: Andhra Pradesh got a rare recognition as an international platform. For this year, the prestigious ‘Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity’ has been awarded to the AP Federation of Nature Agriculture. APCNF along with a scientist and another organization got this award.

T.Vijaykumar, executive vice-chairman of Rythu Samadhikar Sanstha, and female farmer Nagendramma Nettam received this award at the awards ceremony held in Lisbon, Portugal. Ratanlal, an American scientist of Indian origin, and Sechem, a charity organization from Egypt, were also awarded. A cash prize of one million Euros will be distributed equally among the three winners under this award. APCNF won this award after competing with 181 nominations from 117 countries.

In 2016, the Government of Andhra Pradesh launched the APCNF programme. Due to this, Rythu Sadhikar Sanstha (RySS) is working to make small farmers shift from chemical-based agriculture to natural methods. It promotes use of organic manures, reintroduction of indigenous seeds, crop diversification and soil fertility conservation. This organization is cultivating nature in 5 lakh hectares with lakhs of farmers, especially women farmers across the state.

Gulbenkian Foundation was established in 2020. Since then, these awards are presented annually to individuals and organizations who are working to solve problems such as environmental changes and biodiversity loss, which are becoming a threat to humanity.