Grassroots Innovators Honoured at Honey Bee Network Awards 2024 for Transformative Solutions

The highly anticipated Honey Bee Network Creativity and Inclusive Innovation Awards 2024 took place on 29th November 2024, at the India International Centre, New Delhi. This special event is an integral part of the People's Festival of Innovations (PFoI) 2024, which celebrates and recognizes creative, inclusive, and impactful innovations aimed at addressing pressing societal challenges. The awards honour innovations from and for grassroots communities that have demonstrated the potential to make a positive difference locally and beyond.

In partnership with Amazon, the Gujarat Grassroots Innovation Augmentation Network (GIAN) launched a nationwide campaign to gather innovative ideas from across India. The initiative received an overwhelming response, with 2,500 entries submitted from various regions of the country during 2023-24. After a meticulous review process, 120 ideas were shortlisted in the first round based on their creativity, feasibility, and impact. Following regional meetings and further evaluations, 33 ideas were selected. Ultimately, 15 finalists were recognized for their ingenuity and contributions during the award ceremony. The jury, headed by Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, included eminent personalities such as Prof. Bharat Bhaskar, Director of IIMA; Prof. Dhar, Director of ACIR; Dr. M.N. Patel; Prof. Udai Desai, former director of IIT-H; and faculty members from premier institutions like IIMA, IITs, IISc, as well as investors and practitioners.

The first award of Rs. 5 lakh went to Suneel Singh from Kishtwar, UT of J&K. A former soldier turned farmer, Singh developed a new variety of walnut trees that reach a height of approximately 25 feet, compared to the traditional 50 feet, thus reducing the risk of accidents during harvesting. The Suneel SI variety produces fruit in clusters, yielding more and starting from the third year, in contrast to the usual eight-year period. The soft-shelled walnuts are less prone to breakage, allowing for higher-quality whole kernels that command a premium price.

The second award of Rs. 3 lakh was given to Samirbhai Ghani, a grassroots innovator from Banaskantha, Gujarat, for developing a farmyard manure spreader. This unique spreader efficiently disperses both wet and dry manure, reducing labor and uniformly enhancing soil fertility.

The third prize of Rs. 1 lakh was awarded to Md. Ishfaq Ahmed Wani from Anantnag, UT of J&K, for creating a clipper that binds apple/fruit tree branches and prevents them from bending and getting damaged due to hailstorms and snowfall. Twelve innovators received appreciation awards of Rs. 50,000 each for their contributions, including innovations such as Golden Feathers, Fasal Amrit, and the automatic feed machine for differently-abled individuals created by Nabajit Bharali. 

The Honey Bee Network Creativity and Inclusive Innovation Awards aim not only to celebrate the creativity of grassroots innovators but also to provide a platform for these innovators to connect with investors, policymakers, and technical experts. The event featured insightful sessions where participants learned about funding, investment opportunities, IPR support, and policy assistance to help them scale their innovations.

The awards were presented by eminent agricultural scientist Dr. R.S. Paroda, former DG of ICAR, in the presence of Dr. Renu Swaroop, former Secretary of DBT, GOI; Dr. Swati Basu, former scientific advisor to the office of the PSA, GOI; and Prof. Anil Gupta, VF of IIMA, IIT-B, and founder of the Honey Bee Network, GIAN, SRISTI, and NIF. Dr. Swaroop remarked that the HBNCRI Awards were the perfect conclusion to PFoI 2024, emphasizing that the event gave innovators a chance to network and blend deep-tech and grassroots innovation “like two rivers merging into the sea of knowledge and innovation.” Dr. Paroda recalled how India has transitioned from being food-deficient to a food exporter, thanks to the innovative efforts of scientists, farmers, and breeders. He also spoke about the importance of specialized policy tools like PPFVRA, which was set up to prevent biopiracy, and highlighted the need to create networks that bring various partners together.

Anita Kumar, from Amazon Community Impact, APAC, stated, “Amazon is committed to supporting innovation on a global scale. The Honey Bee Network Awards provide a platform for brilliant minds from around the world to share their ideas and inspire action. By empowering grassroots innovators, we are contributing to a more sustainable and equitable future for all.”

Congratulating the winners, Prof. Anil K. Gupta explained that a rigorous review process had been established to bring the best innovations to the HBNCRI Awards and showcase them. He reminded attendees that the event was not the end of the network’s responsibility but the beginning of continued support.

Dr. Anamika Dey, CEO of GIAN, shared that entries had been received from 28 states and four Union Territories, encompassing 226 districts nationwide. The Honey Bee Network and GIAN aim to provide voice, visibility, and momentum to inclusive, affordable solutions.