On 13^th may,2025 the Director and staff of ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta, Bengaluru paid tribute to Padma Shri Dr S Ayyappan, who left for heavenly abode on 10^th May, 2025. Dr S Ayyappan hailing from rural Karnataka has started his carrier as ARS scientist in Fisheries and rose to the highest position of Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Director General-Indian Council of Agricultural Research, contributed immensely to Agriculture sector in general and Fisheries sector in particular.

A condolence meeting was held at ICAR-IIHR wherein Director and other staff recalled the association with Dr S Ayyappan and his contributions to IIHR. Director Dr T K Behera recalled his association with Dr S Ayyappan at IARI New Delhi and ICAR Head Quarters. Project Co-Ordinator fruit crops Dr Prakash Patil remembered few occasions where Dr Ayyappan attended the AICRP Fruits meetings. Dr S Shivashankara recalled the visit of Dr S Ayyappan to ICAR-IIHR during 2015 as Chief Guest and inaugurated the phenomics facility built under NICRA programme. PME Nodal officer Dr E Srinivasa Rao mentioned that Dr S Ayyappan as DG- ICAR was instrumental in making ICAR-IIHR an adjunct campus of IARI PG education programme. Dr S Ayyappan was a great philanthropist besides a pioneering scientist, his demise is a very sad news for Agriculture fraternity of the country.