Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming Wins Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity 2024
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Name | Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) |
| Award Received | Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity 2024 |
| Prize Amount | EUR1 million (shared with Dr. Rattan Lal and SEKEM) |
| Announcement Date | July 11th, 2024 |
| Announced By | Dr. Angela Merkel, Chair of the Jury and former Federal Chancellor of Germany |
| Location of Ceremony | Lisbon, Portugal |
| Attendees | President of Portugal, government officials, global experts |
| Program Launched | 2016 |
| Implementing Body | Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS) / Farmers Empowerment Corporation |
| Program Scope | World's largest agroecology program |
| Practicing Farmers | Over 1 million |
| Area Covered | 500,000 hectares in Andhra Pradesh |
| Key Practices | Organic residues, minimized tillage, indigenous seeds, crop diversification |
| Primary Beneficiaries | Smallholder farmers, predominantly women |
| Environmental Benefits | Soil carbon sequestration, reversing land degradation, reducing soil temperatures, biodiversity |
| Social Benefits | Reduced costs, stable yields, improved incomes, health benefits |
| Nominations Received | 181 (highest number ever) |
| Focus of 2024 Prize | Interconnected climate-related challenges leading to systemic crises |