Innovative Kulaghar Farmer of Goa Shri Sanjay Anant Patil Conferred with Padma Shri 2024 for his Contribution to Natural Farming

 

Shri Sanjay Anant Patil (59), an innovative farmer from Goa has been conferred with the coveted Padma Shri 2024 by the Government of India for his outstanding contributions to Natural Farming and zero-energy micro-irrigation system. Shri Sanjay Patil is a green revolutionary, known to many as the ‘one-man-army’ because he single-handedly transformed a barren plot of land measuring ten acres, into a lush green natural farm (Kulaghar) with technical guidance from ICAR-CCARI, Goa. Even though he has had a formal school education up to the 11th class he possesses the knowledge and skills of a top engineer when it comes to water conservation and natural farming practices using Jeevamrut produced from Indian breed cow dung and he is an inspiration to small farmers in the state of Goa and also in the country. A team constituted by the Director, ICAR-CCARI, Goa visited the farmer, documented his technologies through good quality photographs, and prepared the application for the nomination of Padma Awards 2024 and subsequently nominated through the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa. Shri Sanjay Patil profusely expressed his gratitude to the Director, ICAR-CCARI, Goa and his team for recognizing his hard work and innovation.