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{{Short description|Indian geneticist (1937–2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Madappa Mahadevappa

| image = Prof._Madappa_Mahadevappa.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Mahadevappa in 2014
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1937|8|4}}
| birth_place = [[Madapura]], [[Chamarajanagar]], [[Mysore State]], [[British India]] (present-day [[Karnataka]], India)
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|3|6|1937|8|4|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Mysuru]]
| citizenship = Indian
| field = [[Agricultural science]], [[Forestry]], [[Plant Breeding]], [[Seed Technology]], [[Parthenium Weed Management]]
| work_institutions = JSS Rural Development Foundation [[University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad]] [[Indian Council of Agricultural Research]] [[University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore]] [[International Rice Research Institute]], [[Philippines]] [[Central Food Technological Research Institute]]
| alma_mater = [[Sarada Vilas College]] [[University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore]] [[Tamil Nadu Agricultural University]]
| doctoral_advisor =
| doctoral_students =
| known_for = High-yielding Hybrid varieties of Rice in India
| author_abbrev_bot =
| author_abbrev_zoo =
| influences =
| influenced =
| prizes = [[Padma Bhushan]] (2014) [[Padma Shri]] (2005) [[Rajyotsava Prashasti]] (1984) Bharat Ratna Sir. M. Vishweshwarayya Memorial Award (1999) HONOR SUMMUS AWARD, The Watumall Foundation (1987) Hooker Award (1981) Sir Chotu Ram National Award (1996) Best TNAU Alumunus Award (2002) Agriculture Leadership Award (2009) K.K. Murthy Award (1973) Syndicate Agriculture Foundation Award (1973) Nagamma Dattatreya Rao Desai Award (1989) Nada Prabhu Kempegowda award (2017) Krushika Kula Pradeepika (1996) Prof C N R Rao KSTA Lifetime Achievement Award in Science and Technology (2020) 
| footnotes =
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}}
'''Madappa Mahadevappa''' (4 August 1937 – 6 March 2021), popularly known as ''Rice Mahadevappa'' was an Indian [[Agricultural Science|agricultural scientist]] and [[Plant breeding|plant breeder]], renowned for developing high yielding hybrid varieties of rice.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nabsindia.org/profiles/mahadevappa.html |title=Profile of Dr. M. Mahadevappa |publisher=National Academy of Biological Sciences}}</ref> He served for more than 55 years and had a glowing career. He served as the Vice-chancellor of [[University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad]] for two terms (1994 - 2000) and his selfless hard work along with broad vision lead to the award of ICAR's '''SARDAR PATEL OUTSTANDING INSTITUTION''' award in the year 2000 to UAS, Dharwad. He served as chairman of ''Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board'' (2002 - 2003) under [[Indian Council of Agricultural Research]] of which he was a member of governing council. As chairman of ASRB, he introduced radical changes to create transparency in recruitment and expedited the process of promotions. This enhanced the talent pool at ICAR system to further contribute to the cause of the agriculture and farming community.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/scientist-wants-another-green-revolution/article3241256.ece |title=Scientist wants another green revolution | date=18 January 2006 | newspaper=[[The Hindu]] | access-date=15 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/article1420731.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119082641/http://newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/article1420731.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 January 2013 |title='Hybrid paddy production will save water'
|publisher=[[New Indian Express]]}}</ref> He was the recipient of '''[[Padma Bhushan]]''', India's third highest civilian honour, [[Padma Shri]] and various other accolades.<ref>[http://www.icar.org.in/en/node/7334 Dr Mahadevappa Conferred with Padma Bhushan]</ref>

==Contributions==
Mahadevappa, an elected fellow of the [[National Academy of Agricultural Sciences]],<ref name="NAAS Fellow">{{cite web | url=http://naasindia.org/fdetail.html#M002 | title=NAAS Fellow | publisher=National Academy of Agricultural Sciences | date=2016 | access-date=6 May 2016}}</ref> contributed extensively to the Indian agrarian community through various innovative applications and research initiatives including development of over nine varieties of high yielding hybrid rice varieties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb152005/spt5.asp |title=Future of paddy |publisher=[[Deccan Herald]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bangaloreindiabio.in/BIO2013/speakers_directory_indv_details.php?spkr_id=SPKR-20130118053918864156 |title=Prof. M. Mahadevappa |publisher=BangaloreIndiaBio }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> While being a pioneer in hybrid rice farming in the country, he was also credited for his ''Integrated Parthenium Weed Management'', a scientific and efficient weed management technique against the invasive [[Parthenium]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Aditya Kaul |url=http://www.pankajoudhia.com/iprng/IPRNG-parthenium_a&w13.htm |title=He fought for survival against the killer weed |publisher=Pioneer |date=6 January 2002}}</ref>

After retirement, he has been serving as Director of Rural Dev in JSS Mahavidyapeetha, Mysore - a reputed NGO with 340 institutions in four countries. He implemented the novel ‘seed village’ concept to uplift the socio-economic status of BPL farmers (7633 families benefited in ~500 villages of 28 districts) by reducing their dependency on external agencies and by providing sustained employment with the financial support of Rural Development Ministries. Implementation included establishment of i) Seed processing and storage units ii) 50 horticulture and forestry nurseries iii) 20 commercial silkworm chawki Rearing Centres iv) 40 shade net houses for producing vegetables and v) 300 value addition units.
After retirement till his last breath, he was serving as Director of Rural Dev in JSS Mahavidyapeetha, Mysore - a reputed NGO with 340 institutions in four countries. He implemented the novel ‘seed village’ concept to uplift the socio-economic status of Below Poverty Line (BPL) farmers (7633 families benefited in ~500 villages of 28 districts) by reducing their dependency on external agencies and by providing sustained employment with the financial support of Rural Development Ministries. Implementation included establishment of i) Seed processing and storage units ii) 50 horticulture and forestry nurseries iii) 20 commercial silkworm chawki Rearing Centres iv) 40 shade net houses for producing vegetables and v) 300 value addition units.
He is the Founder and Chief Editor of popular Kannada quarterly “Krishi Kayaka” which is widely subscribed as a useful resource of information for farmers, students and extension workers.

Mahadevappa was a recipient of the [[Padma Bhushan]] and [[Padma Shri]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=7 March 2021|title=M. Mahadevappa, former Vice-Chancellor of UAS-Dharwad, no more|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/m-mahadevappa-former-vice-chancellor-of-uas-dharwad-no-more/article34008962.ece|access-date=7 March 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Death ==
Mahadevappa died on 6 March 2021, due to age related ailments, in Mysore.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kannadaprabha.com/karnataka/2021/mar/06/karnataka-agri-scientist-dr-m-mahadevappa-passed-away-440996.html|title=ಕೃಷಿ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನಿ ಮಹಾದೇವಪ್ಪ ನಿಧನ|trans-title=Agri scientist Mahadevappa passes away|work=Kannada Prabha|language=Kannada|date=6 March 2021|archive-date=10 March 2021|access-date=6 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310025428/https://www.kannadaprabha.com/karnataka/2021/mar/06/karnataka-agri-scientist-dr-m-mahadevappa-passed-away-440996.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{2000s Padma Shri Award Recipients in Science & Engineering}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2010–19}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahadevappa, M.}}
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:Plant breeding]]
[[Category:Indian geneticists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in science & engineering]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in science & engineering]]
[[Category:Indian agronomists]]
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:People from Chamarajanagar district]]
[[Category:Kannada people]]
[[Category:Tamil Nadu Agricultural University alumni]]
[[Category:Scientists from Karnataka]]
[[Category:Fellows of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian botanists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Rajyotsava Award 1984]]

M. Mahadevappa - Revision history

Samwaterman2016 at 11:56, 8 February 2026