Categories: Culture

Karnataka’s ‘tamarind maniac’ awarded Padma Shiri in grassroots innovator category

<p>
Abdul Khader Nadakattin, a serial grassroots innovator from Dharwad, Karnataka, is amongst the 107 Padma Shri awardees announced for the year 2022, according to information provided by the Ministry of Science and Technology.</p>
<p>
Owing to his portfolio of innovations related to tamarind, people started calling him "hunase huccha", which means tamarind maniac. It started with his success in growing tamarind with scarce but alkaline water and further graduated with experiments like the technique for harvesting tamarind from the tree and also the highly accepted machine to separate tamarind seeds. This inspired him to develop a machine for slicing tamarind. In furtherance of success with tamarind, he came up with innovations to address agriculture operations like deep ploughing, sowing of seeds, and also fuel-efficient water heating boiler.</p>
<p>
His prominent innovations include a device to separate tamarind seeds, ploughing blade manufacturing machine, Seed cum fertilizer drill, Water-heating boiler, an Automatic sugarcane sowing driller, and a wheel tiller. All his innovations demonstrate principles of sustainability, cost-effectiveness, eco-friendliness, and most importantly a social acceptance. His in-depth knowledge of agro-climatic conditions and soil characteristics has made him an inspiration to other farmers in the country, a statement issued by the ministry said. </p>
<p>
Supported by the Centre’s National Innovation Foundation (NIF) –Nadakattin was conferred with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 during NIF’s 8th National Grassroots Innovation and Outstanding Traditional Knowledge Awards by the then President of India Pranab Mukherjee. True to his grassroots spirit and as a mark of respect for the award, he chose to walk barefoot and hence came to be known as the country’s “barefoot scientist”.</p>
<p>
<strong>Also read:</strong> <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/culture-news/karnataka-farmer-who-dug-tunnels-to-tap-water-in-novel-way-to-create-lush-green-farm-gets-padma-shri-145824.html"> Karnataka farmer who dug tunnels to tap water in novel way to create lush green farm gets Padma Shri</a></p>

IN Bureau

Recent Posts

“Directly a message to the Chinese government,” say Dalai Lama’s followers after he leaves succession choice to Gaden Trust

Follower of the Dalai Lama expressed their elation at his statement that Gaden Phodrang Trust…

15 hours ago

Remain concerned about situation in East China Sea, South China Sea: Quad Foreign Ministers

The Foreign ministers of the Quad nations met in Washington, DC, on July 1 to…

22 hours ago

Buddhist Nechung’s oracle comes in form to bless Tibetan government in-exile ahead of Dalai Lama’s birthday

Ahead of the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday celebration, the Tibetan Buddhist oracle, Nechung, comes in…

22 hours ago

Union Cabinet approves National Sports Policy 2025, says it will establish India as “formidable force in global sports”

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the National Sports…

2 days ago

Electricity and internet crisis disrupts life in PoJK’s Muzaffarabad

Residents of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) are grappling with ongoing disruptions in…

2 days ago

Pakistan: Karachi’s water crisis deepens as power outage halts key pumping station

Residents across Pakistan's Karachi continue to grapple with a worsening water shortage, as electricity supply…

2 days ago