◊ By Pure & Eco India

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In recognition of the extraordinary contribution of outstanding organic farmers, state governments and enterprises in the field of organic agriculture, the third edition of Jaivik India Awards was hosted at the Organic Food India Conclave 2022 in Agra on September 23, 2022.

The function was jointly organised by conference management company, Tefla’s, and the International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA).

Agriculture Minister of Karnataka, BC Patil, graced the occasion as Chief Guest

Manoj Menon, Executive Director & CEO, ICCOA, which was conceived in 2004 as a knowledge centre and representative organisation for the organic movement in India

Organic Farmer, Hanamanth Halaki (on the left) was awarded ‘Best Organic Farmer’ in South India. He was conferred with the same distinction in the 2019 edition of the Jaivik India Awards

Chief Guest, Agriculture Minister of Karnataka, BC Patil, congratulated the award winners and said, “Organic farming is the need of the hour. Farmers should make use of technology and change their farming methods for the benefit of their land and themselves. The Central and the Karnataka governments are providing necessary facilities to farmers to help them get maximum value for their produce.”

Patil also invited the audience to the Organics & Millets International Trade Fair, which is scheduled to take place in Bengaluru in January 2023. Organics & Millets is organised by ICCOA each year.

Manoj Menon, Executive Director & CEO, ICCOA, said, “ICCOA, which was conceived in 2004 as a knowledge centre and representative organisation for the organic movement in India, has had front row seat in the evolution of the organic landscape in the country. We established the Jaivik India Awards in 2018 as an annual occasion to acknowledge, honour and encourage the nation’s organic farmers as well as other outstanding stakeholders. We are extremely pleased to present the awards in the third edition this year in Agra.”

The 1st prize for Organic Farming in the North Zone was awarded to Rahul Kumar of Madhya Pradesh and the 2nd prize was conferred upon Ishwar Chandra Gautam of Rajasthan. The award for Natural Farming in the northern region was awarded to Jaswir Kumar from Uttarakhand.

In the southern region, the 1st prize for Organic Farming was awarded to Hanamanth Halaki (he won the same award at the 2019 Jaivik India Awards as well) of Karnataka with the 2nd prize going to Jose Joseph of Kerala. The Natural Farming Award in the South Zone was given to Bandi Obulamma from Andhra Pradesh.

In East India, the 1st prize for Organic Farming was bestowed upon Nitish Kumar of Bihar and the 2nd prize went to Anjal Limbu (Padumpathar Agro Organic Producer Company Limited) of Assam. The award for Natural Farming in the eastern region was awarded to Seroja Lepcha, West Bengal.

Among the prize winners from the western region was Yogita Gajanan Dhurve of Maharashtra, who received the 1st prize. Jigar Pravinbhai Desai of Gujarat received the 2nd prize, while the award for Natural Farming in the western region was given to Sunita Baliram, Maharashtra.

Among State Governments promoting favourable policies for Organic Farming, the 1st prize was awarded to the Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board. The 2nd prize in the category was awarded to the Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) of the Department of Horticulture & Soil Conservation, Manipur; the 3rd prize was given to an organisation called Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, which is implementing the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) in Andhra Pradesh.

The Department of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka was also honoured with a special award for its critical contribution in propelling the state’s organic movement.

The 1st prize for Exporters of Organic Products was awarded to the Indian exporter, Suminter India Organics; the 2nd prize was jointly awarded to rice exporter Nature Pearls Pvt Ltd (Nature Pearls won the same award in the 2019 edition of the awards as well) and the organic hair cosmetics formulator, Radico. The 3rd prize was conferred upon the organic essential oils exporter, Aromatic & Allied Chemicals.

Jose Joseph from Kerala’s Idukki was awarded the 2nd prize under the ‘Best Organic Farmer’ category

Jaswir Kumar from Dehradun, Uttarakhand, was awarded ‘Best Natural Farmer’ in north India

Rice exporter Nature Pearls Pvt Ltd was awarded 2nd prize under the ‘Best Organic Exporter’ category. Nature Pearls won the same award in the 2019 edition of the awards as well

WINNERS OF THE JAIVIK INDIA AWARDS 2022

BEST ORGANIC FARMER (NORTH INDIA) – Rahul Kumar, Madhya Pradesh

BEST NATURAL FARMER (NORTH INDIA) – Jaswir Kumar, Uttarakhand

BEST ORGANIC FARMER (SOUTH INDIA) – Hanamanth Halaki, Karnataka

BEST NATURAL FARMER (SOUTH INDIA) – Bandi Obulamma, Andhra Pradesh

BEST ORGANIC FARMER (EAST INDIA) – Nitish Kumar, Bihar

BEST NATURAL FARMER (EAST INDIA) – Seroja Lepcha, West Bengal

BEST ORGANIC FARMER (WESTERN INDIA) – Yogita Gajanan Dhurve, Maharashtra

BEST NATURAL FARMER (WESTERN INDIA) – Sunita Baliram, Maharashtra