Hyderabad, Jan. 23 -- Legendary rice breeder, 2011 Padma Shree awardee and a renowned agriculture scientist, Dr EA Siddiq, passed away on Thursday night, January 22, in Hyderabad at the ripe age of 88.

In a distinguished career spanning over half a century, Siddiq won international acclaim for his contributions to the rice crop. He was honoured with the prestigious Norman Borlaug Award in 1995.

Within the Indian agriculture system, Siddiq rose to the position of Deputy Director General (Crop Science), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). He was a PhD student of Bharat Ratna and one of the doyens of India's Green Revolution, Dr MS Swaminathan.

Born in Ilayangudi, Tamil Nadu, on July 15, 1937, Siddiq studied BSc from St Joseph...