IFFCO, the largest cooperative of farmers in the world, created sort of hungama (tumult) at the 53rd Annual Seminar of FAI on Tuesday by announcing two awards whose total value stood at Rs 50 lakh.
The Awards are named “ the U.S. Awasthi IFFCO Award for Life Time Achievement in the Field of Fertilizer Industry” and “the U.S. Awasthi IFFCO Award” for Life Time Achievement in the Field of Agriculture Development and Agriculture Research”.
These Awards are being considered on a par with the cine world’s Dada Saheb Phalke Award in the field of fertilizer industry. “It is equivalent to the Phalke Award” said Jitendra Tiwary, IFFCO official capturing the mood aptly.
Announcing the Awards DG of FAI Satish Chandra said “The value of each Award is INR 2.5 million plus a Gold
Medallion and Citation.”
The notable winner for this year’s “ the U.S. Awasthi IFFCO Award” for Life Time Achievement in the Field of Fertilizer Industry was Pratap Narayan – a versatile professional who has dedicated his life to the growth of the fertilizer sector.
The next award ”the U.S. Awasthi IFFCO Award” for Life Time Achievement in the Field of Agriculture Development and Agriculture Research was bagged by Dr R S Paroda- Director General of ICAR and a formidable scientist.
The two names announced on Tuesday that of Tej Pratap and Dr R S Paroda are so formidable that it evoked a positive response not only from amongst the audience but also from the Minister Anant Kumar.
They have made extraordinary contributions in their chosen fields of work in fertilisers
and agriculture, said Satish Chandra. The winners of the Awards were decided by a jury of eminent persons, he added.
Basking in the glory of the moment, an enthusiastic IFFCO MD, whose name figures along with IFFCO, said to this correspondent” You know what we do is to do well without fear and favour to anyone. ”He was obliquely referring to the prize amount of Rs 2.5 million which was unheard of so far not only in fertilizer or agriculture sectors but elsewhere as well.
I salute the concept of instituting the award and wish to see the awardees equally eminent in future years as well.