Rajaram, who is now settled in Mexico, is credited with increasing world wheat production by more than 200 million tons in the years following the Green Revolution, which has had a far-reaching impact in alleviating world hunger.
World Food Prize Foundation President Kenneth M Quinn announced the 250,000 USD World Food Prize winner at an event at US State Department on Wednesday.
The World Food Prize was established in 1986 by Dr Norman Borlaug to focus the world's attention on hunger and on those whose work has significantly helped efforts to end it.
It recognizes individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.
Borlaug earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his work as a plant breeder and for taking new agricultural practices to developing nations around the world. The award will be formally presented to Rajaram in a ceremony in October at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines, Iowa.
Rajaram's breakthrough achievement in successfully cross breeding winter and spring wheat varieties, which were distinct gene pools that had been isolated from one another for hundreds of years, led to his developing plants that have higher yields and a broad genetic base.
More than 480 high-yielding wheat varieties bred by Rajaram have been released in 51 countries on six continents and have been widely adopted by small- and large-scale farmers alike.
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