Chhattisgarh farmer honoured with Khubchand Baghel Krishak Ratna award for organic innovation
Baloda Bazar, 2 November – In a proud moment for rural India, farmer Vaman Tikriha of Muswadih village in Chhattisgarh’s Baloda Bazar district has been named the 2025‑26 winner of the state’s top agriculture award, the Dr Khubchand Baghel Krishak Ratna Award.
For the first time since Chhattisgarh was formed, a local farmer from this district has received the honour. The award spotlights innovators who bring fresh ideas and natural practices to farming, and Tikriha’s work is a shining example.
He has been working the soil since 1990, moving to organic methods in 2001. Over nearly 30 years, he turned modest land into a model of sustainable, profitable farming. “I focus on organic aromatic rice,” he told . “We grow varieties like Mahamaya and Swarna, plus fruits such as plums, guavas, lemons, sweet potatoes and even cranberries.”
Government grants helped him add fish ponds to his fields, earning an extra one to two lakh rupees a year. He also keeps livestock, turning animal products into steady income. These side businesses, backed by public schemes, keep his earnings stable and growing.
Tikriha’s story shows that diversification can break the risk of sole paddy farming. “If farmers grow fruit, fish, or herd animals,” he says, “they gain reliability and real growth in their livelihood.” He urges officials to send more agricultural research teams into villages, so farmers can learn the latest techniques right where they work.
When asked about the award, his wife Madhuri said, “We dreamed of nothing like this. It fills us with pride. Young people today look for jobs far away, but with modern tools and state support, agriculture can give a rewarding life right here.”
His recognition not only celebrates one farmer’s success but shines a light on Chhattisgarh’s farming community. It reminds us that even as AI and precision farming spread worldwide, human determination supported by good policies remains at the heart of agricultural progress.
For the farmers in Baloda Bazar and beyond, Vaman Tikriha’s journey is proof that hard work, innovation, and community support can turn the soil into a source of pride and prosperity.
Source: ianslive
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