A farm as one system
Subhash Khetulal Sharma has spent more than three decades on practical experiments in natural farming. According to his official Padma citation, he was born on 13 December 1952 in Yavatmal.
After studying commerce, he made farming his field laboratory, working on methods that treat soil, water, biodiversity and livestock as one integrated system.
Furrows along the contour
One signature technique is contour farming with intercepted furrows, which holds rainwater, increases percolation and reduces runoff. He avoids chemical fertilisers, pesticides, insecticides and weedicides, and relies on mixed cropping, crop rotation and boundary tree plantations.
His citation reports outcomes such as improved soil organic carbon. These figures belong to his documented field context; they are not a universal guarantee.
A network of learners
His influence shows in how widely his knowledge has travelled. According to the citation, more than 2 lakh people, including farmers, researchers, NGO workers, KVK extension staff and agricultural experts, have taken part in his trainings, farm visits and workshops.
Agricultural universities and national conferences have studied and recognised his practices. The real scale of sustainable farming, his story suggests, is not one successful farm but a network of learners.
Sources
- Padma Awards 2025: official citation
- Padma Awards 2025: notification
- Padma Awards: official portal
- padmaawards.gov.in/Document/pdf/CitationsForTickets/2025/2025124.pdf
- padmaawards.gov.in/Document/pdf/notifications/PadmaAwards/2025.pdf
- padmaawards.gov.in/