Feted by the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi for low-tunnel vegetable and mushroom cultivation in 2013-14, progressive farmer Karnail Singh from Ghatia Wali Bodla village in Fazilka district will Monday receive the prestigious “Innovative Farmer Award” by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), commonly known as Pusa Institute.Singh is the only farmer from Punjab to be honoured with this prestigious award, following a recommendation by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Fazilka-Abohar.Also Read | Technique, timetable, training: How Punjab’s farmers are earning millions from cabbage, cauliflowerApart from following innovative farming techniques, Singh is on a mission to guide village boys and girls to study and take up agriculture. In his own village, 17 boys have done BSc (agriculture).“I have studied up to class 12 but I guide youngsters to pursue BSc (agriculture). They can use that education in the fields or they can get good jobs in the field of agriculture. One of my nephews is now professor at Punjab Agricultural University after doing PhD and another is in second year of BSc. Unless and until we do not upgrade our knowledge, we can’t make agriculture profitable. Doing farming is also a science. Therefore, farmers need to use that knowledge while doing farming,” he said.Innovation and contributions in agricultureSingh lives in a joint family of five brothers. They together own 22 acre land in the village which has underground waterlogging. He does paddy farming on that land but doesn’t burn stubble. He said,”I get canola mustard farming done from farmers on six-acre land in other villages which don’t have this problem and buy seeds from Krishi Vigyan Kendra as well. I extract mustard oil in Fazilka itself and sell that oil under the brand name of ‘Punjab Oil’. I have a retail outlet in Ludhiana on Chandigarh road and sell the product in Kisan melas or other farm exhibitions as well. In 2013-14, I had got award from the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi for low-tunnel vegetable and mushroom cultivation in which I was one among 542 farmers of India. However, due to increasing underground waterlogging problem in our area, now low-tunnel farming area has been reduced.”He said, “Half of the paddy stubble was mulched within the fields and another half was given to dairy farmers or goushalas as cattle feed.”Story continues below this adIn addition to traditional farming, he has made contributions to fish farming as he has a fish pond as well, said Dr Arvind Ahlawat, head of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Fazilka.Also Read | What my husband earns in Canada, I match right from integrated farming in Punjab: Amandeep Kaur DhaliwalActively involved in farmer awareness programs, Singh has educated over 700 farmers on modern agricultural techniques. Singh said, “I am so busy in farming that I have no time to go to dharnas. I eat whatever I grow — fruits, vegetables, spices, wheat and rice. So, I believe in self-sustaining farming and later marketing it outside. I am doing everything myself and I feel that education helps a lot in upgrading knowledge to increase income in agriculture.”Singh is growing wheat, paddy, seasonal vegetables, fruits while getting mustard farming done on contract.A leader and motivator for farmersSingh played a key role in establishing the “KVK CIPHET Farmers’ Club at Fazilka, where he educates farmers about new agricultural technologies, organic farming, water conservation, and the use of high-yield seeds. Under his guidance, numerous farmers have adopted advanced techniques, leading to increased agricultural productivity and income, said Dr Ahlawat. He congratulated Singh on being selected for the Innovative Farmer Award. A total of 34 farmers from the country will be honoured at this event, with Singh being the sole recipient from Punjab, Ahlawat added.