Hyderabad, Dec 6 (IANS): International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) director general William D. Dar was conferred with the prestigious excellence in agricultural leadership award by the Association of Agricultural Technology in Southeast Asia (AATSEA).

The award was presented to him during the second international conference on integration of science and technology for sustainable development at Bangkok-based King Mongkut's Institute of Technology on Nov 28.

The award was given in recognition of Dar's outstanding achievement, dedicated service, untiring efforts, exemplary vision, unwavering commitment and unselfish support in the field of agriculture in southeast Asia and beyond, said a statement by ICRISAT here Friday.

"I have dedicated my whole life and career to helping empower smallholder farmers in Asia and Africa alleviate their socioeconomic conditions and to contribute to feeding the poor," said Dar at the award ceremony.

Dar, a national of the Philippines, has been director general of ICRISAT since Jan 2000 and holds the distinction of being the first Filipino and Asian to be director general of the institute.

Based in Patancheru near Hyderabad, ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.