Gujarat has been honored with the ‘Agriculture Leadership Award 2026’ for its outstanding performance in the horticulture sector at the 17th Agriculture Leadership Conclave in New Delhi. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presented the award in the presence of Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde. Gujarat Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani accepted the award on behalf of the state government.
The Agriculture Leadership Awards were established in 2008 by the Agriculture Today Group on the advice of renowned agricultural scientist Dr. M. S. Swaminathan. These awards aim to foster discussions among policymakers, agricultural scientists, and farmers. The evaluation of the awards is conducted by a jury led by former Chief Justice of India Justice P. Sathasivam.
Vaghani expressed gratitude for the recognition, attributing it to Gujarat’s efforts and innovations in the horticulture sector. He emphasized that the award reflects not only the government’s work but also the dedication of Gujarat’s hardworking farmers and the Agriculture Department team. Gujarat had previously received the Agriculture Leadership Award as the “Best Agriculture State” in 2009 and 2014 under the leadership of the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
The state’s agricultural growth rate of 9.9% during the ‘Tenth Five-Year Plan’ was credited to initiatives like Krishi Mahotsav, Soil Health Cards, and drip irrigation introduced during that period. Gujarat was also acknowledged as the “Best Agriculture State” in 2018 and received an Agriculture Leadership Award in 2019 for its performance in the animal husbandry sector. This recent accolade marks Gujarat’s first Agriculture Leadership Award for horticulture in seven years.
Senior dignitaries at the ceremony, including Rajnath Singh, Rajasthan Governor, Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, and former Chief Justice of India Justice P. Sathasivam, commended Gujarat’s agricultural policies and congratulated the state government and farmers on this achievement.
