New Delhi: Two Indian entities have been awarded the prestigious 2024 Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity for their pioneering work in sustainable agriculture, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation announced on Friday. The Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme and Dr Rattan Lal, a renowned soil scientist of Indian origin, share the 1 million euro prize with an Egyptian organization, the Portuguese philanthropic institution said in a statement. APCNF, implemented by Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS), is recognized as the world’s largest agro-ecology programme, benefiting over a million smallholder farmers across 5,00,000 hectares in Andhra Pradesh.
Vijay Kumar Thallam, Executive Vice Chairman of RySS, told PTI, “The APCNF programme empowers small farmers by enabling them to switch to natural farming methods. It has immense benefits to both farmers and the soil they rely on.” The programme supports farmers in transitioning from chemically intensive agriculture to ‘natural farming’ methods, including organic residue use and crop diversification.
Dr Rattan Lal, honoured for his soil-centric approach to agriculture, said, “Soil health and sustainable agriculture are crucial to resolve the challenges of food security and fight climate change across the world.” The jury, chaired by former Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, selected the winners from 181 nominations spanning 117 nationalities. APCNF aims to reach all eight million farmer households in .
