NEW YORK: The Mayor of Plano, Pat Evans, proclaimed June 22, 2008 to be Dr Sant Singh Virmani Day in the city of Plano, Texas, in honor of Dr Virmani, who is among the world's leading agricultural scientists in the field of hybrid rice and a resident of Plano.Dr Virmani was awarded a plaque from the Netlink Foundation in honor of his service to humanity in combating hunger and poverty around the world.

He also recently received the Padma Shri award from the Government of India. Mayor Pro Tem Jean Callison, who was present at the event, read the Proclamation from Mayor Evans and presented the Netlink Foundation plaque to Dr Virmani.The Netlink Foundation, as part of its goal to create and involve local communities in global issues, had organized the ceremony that highlighted the achievements of Dr Virmani in the field of hybrid rice and also gave some insight into his personal life. Dr Virmani's research and leadership in public/private partnerships in agriculture has impacted millions of the world's poor and has helped farmer's increase revenues by more than $750 million annually.Billions of people rely on rice for survival.

Globally, many governments, organizations, associations and companies work towards finding ways to provide more rice with less usable land and fewer resources. Dr Virmani's development of hybrid rice technologies has been a critical part of combating global hunger and poverty and maintaining many countries' national food security. He developed ways to breed the best qualities of rice (more disease resistant, higher yielding, able to grow in various conditions, etc.) in a manner that was usable, effective and affordable. Dr Virmani has lived and worked in various countries, including in the Philippines where he worked at the International Rice Research Institute, retiring in the eminent position of Principal Scientist. He has worked together with various governments, policy makers, international organizations and institutions, private companies, farmers, scientists and researchers over the past 30 years.Dr Virmani's life story is an inspiring one: the only son amongst five siblings in a humble household, he had to earn a living, feed his family and pursue his education from the age of 17 when his father, Mani Singh Virmani, passed away. Through hard work, focus, persistence, humility and a belief in God, Dr Virmani went from a life of humble beginnings and much struggle, and in the process, he has transformed the global agricultural landscape in the field of rice for the betterment of humanity. The honoring ceremony took place at the Stonebriar Country Club in Frisco. Key speakers included some of the leading minds in agriculture Dr D S Athwal, the winner of the Padma Bhushan in 1975 as well as current and retired diplomats Vinod Sachdeva of the Indian Consulate in Canada and Dr Ron Cantrell, retired Director General of the International Rice Research Institute. He devotes his time to community service in different countries and in Plano. Many of the world's leading agricultural companies and multi-billion dollar foundations turn to Dr Virmani for guidance in agricultural policies and in hybrid rice. He is married to Indu Virmani, has two children Lily and Sunny Virmani, a son-in-law Ajoy Sharma and two grand children, all of whom live in Plano.