M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation

The M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), established in 1988 as a not-for-profit trust, completes this year a fruitful 25-year journey. MSSRF was envisioned and founded by Professor M. S. Swaminathan in order to accelerate the use of modern science for agricultural and rural development. It has been guided over time by a competent and experienced board of trustees, and it has grown through the committed and dedicated efforts of its scientific and technical staff. In the development and dissemination of technology for improving lives and livelihoods of tribal and rural communities, MSSRF has attempted to follow pro-poor, pro-women and pro-nature principles. MSSRF has tried to apply appropriate and relevant science and technology options to address practical problems faced by rural populations in the spheres of agriculture, food and nutrition security and natural resource management. These efforts have been undertaken in a
participatory manner and in partnership with other knowledge-based institutions, public and private sector organisations and local communities. Looking back, MSSRF has been able to make significant progress in undertaking strategic and participatory research, and in developing new scalable and replicable models of technological application. Advocacy at the policy level has been an important part of the work carried out over the last 25 years.