Neelamraju Ganga Prasada Rao, Father of Hybrid Sorghum passes away

July 28, 2016

Distinguished agricultural scientist Dr. Neelamraju Ganga Prasada Rao passed away in Hyderabad, Telangana following a brief illness. He was 89.
He is famously known as “Father of Hybrid Sorghum”. He is also famous for his basic and applied research in breeding and agronomy of several dryland crops.

About Neelamraju Ganga Prasada Rao

NGP Rao was born in Korisapadu, Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh. He had completed his early education from the Agricultural College, Bapatla.
He is considered as the ‘Father of Hybrid Sorghum’ in India for his contributions to sorghum improvement in the country.
Due to his efforts sorghum hybrids, CSH1, CSH5 and CSH9 became very popular and were cultivated in over 8 to 10 million hectares
He was also well recognised for his contributions in dryland crops, particularly long staple desi cotton, castor, pigeonpea and also novel cropping systems.
He also had held various positions such as Consultant to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), All-India Coordinated Sorghum Improvement Project, Project Coordinator (Sorghum), IARI, ICRISAT’s Regional Sorghum Breeder for West Africa.
He also had served as the President of the Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding, and also President of the Society for Millets Improvement.
He has published around 200 research publications in national and international journals.
Awards and Honours: SS Bhatnagar Prize for Biological Sciences, Atma Gaurav Award (2003), and Distinguished Agricultural Scientist Award (2008) by Andhra Pradesh Government.

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