Shri Hariman Sharma, a pioneering farmer from Himachal Pradesh, has been honored with the Padma Shri award for his remarkable contributions to Indian agriculture. He developed an innovative, self-pollinating, low-chilling apple variety called HRMN-99, which has transformed apple cultivation in India by making a nutritious and juicy variety more accessible geographically and economically.
Unlike traditional apple varieties that require temperate climates and long chilling hours, HRMN-99 thrives in tropical, sub-tropical, and plains regions with summer temperatures reaching 40-45°C. This breakthrough has made apple farming possible in areas that were previously deemed unsuitable.
Hariman Sharma’s journey from being orphaned as a child to receiving the Padma Shri at Rashtrapati Bhavan is nothing short of inspirational. Hailing from the remote village of Paniala in Bilaspur (HP), his perseverance and passion for farming led him to complete his education up to the matriculation level and pursue his interest in pomology.
In 1998, Hariman Sharma began his journey by planting seeds from discarded apples in his backyard. One of these seeds sprouted the following year, and by 2001, the plant bore fruit despite the warm climate of Paniala, situated at an elevation of 1,800 feet. Recognizing the potential, he nurtured the plant and propagated it through grafting, eventually creating a thriving apple orchard. Over the next decade, he expanded his orchards by experimenting with different scions and grafting techniques, refining his apple variety. Though his efforts initially went unnoticed by both the farming community and the scientific world, his breakthrough has since proven revolutionary.
In 2012, the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India, an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, recognized this innovation. NIF confirmed the uniqueness of the HRMN-99 apple variety and supported its validation through molecular studies, fruit quality testing, and multi-location trials. These efforts were carried out in collaboration with ICAR institutions, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), agricultural universities, state agriculture departments, farmers, and volunteers across India. As a result, the variety spread to 29 states and Union Territories, including Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Karnataka, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Pondicherry, Himachal Pradesh, and even planted at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. NIF also helped secure the registration of the variety with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority in New Delhi.
For his contribution, Shri Hariman Sharma was awarded the National Award in 2017 during the 9th National Biennial Grassroots Innovation and Outstanding Traditional Knowledge Awards by the then President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee. He has also received several accolades, including the National Innovative Farmer Award (2016) from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, GoI, IARI Fellow Award (2017), Kisan Vaigyanik Upadhi by DDG, ICAR (2017), National Best Farmer Award (2018), Rashtriya Krishak Samrat Samman (2018), Jagjivan Ram Krishi Abhinav Award (2019), and various state and central government honors. Additionally, he represented India at the 4th ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation Forum (AIGIF) in Malaysia in November 2023.
The HRMN-99 apple variety, known for its striped red-over-yellow skin, juicy pulp, and ability to yield up to 75 kg of fruit per plant annually, has benefited thousands of farmers across the country. NIF further supported the commercial adoption of this variety by establishing apple orchards and providing training in collaboration with State Agriculture Departments and the North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCORMP) under the Ministry of DoNER, Government of India. This initiative led to the planting of over one lakh saplings in the North Eastern states, providing an additional source of income for farmers.
Shri Hariman Sharma’s remarkable innovation has revolutionized apple farming in India, benefiting countless farmers by providing them with increased income and improved access to nutrition. His efforts have made apples, once regarded as a luxury for the wealthy, accessible to the common man. The Padma Shri Award, recognizing his contributions, highlights the transformative impact of grassroots innovations in tackling national challenges and fostering sustainable livelihoods, in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
