Globally renowned hybrid rice breeder Dr Ish Kumar passes away

Ludhiana, January 15, 2024: A well-known name in the Indian Seed Industry and possessing around more than 50 years of rich experience in varietal and hybrid rice breeding, Dr Ish Kumar, an alumnus of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and a globally renowned Hybrid Rice Breeder, left for heavenly abode on January 11. Currently he was residing in Australia with his son.

Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor; Dr AS Dhatt, Director of Research; Dr VS Sohu, Head, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics; senior officials, faculty, students and staff of PAU offered their deep condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for the peace to the departed soul.

Calling it a great loss to the profession, University and rice community, Dr Gosal said that Dr Kumar will always be remembered for his unparalleled contribution to the field of hybrid rice.

Born on April 1, 1945, Dr Kumar earned his B.Sc. Agriculture and Animal Husbandry; and M.Sc. Plant Breeding degrees in 1966 and 1968, from PAU, respectively. Afterwards, he worked as a Rice Breeder at PAU, Ludhiana from 1968-1988, where he earned his Ph.D. degree in Plant Breeding in 1979 as in-service candidate. Later, he worked at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines as a Visiting Scientist from 1984 – 1986. He was instrumental in the development and release of basmati rice variety Punjab Basmati 1; and played a leading role in the evolvement and commercialization of various leading rice hybrids for South and South-East Asia. Thereafter, he joined the Directorate of Rice Research (now ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research), Hyderabad on deputation and worked as Principal Scientist and National Program Leader, Hybrid Rice from 1989 – 1992. Besides, he led a joint collaborative ICAR/ IRRI/Asian Development Bank funded project on the “Development and Use of Hybrid Rice Technology in India” as the first national program leader. He was also a Visiting Scientist at the University of Birmingham, UK in 1992. After working with private seed companies, Dr Kumar served as a General Manager, Hybrid Rice Breeding for Asia Pacific, USA and Brazil from1992–2002; IRF and Project Manager, Hybrid Rice for Asia (IRRI) from 2002–2004; Global Consultant, Hybrid Rice (ProAgro/Bayer BioScience) for APAC, US and Brazil from 2005–2008; Regional Head, Hybrid Rice (Syngenta, India) from 2008–2012 and Director Research, Hybrid Rice (Nath Bio-Genes, India) from 2017–2022. Dr Kumar was awarded the most prestigious International Award, the “10th Yuan Long Ping Prize in Agricultural Science and Technology” at Changsha, China in 2018 and the “Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2020 by the Nath Bio-Genes and Bayer Bioscience.