Subbanna Ayyappan, former Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Padma Shri awardee, was found dead in the Cauvery river near Srirangapatna, police confirmed.
He had been reported missing by his family on May 7 after leaving home in Mysuru without his mobile phone.
Authorities located his scooter near the Sai Baba Ashram, a place he frequently visited for meditation. An unidentified body discovered in the river on May 11 was later identified as Ayyappan. A case of unnatural death has been registered, and investigations are ongoing.
Born in 1955 in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district, Ayyappan was a pioneering aquaculture scientist widely credited for advancing India’s “Blue Revolution.” Over his distinguished career, he held key roles including Director of CIFA Bhubaneswar, founding CEO of the NFDB, and Secretary of DARE. He received the Padma Shri in 2022 for his contributions to agriculture and fisheries.
He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
