“The one who saved the seeds will save the future”
📍 Village: Mandrol, District Mandi, Himachal Pradesh
👨🌾 Farmer: Nek Ram Sharma
🏅 Award: Padma Shri, 2023
🌾 Specialty: Keeper of Desi Seeds, More than 124 Varieties
🤝 Service: Distributed Desi seeds to more than 10,000 farmers for free so far
🌱 1. Love for seeds since childhood
Nek Ram Sharma was born in Mandrol village of Mandi district. His father and grandfather were also farmers. In his childhood, when he used to go to the fields with his father, the variety, color and fragrance of the seeds used to mesmerize him.
He says:
“I used to feel that every seed is a story — of life, of nature, of struggle.”
Gradually, he realized that our indigenous seeds are disappearing, and chemical and hybrid seeds are taking their place.
🚫 2. Crisis – Ending existence of seeds
In the 1990s, when the whole country was moving towards agricultural revolution and chemical farming, farmers in the villages of Himachal were also getting attracted towards hybrid seeds. Due to this:
Traditional crops started disappearing
Soil fertility started decreasing
Diseases and expenses started increasing
Farmers’ self-reliance started ending
Seeing all this, Nek Ram Sharma decided – “I will not let the seeds die.”
🌾 3. Collection of seeds – Starting with a seed
He first started with the red paddy variety grown in his field. Then he started searching for indigenous seeds by talking to villages, fairs, and old farmers one by one.
The result of his hard work:
124+ varieties of Desi seeds
Cereals, pulses, vegetables, beans, herbs
Like: Red rice, black wheat, millet, Kulth, Mandua, Cholai, Masoor, Lobia, Parwal, Gahath, Kabuli Chana etc.
🛍️ 4. Seed distribution – another name for service
Nek Ram ji did not limit the seeds to himself. He started distributing them for free. So far:
Has distributed Desi seeds for free to more than 10,000 farmers
Participates in farmer fairs, seminars, and training camps
Has sent seeds to Himachal, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Rajasthan
Established a Seed Bank, where farmers can take seeds and give their own
🌿 5. Farming method – organic, traditional and natural
Nek Ram Sharma ji’s farming is 100% organic. He follows the following methods:
Manure made from cow dung and cow urine of Desi cows
Natural pesticides made from neem, basil, garlic
Crop rotation and mixed farming
No tractor, no chemicals – only plough and bullocks
“Agriculture is not just about growing food, it is about maintaining a relationship with the land.”
💸 6. Income and Benefits
Their farming is low cost because:
Seeds are their own
Make fertilizers and pesticides themselves
No chemicals or hybrid seeds
Income:
Demand for organic grains has increased in the market
One kg of Desi rice sells for ₹80 to ₹120
Black wheat, red rice, millet — all have premium rates
🧬 7. Boon for health
Desi grains are not only better in taste but are also beneficial for the body:
Crop Health Benefits
Black wheat Diabetes control, antioxidants
Kultha Joint pain, relief in kidney stones
Ragi/Mandua Rich in calcium, strengthens bones
Red rice Beneficial in blood pressure, heart disease
🏆 8. Padma Shri Award – The country saluted
In 2023, the Government of India honored him with “Padma Shri”.
This honor was given to him for his lifelong sacrifice, hard work and seed conservation.
❝ For me, this honour is not just mine, it is for every farmer of the country who is sowing indigenous seeds. ❞ – Nek Ram Sharma
🌍 9. Nek Ram Ji’s message – for the farmers of the world
“Seed is not just a business, it is a tradition. Saving it is a religion.”
“A farmer who does not save seeds, sows slavery for the future.”
📌 Conclusion:
The story of Nek Ram Sharma teaches us that:
✅ Farming is not just production, it is a tradition
✅ There is real power in indigenous seeds
✅ If farmers unite, a revolution can happen
✅ Environment, soil, farmers and health – the only way to save all four is indigenous farming
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