In the Punjab--an outstanding farmer revisited

摘要

On 5 June 1985, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) honored 14 exceptional farmers in 10 Asian nations—truly pioneers in their own rite—by inviting them to the Philippines to participate in a special multilevel symposium that brought together outstanding scientists, farmers, and political leaders—all part oflRRl's 25th anniversary celebration. As IRRI approaches its 50th anniversary in 2010, we are trying to locate these same farmers 25 years later to find out their progress and get some updates. The first one we found is SardarJagjit Singh Hara who farms in Punjab, the breadbasket state of India. In November2008, departing Rice Today editor Adam Barclay and I visited him on his farm about 12 km outside ofLudhiana. He was billed as aprogressive Punjabi seed farmer 25 years ago. Since his recognition then, Mr. Hara has often been visited by agricultural researchers and leaders who have come to see and evaluate his farming practices. Perhaps the most dramatic visit was the simultaneous appearance of a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and a future World Food Prize Laureate on the same day.