On the eve of Republic Day 2025, the Government of India announced the recipients of the Padma Awards, honouring 139 individuals for their outstanding contributions across various fields.

This year’s honours include seven Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards. Among the 113 Padma Shri awardees, three distinguished agricultural innovators have been recognised for their groundbreaking work.

Hariman Sharma: The man who brought apples to the plains Hariman Sharma, born in 1956 in Gllasin village, Himachal Pradesh, faced immense challenges early in life, including losing his mother at just three days old. Despite these hardships, Hariman pursued his passion for agriculture, aiming to revolutionise farming in his region.

In 1992, after a devastating frost wiped out mango crops, he decided to experiment with apple cultivation in lower altitudes. Despite initial scepticism, his persistence resulted in the HRMN-99 apple, capable of enduring summer temperatures of 40-45°C.

By 2007, his efforts were recognised, and the apple variety gained international acclaim, with plantations spanning India and even countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Germany.

Hariman’s innovative apple variety has empowered farmers, boosting agricultural productivity across 29 Indian states. His work has also garnered multiple accolades, including the National Innovative Farmer Award and the Grassroots Innovation Award.

Through training programmes and the planting of over 100,000 HRMN-99 saplings, Hariman continues to support sustainable agriculture and inspire farmers.

L. Hangthing: Empowering Nagaland's farmers L. Hangthing, a 58-year-old farmer from Noklak, Nagaland, has been recognised for his transformative contributions to horticulture. WiIth over 30 years of experience, Hangthing has introduced several non-native fruits like litchi and oranges to his region.

His commitment to research and experimentation has benefited over 200 farmers and more than 40 villages.

His journey began in childhood, experimenting with discarded fruit seeds on his family farm. Through years of innovation, he has shared his farming techniques with over 400 households, enabling sustainable agricultural practices in Nagaland.

Subhash Khetulal Sharma: A champion of sustainable agriculture Subhash Khetulal Sharma, a 'smart farmer' from Maharashtra, transitioned to organic farming in 1994 after seeing the decline in productivity from chemical methods. He promotes the use of cow dung, jaggery, and rainwater harvesting.

Through his work, Subhash has helped villagers adopt sustainable farming practices, leading to better soil health and increased crop yields. He continues to guide farmers towards organic, environmentally conscious methods.