NK Kurian and Anita Mathew Vallikkappen, two progressive farmers of ICAR-CCARI, Goa, have been conferred with the coveted IARI–Innovative Farmer Award for the Year 2024 by ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, for their outstanding contributions to the development of agro-eco-tourism and fish-based integrated farming systems.
NK Kurian, MD of Mango Meadows received the award for agro-eco-tourism and biodiversity conservation. Kurian created a unique agricultural theme park “Mango Meadows” on 30-acre of land conserving 4 lakh trees with 4,800 plants. Besides, he has also conserved 64 fish and several species of livestock. This unit is World’s largest agricultural theme park as per Limca Book of Records. The Park employs more than 300 people and exhibits the biodiversity heritage and traditional knowledge of the country and make children aware of where their food comes from. It was evident that his goal of conserving and protecting rare varieties and species has succeeded as many scientists and research students visit the park to study the rare and wide range of plant and animal species conserved.
Anita Mathew received the award for the development of novel fish-livestock-horticulture based integrated farming system. She serves as a role model for young entrepreneurs and has motivated numerous women and students in the Goa state to embrace a climate-resilient integrated fish farming system. Many entrepreneurs were encouraged and started profitable climate-resilient businesses after seeing her success in fisheries, piggery, cattle, poultry, composting, organic pineapple, and papaya farming. Her environmentally conscious farming welcomed money, social welfare and environmental benefits.
A team constituted by Dr Parveen Kumar, Director, ICAR-CCARI, Goa documented their technologies through good quality photographs, and prepared the application for the nomination of IARI-Innovative Farmer Award 2024. NK Kurian and Anita Mathew profusely expressed their gratitude to Dr. Parveen Kumar, and his team for recognising their hard work and innovation.
