Dr. Gopal Ji Trivedi, a renowned agricultural scientist and former Vice Chancellor of Rajendra Agriculture University, is set to be posthumously awarded the Padma Shri. The honor comes in recognition of his exceptional contributions to agricultural education, farmer empowerment, fish-based farming systems, maize productivity improvement, and scientific litchi cultivation in Bihar. The award will be conferred during the first Investiture Ceremony of the Padma Awards 2026 at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 25. Popularly known as Gaon Purush and Kishan Mitra, Trivedi dedicated his life to
improving rural livelihoods and promoting sustainable agricultural practices at the grassroots level. He was born on February 15, 1930, and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from Agriculture College, Sabaur in Bihar in 1954. He later completed his Master’s degree in Agricultural Extension Education (1958) from the same institution before pursuing a PhD at Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa, New Delhi in 1963. Trivedi served as a Professor at Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi, Bihar. He was also the Director of Extension Education at
Rajendra Agriculture University before becoming its Vice Chancellor from 1988 to 1991. His pioneering work in developing a socio-economic status scale for rural families, popularly known as the Trivedi Scale, revolutionized the field by introducing qualitative characters into quantitative terms measurement. Trivedi spent over three decades in his native village, working closely with farmers to improve productivity and increase incomes. His efforts helped 22 farmers convert their abandoned chaur (low-lying wetland) area of 86 acres into a fish-based farming system called BABA (Bihar Aquaculture Based
Agriculture). This initiative increased the underground water table in adjoining areas and provided direct employment opportunities for marginalized rural populations. In Muzaffarpur, a hub for litchi cultivation, Trivedi introduced the concept of private-private partnership between farmers and agro-industries. This helped farmers produce quality litchis and motivated them to set up processing plants in their villages. He was also among the first in Bihar to adopt rejuvenation and canopy management techniques in his Litchi Orchard when others were hesitant about cutting or pruning branches. Over the
years, Trivedi worked on improving maize productivity in Bihar by encouraging winter maize cultivation and promoting modern agricultural technologies. These efforts helped farmers achieve significantly higher yields of over 10 tons, thus increasing their income and employment opportunities. His contributions to agriculture and extension education earned him several honors including a Lifetime Achievement Award by former President Pratibha Patil in November 2011 and the Krishi Rishi Award in 2015. Trivedi passed away on May 12, 2026.
Gopal Trivedi, Padma Shri 2026, Gaon Purush, Kishan Mitra, Rajendra Agriculture University, Trivedi Scale, BABA fish-based farming, Bihar agriculture, Muzaffarpur litchi cultivation, maize productivity