Quick Facts
Biography
Kaderbad Ravindranath, (sometimes spelled as Khaderbad) (born January 4, 1936) is an Indian agricultural research scientist and cotton breeder who received "Life Time Achievement Award" for his contributions to the cotton research.He developed a new cotton variety named "Narasimha" which is widely used as a parent line by more than 20 leading cotton seed manufacturers in their cotton hybrid seed programs. The hybrids made of "Narasimha-cotton" are cultivated in over one crore (10 million) acres contributing a tax amount of 300 crore Rupees (Rs 3 Billion) on sale of cotton and seed.
Early Life and Education
Kaderbad Ravindranath was born in Nandyal in Madras Presidency of India on January 4, 1936, to Sri Kaderbad Narasinga Rao and Smt. (Karanam) Adi Lakshamma. He grew up in a big family of seven brothers and two sisters. His father Sri. Kaderbad Narasinga Rao was a great philanthropist, social reformer, freedom fighter and Chairman of Nandyal Municipality for 14 years continuously.
He graduated from Presidency College, Chennai with B.Sc. in Biology. He earned B.Sc in Agriculture from Agricultural College, Bapatla and M.Sc. in Agriculture from Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), Hyderabad with specialization in Genetics and Plant Breeding.
Researcher, Regional Agricultural Research Station: Nandyal
He worked at the Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) Regional Agricultural Cotton Research Station for 36 years from 1959 to 1996 in various capacities. He published more than 60 scientific papers in the Indian Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Journal of Indian Society for Cotton Improvement, Madras Agricultural Journal, Andhra Agricultural Journal, as well as several review papers pertaining to cotton improvement.
During his work at ANGRAU, he developed ten new cotton varieties (Narasimha, Aravinda, Big boll hirsutum cotton-HYPS 156, and others) and two hybrids (NHH 390 and NCA 216) of cotton, which were released and notified by Central Variety Release Committees, Government of India.
The Narasimha variety, used as parent in number of private company hybrids brought huge profits to Private companies and Government of India to an amount of Rs. 300 crores, while NCA-216 was developed for increased yield under rain-fed conditions.
Narasimha Cotton Seed was distributed to farmers by Sri P. V. Narasimha Rao, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India at Nandyal (1995) Kurnool District A.P
He frequently participated in All India Radio Kadapa and Kurnool stations' radio programs designed to advise farmers in cotton cultivation. He conducted more than 40 training programs to extension staff of the Department of Agriculture, Andhra Pradesh; and trained a large number of farmers in cotton cultivation under Andhra Pradesh Well Project and the WALAMTARI organization.
He also used to train a large number of farmers in hybrid cotton seed production with scientific lectures covering 50 villages and 10,000 farmers, every year.
Cotton Research Officer & Head of the Center: ICMF-CDRA
During 1985-1990, he was on deputation to Indian Cotton Mills Federation – Cotton Development and Research Association (ICMF-CDRA) as a Cotton Research Officer. He established a cotton research and development center at Nandyal and served as its head. He again served as the Head of the Research Center from 1996 to 2000 (after retiring from ANGRAU)
He developed 500 germ-plasm lines for use in cotton breeding program. During this time he developed two cotton varieties (ICMF-4 and ICMF-6) and two cotton hybrids (ICMF-HH.8 and ICMF- HH.14), which were popular and widely utilized.
He also developed a new technique of emasculation (copper straw method) to enhance the setting of crossed bolls up to 72% in Desi cotton (native breed), which is superior to Doak and Surat methods.
Executive Director (Research) Bharathi Seeds
Currently, he is working as the Executive Director of Research at Bharathi Seeds Private Limited.
He developed an inter-se-hirsutum versatile superior cotton hybrid, "Brahma" which was the first hybrid cultivated by farmers from the private sector since 1997. The Brahma cotton hybrid is very popular with a higher yield potential of 32 Quintal/Hectare.
He also developed a superior hirsutum cotton hybrid, "ATAL" with a yield potential of 34 quintals/hectare.
He also developed "Mixed Pollen Technique" to induce variability and genetic diversity in cotton using mixed pollen of desired types for developing genotypes with drought tolerance, big boll, fiber length with strength, and pest tolerance coupled with higher yield
Visiting Scientist to Europe
He visited European countries for one month in 1999, where he visited research stations and also gave lectures at four universities on latest breeding techniques in cotton and crops.
International Scientist to Bangladesh
As an International Visiting Research Scientist sponsored by the Agricultural Research Management Project (ARMP-TA) -Winrock International institute for agriculture development (Netherlands), visited Bangladesh in 2001 for two months to formulate a five-year technical program on cotton breeding to improve the cotton yields.
Family
He is married to Smt. Prasoona. They live at Nandyal. They have four children and six grandchildren.
Social Service
Following in his father's footsteps, Mr. Ravindranath interacted with Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao, (who was elected from Nandyal), as well as governors, and central ministers. He invited them to Nandyal and brought problems faced by the farmers of the region, especially poor farmers, to their attention.
Presently he is serving as the chief advisor of "Nandi Rythu Samakya," since 1997 (with more than 1,000 farmer members) which provides advice and help to poor and marginal farmers in sustainable cultivation practices.
He is the Honorary President of Brahmin Seva Samakya, President of Matrubasha Parirakshana Samithi, President of Nandyal Library Association, and President of Agricultural university retired teachers association, Nandyal.
He received "Gadicherla Foundation" award for social service.
He is a certified Homeopathic medicine practitioner.
Awards
1. Lifetime Achievement Award by Cotton Research and Development Association
2. Dr. I.V. Subba Rao Memorial Award presented by Sri Venkaiah Naidu Honorable Union Minister for Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India
3. Hexamar Award from All India Coordinated Cotton Improvement Project for outstanding contribution in cotton genetics and plant breeding
4. Best Cotton Breeder Award presented by Andhra Pradesh Federation of Farmers Association and Peddireddy Thimmareddy Farm Foundation
5. Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University Best Scientist/Breeder award, presented by Sri Krishan Kant, Governor of Andhra Pradesh
6. Best Scientist Award from Kakani Venkataratnam Farm Foundation, Vijayawada
7. Best Scientist Award from Bojja Venkata Reddy Agricultural Foundation, Hyderabad
8. Red Entry award for evolving Mahalaxmi cotton variety by Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), Hyderabad
9. Sri Bharathiyudu Award presented by Kalaradhana, Nandyal
10. Karshaka Prapoorna Award presented by Nandi Rythu Samakya
11. Gadicherla Foundation Award for Social Service
12. Bharat Kisan Vibhag award by the farmers of Mahaboob Nagar, Andhra Pradesh (1995)
13. Swadesh Vignan Mela Award for scientific contributions (New Delhi, 2000)
14. Seedsmen Association Award, presented by Sri S. V. Subba Reddy, Minister for Agriculture, Andhra Pradesh, 1996