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HomePosts Tagged "Padma Shri"
Award

Shri Hariman Sharma, an innovative and dedicated farmer from Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, has been honored with the prestigious Padma Shri for his exceptional contributions to Indian agriculture. The Government of India recognized his remarkable achievements in advancing apple cultivation in non-traditional regions. Shri Sharma developed the HRMN-99 apple variety, which has transformed apple farming by allowing it to thrive in the tropical climate of India, paving the way for nationwide apple cultivation

HRMN-99 is a self-pollinating, low-chilling variety that grows in tropical and sub-tropical areas, flourishing in temperatures between 40-45°C, thus broadening the scope of apple farming across various Indian states and Union Territories. The variety has been registered by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA), New Delhi, through the ICAR-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar being the DUS center for temperate fruits and nuts.

The registration of HRMN-99 by the PPV&FRA, New Delhi, offers dual protection by safeguarding both the variety and its denomination. Traditionally, apple cultivation requires a cold climate with chilling hours (the number of hours below 7°C during dormancy). However, with advancements in horticultural practices and the development of low-chill apple varieties like HRMN-99, apple farming is now feasible in some of India’s low-chill regions.

The HRMN-99 variety has been gaining traction in the warmer parts of India, allowing successful apple cultivation in areas once considered unsuitable. States such as Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Manipur are now cultivating HRMN-99. Apples grown in the lower reaches and tropical regions tend to mature earlier, which increases demand and profitability. The development and promotion of indigenous varieties like HRMN-99 is a significant step toward achieving an “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” by reducing imports and boosting exports.

Shri Hariman Sharma, an innovative and dedicated

Acquaculture, AgroPolicy

Dr Ayyappan is credited with bringing Indian fisheries to a level of excellence in basic science and fish commercialisation

Dr Subbanna Ayappan, Former Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR), has been conferred with the Padma Shri for his unparallel contribution towards aquaculture. Dr Ayyappan is credited with bringing Indian fisheries to a level of excellence in basic science and fish commercialisation, unmatched anywhere in the world.

Dr Ayyappan completed B.F.Sc. (1975) and M.F.Sc. (1977) and obtained Ph.D. degree from Bangalore University in 1988. His specific areas of research are Fisheries, Freshwater Aquaculture and Aquatic Microbiology. He joined the Agricultural Research Service of ICAR in 1978.

He served as the Deputy Director General (Fisheries), Director, Central Institute of Fisheries Education, (Deemed University) Mumbai,
Director, Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar and Scientist, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, in the ICAR system and has made significant research contributions to the National Agricultural Research System. He is the Founder Chief Executive of the National Fisheries Development Board. Dr Ayyappan has over 200 publications in reputed journals/proceedings and books. He also has two patents and one design in his name.

Dr Ayyappan is credited with bringing Indian

Agrotech, People

Abdul Khader Nadakattin has developed a machine to slice tamarind

Abdul Khader Nadakattin, a serial grassroots innovator from Dharwad, Karnataka, is amongst the 107 Padma Shri awardees announced for the year 2022 in the others (Grassroots Innovation) category.

Nadakattin is a serial innovator and his prominent innovations include a device to separate tamarind seeds, a ploughing blade manufacturing machine, a seed cum fertiliser drill, a water-heating boiler, an automatic sugarcane sowing driller, and a wheel tiller. All his innovations demonstrate principles of sustainability, cost-effectiveness, eco-friendliness, and most importantly social acceptance. His in-depth knowledge of agro-climatic conditions and soil characteristics has made him an inspiration to other farmers in the country.

He developed agri-technologies and implements which addressed a variety of needs for the local people while maintaining relevance with modern agriculture.

Owing to his portfolio of innovations related to tamarind, people started calling him ‘hunase huccha,’ which means tamarind maniac. It started with his success in growing tamarind with scarce but alkaline water and further graduated with experiments like the technique for harvesting tamarind from the tree and also the highly accepted machine to separate tamarind seeds. This inspired him to develop a machine for slicing tamarind. In furtherance of success with tamarind, he came up with innovations to address agriculture operations like deep ploughing, sowing of seeds, and also fuel-efficient water heating boiler.

Abdul Khader Nadakattin has developed a machine