New Delhi: Hariman Sharma, a visionary farmer from Himachal Pradesh, has been honoured with the Padma Shri, India’s highest civilian award, for his transformative contribution to agriculture. He developed HRMN-99, an innovative self-pollinating apple variety that has revolutionised apple farming in India, making it more accessible in terms of geography and affordability.
Unlike traditional apple varieties that require temperate climates, HRMN-99 thrives in tropical, sub-tropical, and plain regions with summer temperatures reaching 40-45°C, enabling apple cultivation in areas where it was once considered unfeasible.
Orphaned in childhood, Hariman’s journey from his village, Paniala in Bilaspur (HP), to receiving the Padma Shri is inspirational for farmers, students, and horticulturists. Despite limited formal education, he pursued his passion for farming and pomology. His work began in 1998 when he planted seeds from discarded apples in his backyard. In 2001, the first fruit-bearing tree appeared, thriving in the warm climate of Paniala at 1,800 feet. Over the years, he refined the variety through grafting and experiments, though it initially received little attention.
In 2012, the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) recognised his work and supported the variety’s validation, including molecular studies, fruit testing, and multi-location trials in collaboration with ICAR, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and farmers. The variety has since expanded to 29 states and UTs, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and New Delhi, with over one lakh saplings planted in North Eastern states, providing additional income to farmers.
Hariman Sharma has received numerous accolades, including the National Innovative Farmer Award (2016), the IARI Fellow Award (2017), and the National Best Farmer Award (2018). The HRMN-99 apple variety, with its striped red-over-yellow skin, juicy pulp, and high yield, has empowered thousands of farmers. His innovation has made apples, once a luxury, accessible to many, contributing to sustainable livelihoods and better nutrition in India. The Padma Shri Award honours his remarkable contribution to Indian agriculture.