Shimoga :

Well-known agriculturist and technologist Dr. Devangi Prafulla Chandra passed away at a private hospital here yesterday following heart attack. He was 80.

He leaves behind his wife Sathyavathi Prafulla Chandra and two sons, Savyasachee and Ikshu, who are doing well in the field of agriculture.

Former Forest Secretary A.C. Lakshman, who has condoled the death of Dr. Devangi Prafulla Chandra, has said that Prafulla Chandra had become a legend during his life time for his perseverance, innovative successful experiments and a great missionary in different fields of agriculture.

He went on breaking records after records for production of paddy, and sugarcane. He broke the State record, improved them continuously, set National record and ultimately reached a world record. Prafulla Chandra was honoured by the food and agriculture organisation in 1988, an honour first of its kind to an Asian. He was given a State award by the Govt. of Karnataka for his life time contribution to the field of agriculture.

He was also a walking encyclopedia on agriculture. His farm was an open agriculture university whose doors were open to farmers 24×7. His innovative experiments lead to the development of new ovens where firewood consumption was considerably reduced. He had proved that the Areca leaves are sufficient for curing Areca nuts. This was a great contribution from the point of forest conservation. He was able to save thousands of acres of forest fire wood trees from felling.

His services were used by the Govt. of Karnataka in many forms. He was a member of Senate Agricultural University Bangalore and served in different Boards at the State and also at National level.

He was the recipient of honorary doctorates from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwar and Kuvempu University, Shimoga for his work towards technology transfer to rural development.

He is the brother-in-law of renowned Kannada poet and literary personality, the late Kuvempu.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / December 12th, 2013