Transforming Agriculture: Padma Shri Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh Boosts India’s $6 Billion Basmati Exports
Key Takeaways:
- Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh received the Padma Shri 2026 for basmati research.
- His varieties cover 2.5 million hectares and generate $6 billion exports.
- Scientific breeding at IARI transformed farmer income and grain quality.
- The achievement highlights the need to strengthen agricultural research in India.
India’s agricultural research community is celebrating a landmark achievement as Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh, a veteran plant geneticist from Uttar Pradesh, has been honoured with the Padma Shri, one of the country’s highest civilian awards, for his revolutionary contributions to basmati rice science and farmer prosperity.
Basmati rice is a well-known premium aromatic long-grain variety protected by the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in India. It thrives in the Indo-Gangetic plains across Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and parts of Jammu & Kashmir. Scientific breeding at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has transformed its cultivation through improved varieties offering higher yields, disease resistance, herbicide tolerance, and superior grain quality for global markets.
Dr. Singh’s innovations, including Pusa Basmati 1121—the world’s longest slender grain—and Pusa Basmati 1509, an early-maturing semi-dwarf variety, now cover more than 2.5 million hectares, producing about 10 million tonnes annually and driving nearly $6 billion in exports, accounting for roughly 12% of India’s agricultural foreign-exchange earnings.
Hailing from a humble peasant family in Barahat village, Ghazipur district, Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Singh rose from working in childhood fields to become the former Director of IARI and a Vice-Chancellor. Over more than three decades, he spearheaded the development of 25 high-impact basmati varieties, transforming farmer livelihoods through stable incomes and improved access to education and healthcare. His dedication to national service earned him the Padma Shri (2026) in Science & Engineering, along with major honours such as the Borlaug Award (2012), Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award (2013), and Om Prakash Bhasin Award (2017).
This milestone underscores India’s need to champion agricultural research amid climate challenges and rising food-security demands. Investment in scientific innovation sustains exports, empowers millions of farmers, and strengthens rural economies—critical priorities in a country where agriculture supports nearly 45% of the workforce.
Skymet, a farmer-friendly and agri-first weather and advisory company, proudly celebrates Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh’s achievement. The honour reflects the transformative power of dedicated scientific research and reinforces the importance of advancing cutting-edge agricultural science to drive economic growth and rural prosperity.
India’s farmers deserve the best tools science can offer, and leaders like Dr. Singh demonstrate how home-grown research can elevate millions of livelihoods while strengthening the nation’s global agricultural standing.
