Government mulling instituting Deendayal Upadhyaya award for farmers

NEW DELHI: The government is mulling over instituting an award in the name of Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya to recognise the contribution of small and marginal farmers in agriculture

Currently, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) gives away ' Krishi Karman Awards' to state governments and progressive farmers -- both big and small farmers -- for their excellence in agriculture sector.

"More than 80 per cent of India's farmers are small and marginal. So, the Agriculture Ministry is thinking if an award in the name of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya can be instituted to recognise the contribution of small and marginal farmers," a government official told PTI.

Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh had also discussed this issue in the recent internal-meeting with senior officers and asked ICAR to examine it, the official added.

Upadhyay was one of the founding members of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the forerunner of the BJP.