The Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSKHPKV) in Palampur has celebrated a significant national honour bestowed upon the Hattee Kisan Sangh of Sirmaur district. The community has been awarded the prestigious Plant Genome Saviour Community Award by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA), an autonomous body under the Government of India. This award specifically recognizes outstanding community-level contributions to the vital work of conserving plant seeds and indigenous crop varieties.
Community’s Conservation Efforts Recognized
Dr Janardan Singh, Director of Extension Education at CSKHPKV, extended congratulations to the Hattee Kisan Sangh, the farmers of Sirmaur district, and all individuals associated with this achievement. He lauded their persistent efforts in preserving traditional agricultural heritage through the conservation of indigenous crop varieties. The national recognition, he stated, represents a moment of considerable pride for Himachal Pradesh. Dr Singh also acknowledged the instrumental role played by agricultural scientists and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) personnel in motivating farmers to actively engage in biodiversity conservation initiatives.
The award ceremony took place in New Delhi on November 12, 2026. The Hattee Kisan Sangh was among a select group of only five farming communities across India to receive this distinction. The award includes a significant cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, accompanied by a certificate and a memento acknowledging their accomplishment. This recognition is a culmination of efforts that began earlier, with the community having secured a registration certificate in August 2025 for their traditional Hattee Dry Ginger, locally known as Hattee Saunth. Following this, an application for the national award was formally submitted in October 2025. A high-level assessment committee dispatched from New Delhi undertook a visit to Sirmaur to thoroughly evaluate the community’s seed conservation practices before the final selection was made.
Future Endeavours and Support for Farmers
The success is attributed to the coordinated efforts involving multiple stakeholders. Key individuals from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in Sirmaur, including Programme Coordinator Dr Pankaj Mittal, alongside scientists from the university headquarters—Dr Desh Raj Chaudhary, Dr Ravinder Kumar, Dr Nimit Kumar, and Dr Saurabh Sharma—played a crucial role in providing technical support and facilitating the process. Their collective expertise and dedication were instrumental in securing this esteemed national recognition.
Looking ahead, Dr Pankaj Mittal indicated plans to pursue a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Hattee Saunth. This initiative aims to further protect and promote the unique agricultural product. Efforts will also be directed towards facilitating the registration of other indigenous seed and plant varieties that have been conserved by farmers within the district. Dr Mittal also drew attention to the financial incentives available for eligible individual farmers through government schemes. These include the Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Reward, which offers a cash prize of Rs 1.5 lakh, and the Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Recognition Award, carrying an award of Rs 1 lakh.
The national accolade serves to underscore the rich agricultural heritage inherent to the Hattee community. It also highlights the sustained dedication of local farmers, the KVK in Sirmaur, and university scientists in their mission to conserve traditional crop varieties and safeguard agricultural biodiversity. This achievement further reinforces the university’s commitment to bolstering farmer-led conservation efforts and ensuring the preservation of indigenous agricultural resources for future generations.
The Chenab Times News Desk
