'Ms. Mallika Srinivasan receiving Honorary Doctorate from the Hon. Governor of Tamil Nadu, Sri. Vidyasagar Rao'
Chennai, 09th September, 2017: Padma Shri Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman and CEO of Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (TAFE), third-largest tractor and farm-equipment manufacturer in the world, was awarded the Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) today at Coimbatore. This was awarded in recognition of her contribution to global agriculture, machinery business and academia.
On the occasion of 38th convocation ceremony of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Ms. Mallika Srinivasan was awarded the Honoris Causa by the Chancellor of TNAU and Hon. Governor of Tamil Nadu, Sri. Vidyasagar Rao. The ceremony was graced by the presence of Sri. K. Ramasamy - Vice Chancellor of the University, Sri. R. Doraikkannu - Pro Chancellor of TNAU and the Agriculture Minister of Tamil Nadu and the Chief guest of the ceremony, Dr. C. D. Mayee - President, South Asia Biotechnology Centre along with the Professors and the new graduates of TNAU.
Mallika Srinivasan commenced her career in 1986 at TAFE when it had a turnover of Rs.85crores and transformed it to an international farm mechanization company with an annual turnover of over Rs. 9600 crores. Under her efficient leadership, TAFE is now the single largest shareholder in the $8 Billion AGCO Corporation, USA.
On receiving the Doctorate, Mallika Srinivasan, said, “I am immensely privileged to have been chosen to receive the degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) from this prestigious world renowned institute that has been serving the farming community for over a century. I extend my gratitude and thanks to the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) for bestowing this unique honour on me. This honour will, no doubt, be a great inspiration to me and my team at TAFE, as we continue to serve the farming community both in India and in other developing markets of the world.”
She has played a key role in the development of agriculture across the nation through initiatives that positively impact the lives of farmers. Taking forward the founder’s vision of empowering the Indian farmer, she has led the development of JFarm, TAFE’s adaptive agricultural research and training centre, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, established in 1964 by her father and TAFE’s first Chairman, Mr. A. Sivasailam. Under her leadership, JFarm has focused on developing an integrated farming model for small and marginal farmers, farm initiatives for soil, water and nutrient management to increase productivity through mechanisation. JFarm also advocates organic farming and its activities in developing a low cost modified hydroponics system have been widely appreciated.
Mallika Srinivasan has transformed agriculture in the Northern parts of India through the setting up of JFarm Rajasthan at Bhawanimandi, Dt. Jhalawer, which replicates the pioneering efforts of JFarm, Tamil Nadu, helping farmers of Rajasthan and subsequently those from nearby states.
Leading the way in global agriculture MallikaSrinivasan has also encouraged the extension of JFarm’s activities to other developing economies and TAFE is in the process of setting up such facilities aimed at improving farm productivity and sustainable farming, leveraging relevant mechanisation in association with several countries in Africa. It has established partnerships for skill training and development and piloting small farm sustainability programs in Malawi, Tanzania and Rwanda, Burkina Faso and the Ivory Coast and is involved in developing multipurpose farmer centers across the African continent.
An excerpt from the citation read, “TAFE’s JFarm, located at Chennai and Rajasthan, established as a CSR initiative, engages in adaptive research and provides farm extension services, covering a variety of crops, as an advisory service to farmers to enhance yields and promotes among farmers, knowledge of cultivation practices and the latest technological advancements. It is this effort of many decades that has won her acclaim.
The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University takes great pride in placing on record the exceptional achievements of Padma Shri Mallika Srinivasan and takes privilege in honouring her, in recognition of her contribution to global agriculture, machinery business and academia.”
She is one among the Board of Directors of AGCO Corporation, a global farm equipment major in the United States of America, Tata Steel Limited and Tata Global Beverages Limited. A member of the Executive Board of the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, Ms. Srinivasan has held prestigious board positions at IIT Madras and the Bharathidasan Institute of Management, Trichy.
