Plano along with Netlink foundation honors Rice Scientist Sant Singh Virmani
July 03, 2008.

In a ceremony at the Stonebriar Country Club in Frisco, Dr. Sant Singh Virmani Day was awarded a plaque from the Netlink Foundation in honor of his service to humanity in combating hunger and poverty around the world.  Dr. Virmani also recently received the Padma Shri award from the Government of India.

The Mayor of Plano, Pat Evans, proclaimed June 22, 2008 to be Dr Sant Singh Virmani Day in the city of Plano, Texas, in honor of Dr Virmani. Mayor Pro Tem Jean Callison, who was present at the event, read the Proclamation from Mayor Evens and presented the Netlink Foundation plaque to Dr. Virmani.

The Netlink Foundation, as part of its goal to create and involve local communities in global issues, had organized the ceremony that highlighted the achievements of Dr. Virmani to the world in the field of hybrid rice and also gave some insight into his personal life.

Dr. Virmani's research and leadership in public/private partnerships in agriculture has impacted millions of the world's poor and has helped farmer's increase revenues by more than $750 million annually.

Dr. Virmani's development of hybrid rice technologies has been a critical part of combating global hunger and poverty and maintaining many countries' national food security.  He developed ways to breed the best qualities of rice (more disease resistant, higher yielding, able to grow in various conditions, etc.) in a manner that was usable, effective and affordable.

Key speakers of the event included some of the leading minds in agriculture Dr. D.S. Athwal, the winner of the Padma Bhushan in 1975 as well as current and retired diplomats Mr. Vinod Sachdeva of the Indian Consulate in Canada and Dr. Ron Cantrell, retired Director General of the International Rice Research Institute.