17th Agriculture Leadership Awards Ceremony Held in New Delhi

Jaipur/New Delhi: Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde, along with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, presented the 17th National Agriculture Leadership Awards at a ceremony held at a private hotel in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The prestigious awards were presented to the states of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat under two major categories. The awards were received on behalf of their respective states by their Agriculture Ministers.

Addressing the gathering, Governor Bagde emphasized the importance of adopting natural farming to enhance soil fertility and produce healthier crops. He said that agriculture not only ensures food security for the country's vast population but also supplies raw materials to industries, making it a vital pillar of India's economy. He noted that agriculture continues to provide livelihood and employment to nearly half of the country's population and contributes more than 18 percent to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), including allied sectors.

Referring to renowned agricultural scientist Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, Governor Bagde recalled his significant role in helping India overcome food shortages and achieve self-sufficiency in food grain production. He said that while the country is now self-reliant in food production, the focus must shift toward preserving soil health and encouraging the cultivation of nutritious crops.

The Governor urged greater awareness about natural farming as a sustainable alternative to conventional agricultural practices and stressed the need to promote rainwater conservation. He remarked that "saving water is equivalent to producing water" and called upon states to encourage crops that require less water while adopting modern agricultural technologies to strengthen the agricultural sector and ensure long-term sustainability.