NAAS and Dhanuka Honour India’s Leading Agricultural Extension Institutions and Scientists

June 9, 2026

09 June 2026, New Delhi: Recognizing excellence in agricultural extension and technology dissemination, the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), in partnership with Dhanuka Agritech Limited, conferred the prestigious NAAS-Dhanuka Agricultural Extension Excellence Awards 2026 during the NAAS Annual General Meeting in New Delhi.

The awards acknowledge outstanding contributions by Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs), and agricultural extension scientists who have played a pivotal role in transferring scientific innovations to farmers, promoting sustainable farming practices, and strengthening India’s agricultural extension ecosystem.

Celebrating Excellence in Agricultural Outreach

Agricultural extension remains a critical bridge between research laboratories and farmers’ fields, ensuring that scientific advancements translate into practical solutions that improve productivity, resilience, and farm incomes. The NAAS-Dhanuka Awards have emerged as one of India’s most respected recognitions for excellence in this field.

The award recipients were selected through a rigorous evaluation process conducted by a high-level committee constituted by NAAS. Assessment criteria included technology transfer, farmer outreach, innovation in extension methodologies, capacity building, adoption of scientific practices, and measurable impact on agricultural development.

Dialogue Between Science, Policy and Industry

As part of the event, Dhanuka Agritech hosted a special interaction and networking dinner on June 4 for award winners, leading agricultural scientists, senior officials of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), vice-chancellors of agricultural universities, and representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

The gathering provided a platform for discussions on innovation-led agricultural growth, sustainable farming systems, and the strengthening of collaboration among research institutions, extension agencies, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.

Regional and National Award Winners

Regional Best KVK Awards were presented to outstanding Krishi Vigyan Kendras representing different ATARI zones across the country. Award-winning centres included:

KVK Anantnag, Jammu & Kashmir (ATARI Zone I)
KVK Hisar, Haryana (ATARI Zone II)
KVK Cooch Behar, West Bengal (ATARI Zone V)
KVK Golaghat, Assam (ATARI Zone VI)
KVK Imphal West, Manipur (ATARI Zone VII)
KVK Nanded-II, Maharashtra (ATARI Zone VIII)
KVK Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh (ATARI Zone X)
KVK Hirehalli, Karnataka (ATARI Zone XI)

The National Best KVK Award was presented to KVK Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, with the award received by Dr. Pankaj Sood, Principal Scientist and Head of the centre.

The Best ATARI Award was conferred on ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata, represented by its Director, Dr. Pradeep De.

Agricultural Extension Scientists Recognized

Two distinguished scientists were honoured with the Agricultural Extension Scientist Award for their contributions to technology dissemination and farmer-centric innovation.

The awardees were Dr. Dheeraj Singh, Head of the Integrated Farming Systems Division at the ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur, and Dr. Satyapriya, Principal Scientist and Head of the Division of Agricultural Extension at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi.

Extension Professionals Drive Agricultural Transformation

Congratulating the award recipients, Dr. R.G. Agrawal, Chairman Emeritus of Dhanuka Agritech Limited, highlighted the critical role of agricultural extension in transforming scientific discoveries into field-level solutions.

“India’s agricultural strength lies not only in scientific innovation but also in the ability of institutions and extension professionals to translate knowledge into practical benefits for farmers. The awardees represent the very best of India’s agricultural extension system and have demonstrated exceptional leadership in taking innovations from laboratories to farmers’ fields,” he said.

Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Resilience

Marking World Environment Day 2026, Dr. Agrawal also emphasized the growing importance of agricultural extension professionals in advancing climate-smart agriculture, efficient resource utilization, soil health management, water conservation, and environmentally sustainable farming practices.

According to him, the future of Indian agriculture will depend on balancing productivity growth with environmental stewardship, making extension services increasingly important in helping farmers adapt to emerging challenges.

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