee of the Agri Biotech Foundation.<ref name="ABF" /> He was a member of the working group for the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007–2012) of India.<ref name="Planning Commission">{{cite web|url=http://planningcommission.nic.in/aboutus/committee/wrkgrp11/wrk11_1i.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911093959/http://planningcommission.nic.in/aboutus/committee/wrkgrp11/wrk11_1i.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 September 2014 |title=Planning Commission |publisher=Planning Commission |date=2007 |access-date=22 November 2014 }}</ref> He was also a member of the Research Advisory Committee of the National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, an Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) subsidiary.<ref name="NRCPB">{{cite web | url=http://nrcpb.org/content/research-advisory-committee-172011-3062014 | title=NRCPB | publisher=NRCPB | date=2014 | access-date=22 November 2014}}</ref>

Siddiq was the chairman of the Farm and Rural Science Foundation of [[The Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry]].<ref name="Hybiz TV" /> He also served as a council member of National Science academy, India from 1998 till 2000.<ref name="INSA" />

==Legacy==
Siddiq is credited with contributions on the scientific, academic and organizational fronts.<ref name="CDFD" /> His research primarily focussed on genetic research and applied breeding of rice, for improving the yield and quality, and is reported to have assisted in the development of ten high-yielding rice varieties.<ref name="INSA" /><ref name="CDFD" /> A variety of dwarf basmati rice (Pusa Basmati-1), claimed to be the first high-yielding variety in its class,<ref name="ABF" /> and quick maturing varieties such as Pusa 2-21, Pusa 33, Pusa 4 and Pusa 834 are credited to Siddiq.<ref name="CDFD" /><ref name="INSA" /> His contribution is also reported in the development of DRRH-1, a first-generation Indian hybrid.<ref name="CDFD" /><ref name="INSA" /> Siddiq also did basic research on adaptability, stability and the potential of convergent breeding of various rice breeds. His research also covered the cytogenetic and phylogenetic aspects of rice breeding.<ref name="CDFD" />

Siddiq was a part of the project for enhancement of rice research in Egypt, under the USAID-funded Rice Breeder programme of [[International Rice Research Institute]] (IRRI) in 1987 as well as in the establishment of the [[Government of India]]-sponsored National Rice Research Institute in Vietnam.<ref name="CDFD" /><ref name="INSA" /> Working as a consultant for the [[World Bank]], he designed the projects for agricultural development in Assam and Bangladesh.<ref name="INSA" /> He is credited with two scientific studies, one in Egypt and the other in India, in the capacity of the consultant to the [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] (FAO).<ref name="CDFD" />

On the organizational front, Siddiq collaborated with the World Bank/[[Food and Agriculture Organization|FAO]] as consultant and adviser and prepared many project proposals for programmes in Egypt, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and the Philippines.<ref name="INSA" /><ref name="CDFD" /> He also helped in the establishment of rice research institutes in Vietnam and Bangladesh. He was a member of the Task Force on Crop Biotechnology, Monitoring and Evaluation Committee and the National Convenor of the Natural Rice Biotechnology Network during the period from 1990 to 2002.<ref name="INSA" /><ref name="CDFD" />

Siddiq is credited with over 150 research publications,<ref name="INSA" /><ref name="CDFD" /><ref name="FAO">{{cite web | url=https://www.fao.org/docrep/003/X6905e/x6905e09.htm | title=Bridging the Rice Yield Gap in India | publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization | work=Scientific paper | date=2014 | access-date=22 November 2014}}</ref> 16 of which have been listed by [[Microsoft Academic Search]] in their online repository<ref name="Microsoft Academic Search">{{cite web | url=http://65.54.113.26/Author/42429567/ebrahimali-siddiq | title=Microsoft Academic Search | publisher=Microsoft Academic Search | date=2014 | access-date=22 November 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20141122175730/http://65.54.113.26/Author/42429567/ebrahimali-siddiq | archive-date=22 November 2014 }}</ref> and his research findings have been cited in many books and journals.<ref name="Chemical Aspects of Rice Grain Quality">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hAh_3eYATMwC&q=E.+A.+Siddiq&pg=PA147 | title=Chemical Aspects of Rice Grain Quality | publisher=IRRI | date=1979 | isbn=9789711040109 | access-date=22 November 2014}}</ref><ref name="Breaking the Yield Barrier">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2ZrpO5UH4UMC&q=E.+A.+Siddiq&pg=PA18 | title=Breaking the Yield Barrier | publisher=IRRI | date=1994 | isbn=9789712200564 | access-date=22 November 2014}}</ref> He supervised 35 students in their PhD studies<ref name="INSA" /> and delivered keynote addresses at many conferences.<ref name="Hybiz TV">{{cite web | url=http://www.hybiz.tv/EA-Siddiq--FRSF/165455 | title=Speech | publisher=Hybiz TV | date=2013 | access-date=22 November 2014 | archive-date=29 November 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129071957/http://www.hybiz.tv/EA-Siddiq--FRSF/165455 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Padmashree Prof Dr E A Siddiq" />
==Awards and recognitions==
Siddiq received several honours starting with the Hari Om Ashram Trust National Award in 1976.<ref name="ABF" /><ref name="CDFD" /> In 1981, he was awarded the [[VASVIK Industrial Research Award]],<ref name="Vasvik">{{cite web | url=http://www.vasvik.org/agricultural_sciences%20_%26_technology.html | title=Vasvik | publisher=Vasvik | date=2014 | access-date=4 January 2015 | archive-date=23 August 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823010251/http://www.vasvik.org/agricultural_sciences%20_%26_technology.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> followed by Amrik Singh Cheema Award in 1988, Silver Jubilee Medal from the [[Directorate of Rice Research]] (DRR) in 1990<ref name="CDFD" /><ref name="INSA" /> and [[Om Prakash Bhasin Award]] in 1994.<ref name="ABF" /><ref name="CDFD" /> A year later, in 1995, he received the [[Borlaug Award]] and the [[Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award]].<ref name="CDFD" /><ref name="ABF" /><ref name="INSA" /> Indian National Science Academy honored Siddiq in 1997 with the Silver Jubilee Medal.<ref name="ABF" /><ref name="CDFD" /><ref name="INSA" /> He also received the GP Chatterjee Memorial Lecture Award<ref name="INSA" /> of the [[Indian Science Congress Association]] in 2001, the Agricultural Leadership Award in 2008<ref name="ABF" /> and appreciative mementos from the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]] and the [[Government of Egypt]],<ref name="CDFD" /> besides receiving the Professor Sundar Lal Hora Medal of INSA, (2011) and B. P. Pal Memorial Award of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) (2011–12).<ref name="INSA" /> In 2011, the [[Government of India]] included him in the [[Indian honours system|Republic day honours]], listing him for the fourth highest civilian award of [[Padma Shri]].<ref name="ABF" /><ref name="Padma Shri" />

Siddiq was an elected Fellow of the [[Indian National Science Academy]] (1995),<ref>The Year Book 2014 // Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi</ref> [[National Academy of Sciences, India|National Academy of Sciences (India)]], Allahabad and [[National Academy of Agricultural Sciences]], New Delhi.<ref name="INSA" />

==See also==
{{Portal|India|Agriculture}}
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University]]
* [[Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics]]
* [[Directorate of Rice Research]]
* [[Indian Council of Agricultural Research]]
* [[International Rice Research Institute]]
* [[National Academy of Agricultural Sciences]]
{{Div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Cite web | url=http://www.rkmp.co.in/category/news-events-optional-tags/easiddiq | title=Rice Knowledhe Management Portal | publisher=RKMP | date=4 February 2014 | access-date=22 November 2014}}
* {{Cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4S5vckzsqY | title=Padmashree Prof Dr E A Siddiq | publisher=YouTube | date=10 February 2014 | access-date=22 November 2014}}
* {{Cite web | url=http://www.hybiz.tv/EA-Siddiq--FRSF/165455 | title=Speech | publisher=Hybiz TV | date=2013 | access-date=22 November 2014 | archive-date=29 November 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129071957/http://www.hybiz.tv/EA-Siddiq--FRSF/165455 | url-status=dead }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.fao.org/docrep/003/X6905e/x6905e09.htm |title=Bridging the Rice Yield Gap in India |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization |work=Scientific paper |date=2014 |access-date=22 November 2014}}
* {{Cite web | url=http://65.54.113.26/Author/42429567/ebrahimali-siddiq | title=Microsoft Academic Search | publisher=Microsoft Academic Search | date=2014 | access-date=22 November 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20141122175730/http://65.54.113.26/Author/42429567/ebrahimali-siddiq | archive-date=22 November 2014 }}

{{2000s Padma Shri Award Recipients in Science & Engineering}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Siddiq, E. A.}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:2026 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian botanists]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Indian National Science Academy]]
[[Category:Fellows of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences]]
[[Category:Fellows of the National Academy of Sciences, India]]
[[Category:Indian agriculturalists]]
[[Category:Indian geneticists]]
[[Category:Om Prakash Bhasin Award recipients]]
[[Category:People from Sivaganga district]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in science & engineering]]
[[Category:Scientists from Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:Tamil Muslims]]

E. A. Siddiq - Revision history

Brandon81T at 00:26, 1 February 2026