The 2026 Padma Awards have recognized significant contributions from agricultural scientists and farmers, highlighting their pivotal role in India's agricultural advancement. The awards, announced on the eve of the 77th Republic Day by President Draupadi Murmu, include several individuals who have made outstanding contributions to agricultural science, farmer empowerment, and innovative farming practices.
Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh, a distinguished agricultural scientist renowned for his expertise in plant genetics and rice breeding, has been awarded the Padma Shri for his pioneering work in developing basmati rice varieties. Over his three-decade career with the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Dr. Singh played a crucial role in developing 25 improved basmati rice varieties, now cultivated across approximately two million hectares in India. These varieties have substantially increased productivity, grain quality, and export competitiveness, significantly benefiting millions of basmati farmers in northern India and contributing an estimated ₹50,000 crore annually in foreign exchange earnings.
Gopalji Trivedi, an agricultural education veteran and former Vice-Chancellor of the Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University in Pusa, Bihar, also received the Padma Shri. Trivedi is celebrated for his work in helping farmers increase yields and incomes through research-driven solutions. He introduced rejuvenation canopy management techniques for litchi cultivation in Muzaffarpur, reviving abandoned plantations and boosting the region's reputation. Additionally, he encouraged the adoption of scientific cultivation of makhana, fox nuts, and water chestnuts in flood-prone areas of North Bihar, transforming unproductive land into a reliable source of income.
Other notable agricultural scientists honored with the Padma Shri include Prem Lal Gautam, former chairperson of the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPVFRA). Gautam established India's first plant germplasm registration system and helped operationalize India's National Gene Bank. K. Ramasamy, former Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), was recognized for championing natural farming and contributing to national policy planning in agricultural biotechnology, ferti-irrigation, and biogas development. N. Punniamoorthy, former dean at Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANVASU), was honored for his pioneering work in antibiotic-free herbal and traditional protocols, developing herbal formulations for various animal ailments.
Several farmers were also recognized for their contributions. Shrirang Devaba Lad from Maharashtra was awarded for his work in sustainable agriculture and livestock conservation, as well as for developing the "Dada Lad technique" for cotton cultivation to increase yield. Jogesh Deuri of Assam was recognized for promoting Muga silk. Posthumous awards were given to Rama Reddy Mamidi of Telangana, for strengthening cooperative models in animal husbandry and dairy development, and Raghupat Singh of Uttar Pradesh, for conserving rare vegetable varieties and developing new ones.
These Padma Awards underscore the critical role of agricultural scientists and farmers in enhancing agricultural productivity, promoting sustainable practices, and improving the livelihoods of farming communities across India.
