Chhattisgarh’s Lekesh Bai Shines: Wins National ‘Best Farmer Award 2025
Raipur : In a proud moment for Chhattisgarh, Mrs. Lekesh Jain, popularly known as Lekesh Bai, a progressive woman farmer from Thanabodi village in Uttar Bastar Kanker district, was conferred with the prestigious Best Farmer Award 2025 during the Golden Jubilee Foundation Day celebrations of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM) at the Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Auditorium, Hyderabad.
Nominated by the ICAR – National Institute of Biotic Stress Management (NIBSM), Raipur, Mrs. Lekesh Bai was honoured for her remarkable achievement in transforming 17 acres of land into a thriving integrated farming system. Her model combines vegetable cultivation, dairy, goat rearing, fish–duck ponds, and fodder production, generating an annual income exceeding ₹10 lakh. This success story, developed with the support of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kanker, under Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV), has emerged as a beacon of hope and inspiration for tribal farmers in the region.
The award ceremony witnessed the presence of distinguished dignitaries. Chief Guest Dr. Gurbachan Singh, Former Chairman of the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB), New Delhi, lauded her efforts. The Guests of Honour included Dr. Govindarajulu Chintala, Former Chairman of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Chairman of the Research Advisory Committee (RAC), ICAR-NAARM; Prof. M. Gnana Prakash, Vice Chancellor of P.V. Narasimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University; and Dr. Seema Jaggi, Assistant Director General (Human Resource Development), ICAR, New Delhi. The function was presided over by Dr. Gopal Lal, Acting Director, ICAR-NAARM. The initiative highlighting Mrs. Lekesh Bai’s success has been supported and documented under the ICAR–National Agricultural Science Fund (NASF) project in Chhattisgarh, led by Dr. Pramod Kumar Rai, Director, ICAR-NIBSM, with Dr. P. Mooventhan serving as Co-Principal Investigator (CCPI). This recognition marks yet another milestone in Mrs. Lekesh Bai’s journey. Earlier, in 2018, she was awarded the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Antyodaya Krishi Puraskar by the Government of India. Her consistent achievements reaffirm her role as a symbol of innovation, resilience, and sustainable agriculture, setting an inspiring benchmark for the farming community across the nation.
