Two Rajasthan Organic Farmers Awarded Padma Shree

This Monday, one organic farmer Mr. Jagdish Prasad Parikh from Ajitgarh in Sikar district of Rajasthan was felicitated with Padma Shri award by the President of India.

Padma Shri is the 4th highest civilian award in India. This year 94 Padma Shri award were approved by the President of India, 12 of which goes to farmers for promoting activities like organic farming, traditional farming techniques, seed conservation and agricultural innovations.

_{Padma Shri Jagdish Prassad Parikh Source: Twitter/DSTIndia}

Jagdish Prasad Parikh also made his way to Limca Book of Records for producing one of the world's largest cauliflowers. These cauliflowers are named "Ajitgarh variety" after his village Ajitgarh and weighs 25.5 kg.

_{Padma Shri Hukumchand Patidar Source: Twitter/adityanarayan}

Another organic farmer Mr. Hukumchand Patidar from Manpura village of Jhalawar district in Rajasthan will be conferred with Padma Shree award on coming 16^th March. He is the force behind Rajasthan’s iconic Swami Vivekanand Agricultural Research Farm - an organic farm spread over 40 acres of land. He also exports his organically grown chemical-free produce in over seven countries including Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Germany, France, and Korea.

These personalities have inspired many more farmers in their region to undertake chemical fertilizer-free organic farming. Today, these people are putting up efforts in educating and teaching farmers of our own traditional farming methods.

Today, most farmers are aware and have benefited from 2016 Padma Shree awardee Subhash Palekar's ZBNF (Zero Budget Natural Farming) method now renamed as Subhash Palekar Natural Farming.

But I wonder what does Government want?
On one hand, it recognizes and awards organic farmers and on the other hand promotes and subsidizes chemical fertilizer based farming practices.