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Pioneering PhD research at The University of Western Australia not only helped launch a major Australian export industry, it also won the researcher a prestigious award in India recently.

Professor Kadambot Siddique, Chair in Agriculture and Director of UWA’s Institute of Agriculture, was presented with a gold medal last week from the Indian Society of Pulse Research and Development by Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, a former President of India, at the Indian Institute of Pulses Research in Kanpur.

Pulses – chickpeas, faba beans, field peas, lentils and other legumes grown for human consumption – are an important source of protein in the diets of many people around the world. Besides lowering the risk of heart-disease, eating pulses also lessens the likelihood of developing type-two diabetes and obesity. Pulses also significantly contribute to sustainable farming systems through their rotational cropping benefits.

Professor Siddique began exploring the potential of chickpea adaptation when, after beginning agricultural studies in India, he started postgraduate work at UWA in 1981.

His work was the starting point for the Australian chickpea industry, now valued at more than $200 million annually. It also created research links that tie UWA to Turkey, Bangladesh, East Timor, Iraq, Oman, China, India, the US and Canada.

Professor Siddique said he was delighted to receive the award from Dr Abdul Kalam, an aeronautics engineer who has been awarded honorary doctorates at 30 universities. Known as ‘the People’s President’, he was India’s 11th President, from 2002 – 2007.

“I am humbled and honoured to receive this award,” Professor Siddique said. “It also recognises the important contributions made by a team of scientists and postgraduate students with whom I have had the privilege to work and collaborate.”

Photo: (R to L) Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam (Former President of India) giving the Gold Medal and award to Professor Kadambot Siddique; Dr Mangala Rai, Secretary Department of Agriculture, Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Dr Masood Ali, Director of the Indian Institute Pulse Research (IIPR) were also present at the occasion.

Media references

Professor Kadambot Sddique (+61 8)  6488 7012  /  (+61 4) 11 155 396
Sally-Ann Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 7975  / (+61 4) 20 790 098