Professor Prem Lal Gautam, an agricultural scientist from Kandyana village in Barthin area of Bilaspur, will be honored with the prestigious Padma Shri award. The central government has announced this honor for his decades-long innovative and remarkable contribution in the field of agricultural science.
The 78-year-old Prof Gautam has played a significant role in the development of new crop varieties, agricultural research, education and institutional building. His research work has directly benefited farmers across the country. Prof Gautam gave new direction to agricultural research while serving at important positions at Pantnagar Agricultural University, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, ICAR and several national level posts. Currently, he is the Chancellor of Central Agriculture University, Pusa, located in Samastipur, Bihar.
Prof Gautam from Kandyana village in Bilaspur has played a crucial role in making the country self-reliant in the field of agricultural science and increasing farmers’ income. This honor is being given to him for historic work such as agricultural research, advanced seed development, biodiversity conservation and strengthening agricultural institutions.
During his tenure at Pantnagar Agricultural University, Prof Gautam contributed to the development of several crop varieties that had higher yield, better disease resistance capacity and greater adaptability to various climatic conditions. Lakhs of farmers across the country received direct economic benefit by adopting these varieties.
Prof Gautam did not limit agriculture to just research papers but took modern agricultural techniques directly to farmers’ fields. He put scientific farming into practice through training programs, field demonstrations and extension schemes. During the operation of Shanichowri Research Station in Garhwal region, he developed crop cycles and techniques suited to the needs of hilly and remote areas, which strengthened the livelihood of hill farmers.
As Director of ICAR’s National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, he led the conservation of rare and endangered crop species. His efforts strengthened the country’s biodiversity and future food security. While serving as Dean at Agriculture University Solan, Vice Chancellor at Pantnagar University and National Director at ICAR, he made extensive reforms in education, research and extension systems and accelerated several national level schemes.
In his long academic life, he guided hundreds of agricultural scientists and researchers who are today playing important roles in the country’s agricultural policy and research system. There is a wave of pride and happiness in Kandyana including his ancestral area and Himachal Pradesh as Prof Prem Lal Gautam, currently serving as Chancellor of Central Agriculture University, Pusa (Samastipur, Bihar), receives the Padma Shri.
