Viksit Farmers Key To Viksit Bharat

A total of 34 winners bagged awards in different categories at the 5th edition of Outlook Agritech Summit & Swaraj Awards 2024. The awards were given away by Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, in the presence of Harish Chavan, CEO, Swaraj and Rajiv Rellan, Chief, Sales and Marketing, Swaraj Division, and other dignitaries. A video message from the Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was shared with the audiences. 

The awards were preceded by deliberations on various themes in different panel discussions by country’s agriculture thought leaders on theme of  “The Future of Farming: Sowing the Seeds of Change”. 

While delivering his special address and talking about the future of farming, Chaturvedi said, “We will digitalise agriculture and give target based information—precise information based on what farmers have sown, what is the location, and what is the weather. Farmers can send a photo to the department under pest control programme and seek information from the department.” 

He added, “Climate change is an area of concern impacting production. We need to attract young generation to agriculture. We need to bring innovative agriculture and remove drudgery.” 

Earlier, in his theme address Harish Chavan, CEO of Swaraj, said, “ Viksit Bharat can be realised through agriculture. Our agri GDP contributes 14 percent to the economy. We need to foster innovation for sustainable agriculture. Agri- export and processed agri need to be the areas of attention. These will lead to doubling of farmer income.” 

Himanshu Pathak, Secretary (DARE) and Director General, ICAR, added, “Viksit Bharat can be achieved if there is Viksit farmer. We should do five things to make agriculture productive and profitable; it should be nature friendly, technology friendly, market friendly, gender and youth friendly, and culture friendly.” 

The event revolved around various sessions like Farming and Governance on government policies & schemes; Tech for Transformation on embracing disruptive technologies to transform the farm sector; Precision Farming in Ornamental Horticulture & Allied Sectors; Agriculture & Innovation on leapfrogging challenges in the farm sector; and Financial Inclusion for Farmers on examining options of loans, insurance and related products and services to increase farmers’ incomes 

Referring to the debates on the willingness of the younger generations to become farmers, Ram Gopal Agarwal, Group Chairman, Dhanuka Agritech, said, “If you attach yourself with high technology enabled agriculture, then there is nothing better than agriculture.” 

Since tech is playing a role in the agricultural ecosystem, embracing disruptive technologies to transform the farm sector was a crucial area of interest. Technology adaption can lead to transformation and enhance efficiency and productivity by utilising drone technology, digital agriculture via data driven decision making, and supply chain solutions enabled by tech and digital farm management platforms. 

Mahesh Haul, GM & Head Sales and Marketing, Dhaksha Drones, said, “Skill and development have been provided by the government to make use of drones. Drones will bring revolution to agriculture.” 

Finance plays an integral role in the development of agriculture. Credit access, insurance and investment prospects within the tech startups and the part played by cooperatives in economic empowerment were also touched upon.  

Amit Kumar, Deputy General Manager (Special Project- Agri Revamp), SBI said, “We want farmers  to become processors from producers. We need to focus on agri supply chain to increase their income.” 

The backbone of all such initiatives is research. Swati Nayak, Scientist, CGIAR International Rice Research Institute and Norman E. Borlaug, said, “We need to invest in technology and research so that water efficiency and soil-nutrients can be increased. Research needs to be promoted.” 

D.N. Pathak, Director, Soyabean Processors Association of India, said, “We should see how we are working and it is in silos; all of us -- scientists, farmers, policymakers and companies -- need to work together.” 

Award Winners 

Outstanding KVK 

1 Murshidabad Additional (Sargachhi) 

2 KVK Pune-I 

3 KVK- Jhunjhunu 

4 KVK, Kurnool 1 (Yagantipalli), Andhra Pradesh 

Outstanding FPOs 

1 Melliphera Farmer Producer Company Limited, Bathinda 

2 Uttaran Krishi Producer Company Ltd, Kaniha, Rangia, Kamrup 

Outstanding Scientists 

1 Dr. Raju G Teggelli, Head, KVK, Kalaburagi-I, 

2 Dr. M. Mokidul Islam, Principal Scientist & Head, KVK, Ri-Bhoi, Meghalaya 

Outstanding Institutes / Agricultural Universities  

1 Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal, Manipur 

2 Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Shiksha O Anusandhan, Bhubaneshwar 

3 Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Ministry of Commerce and Industries, GIO, Bangalore 

Outstanding Farmer Cooperative 

1 Namdevrao Khot Karyakari Vikas Society Barilgaon (PACS) 

2 National Cooperative Exports Ltd (NCEL) 

3 Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti (BBSSL) 

Outstanding State / UT 

1 Jharkhand State (Department of Agriculture) 

Outstanding Individual 

1 Chaudhary Kamrajbhai Daljibhai 

2 Nandini Roy, Madhyamgram, West Bengal 

Innovation Excellence 

1 Gulab Singh Lodhi, Narsinghpur, Madhya Pradesh 

2 Nuzolu Chuzho, Thipuzu village under KVK, Phek, Nagaland 

Sustainable Farming 

1 KVK Rudraprayag 

2 Avimanyu Aich, Bonth Block, Bhadrak  

Trailblazing Startup Organisation 

1 Vandhan Shakti Mahila Producer Company, Suthar Madra, Gogunda, Udaipur 

2 Sikkol Foods, promoted by KVK Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh 

Champion Women Farmer Change makers 

1 Mal Fulvantiben Hursingbhai At. Bhman, Tal. Sanjeli, Dist. Dahod KVK Dahod, Gujarat 

2 Bhawana Sharma W/O Sh. Yashpal Sharma 719, 1st C-Road, Sardarpura, Jodhpur  

3 Anjela S Shangoi, Vill. Mawkynbat, Nongstoin, KVK, West Khasi Hills, Meghalaya  

4 Manika Debbarma, Kalyanpur, Vill. ADC Village, West Tripura under KVK, Khowai 

5 Shaik Yakiri Village:  Kondapalem Mandal, Butchayyapeta 

Rose Puraskar (ISOH Awardees) 

1 Meena Sunil Chandel - Large Category 

2 Col Rakesh Bhatia- Small Category 

3 Gurvinder Singh Sohi - Large Category 

4 Ranbir Singh - Small Category 

5 Ramcharan Kushwaha