By Emma Quilligan/CIMMYT
Two additional trainees will have the opportunity to participate in CIMMYT’s wheat improvement course next year, thanks to the generous donation of US $20,000 by Sanjaya Rajaram, former director of CIMMYT’s Global Wheat Program (GWP). Presenting the check to CIMMYT, Rajaram said he “hoped it would serve as an example to other people who believe in training.”
Rajaram started his CIMMYT career as a post-doctoral fellow, working alongside Norman Borlaug. He then went on to lead the bread wheat breeding team from 1973-1995 and develop wheat varieties among the most widely-grown worldwide.
He served as director of the GWP from 1996 to 2002. In his four decades at CIMMYT, Rajaram trained more than 400 wheat scientists. “He influenced so many trainees who lead wheat breeding in their home countries and many became national research leaders,” said current GWP Director Hans-Joachim Braun. Thank you, Raj, for your dedication to training the next generation of wheat breeders!
Capacity development 