Raghupat Singh — The Farming Sage of India Honoured with Padma Shri (Posthumous)
Raghupat Singh, a name that may not have been widely known beyond agricultural circles before 2026, has emerged as a symbol of sustainable farming, biodiversity conservation and grassroots innovation. In a rare honour for a farmer, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri posthumously during the 2026 Republic Day awards — one of the nation’s highest civilian accolades. His life and legacy embody the spirit of India’s rural backbone and the enduring power of agricultural wisdom grounded in nature.
Singh was born and raised in Samathal village within the bilari tehsil of Moradabad district in Uttar Pradesh. From humble beginnings, within a region better known for smallholder farms than scientific research institutions, he spent a remarkable six decades devoted to agriculture and seed conservation. His efforts were not confined to raising crops for economic gain — rather they centred on preserving the genetic diversity that once flourished across Indian farmlands but had severely declined under the tide of modern high-input agriculture.
This loss of biodiversity was happening in the decades following the Green Revolution, when high-yielding hybrid seeds and chemical inputs became widespread. While these technologies boosted crop output, they also led to the displacement of numerous traditional varieties that were deeply adapted to local agro-ecological conditions. Singh recognised this early on and embarked on a mission to reverse it.
Singh was affectionately known among his peers as “Krishi Pandit” — the farming sage. Unlike formal scientists working in laboratories, his laboratory was the earth itself: his fields, seed stores and networks of farmers across the region. Over the years, he succeeded in reviving more than 55 vegetable varieties that had nearly disappeared, rescuing them from the brink of oblivion. These included heirloom strains of bottle gourd, brinjal (eggplant), lady’s finger (okra), and other culturally significant vegetables that formed essential components of regional diets.
One of Singh’s most celebrated achievements was the development of nearly 100 crop varieties, many of which combined resilience, quality and yield in a way that made them practical for local farmers to adopt. Among these, a variant of bottle gourd that grew to an extraordinary size — over 1.5 metres — captured public imagination and highlighted how traditional breeding methods could yield results that were both remarkable and rooted in farmer knowledge.
What made Singh’s approach noteworthy was not simply the scale of his work, but its philosophical foundation. He believed in farming that worked with nature rather than against it. His methods prioritised seed saving, crop diversification, soil health and reduced dependence on synthetic inputs. In an era when industrial agriculture often encourages monocultures and chemical fertilisers, Singh’s work demonstrated that farmers could achieve sustainability and productivity simultaneously by activating the wisdom embedded in local crops and climates.
Singh’s impact extended far beyond his own fields. Over the decades, he became a mentor and teacher to nearly three lakh farmers across Uttar Pradesh and beyond. Through workshops, field visits, and informal exchanges, he shared his insights on resilient farming systems, natural pest control, and seed storage. For countless farmers, especially those with limited resources, his teachings offered an alternative path — one that reduced reliance on expensive inputs and enhanced long-term soil fertility and food security.
Importantly, Singh’s work bridged the gap between traditional agricultural knowledge and scientific principles. While he was not schooled in formal research institutions, agricultural scientists and policymakers began to recognise his contributions as akin to grassroots research with real-world applicability. His work showed that farmer-led experimentation, when documented and shared widely, can complement formal science and inform sustainable policy frameworks.
The announcement of his Padma Shri award in January 2026 sparked national conversation about the value and dignity of agriculture in Indian society. The award, conferred posthumously since Singh passed away in July 2025 at the age of 85, sent a strong message: that the custodians of the earth — farmers who preserve and enhance biodiversity — are vital architects of India’s present and future.
For Singh’s family, the recognition was a moment of profound pride and fulfilment. They described how he had not only revived extinct seeds but also inspired his children and community to continue his work. His legacy lives on through those he taught and through the seeds that continue to flourish in fields across the region.
The story of Raghupat Singh is significant not only for agricultural circles, but for anyone concerned with food security, climate resilience and rural livelihoods. In a world grappling with environmental stressors and the vulnerabilities of industrialised farming, his life offers lessons in balance, patience, and innovation rooted in tradition. His seed preservation work helped strengthen biodiversity — an ingredient of ecological stability — and enhanced the nutritional and economic diversity of rural diets.
Critically, Singh’s example underscores the power of local action with global resonance. When farmers nurture their land with respect for ecological cycles and genetic diversity, they contribute to a wider agricultural heritage vital for adaptability in the face of climate change. The crops Singh revived are not just plants — they are living legacies of cultural heritage, adaptive intelligence and sustainable practice.
The posthumous honour also highlights the broader recognition of farmers as innovators and changemakers. In celebrating Singh, India acknowledged countless other smallholders whose daily efforts sustain communities and ecosystems. Standing at a time when discussions about food systems are increasingly pressing, Singh’s life reinforces a simple yet profound truth: the future of agriculture depends on honoring both science and tradition, and on recognizing the farmer as both practitioner and pioneer.
In awarding the Padma Shri to Raghupat Singh, India paid tribute not merely to an individual but to an ethos — one that values biodiversity, stewardship of seeds, and the nourishing relationships between land and people. His legacy will continue to inspire farmers and citizens alike, reminding us that sustainable progress grows not in laboratories alone, but in the fields where seeds find soil, and wisdom meets patience.
Comments are closed.