In a landmark recognition of innovation in agriculture and rural self-employment, Bapan Das, a dynamic agri-entrepreneur from Barak Valley, has been honoured with the Governor’s Excellence Award 2025 at a grand ceremony held at Raj Bhavan, Guwahati.
He has honoured for s groundbreaking contributions to rural self-employment and antibiotic-free poultry farming.
Founder and Director of Graduate Farmers Agrovate Pvt. Ltd., Bapan Das, along with co-founder Shamim Choudhury, has built an ethical, environment-friendly agri-based startup that has emerged as a model of success across Northeast India.
Bapan Das Journey to Governor’s Excellence Award 2025
Bapan Das has Started his career Journey as a trainee at PNB RSETI Cachar. After that Bapan become a domain expert trainer for multiple RSETIs in the region and now serves as President of ASARA, the alumni association of RSETI Cachar and Hailakandi.
His initiatives deeply connected with several rural development organizations, including:
- Rural Development and Social Service Organization
- Barak Rural Development and Social Service Forum
- Greenribbon Society
- Green Agronomy
- Greenline
Under the NEEDP project with support from IIM Kolkata, Graduate Farmers Agrovate Pvt. Ltd. has implemented major agricultural and livestock-based employment ventures in collaboration with the Departments of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Fisheries, Assam Udhyam Project, and others. Two major poultry and livestock-feed units have already established in Hailakandi and Lakhipur, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for numerous local youths.
The award ceremony attended by prominent dignitaries, including Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly Biswajit Daimary, Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court Ashutosh Kumar, and Chief Executive Members of the Autonomous Councils Debolal Gorlosa and Tuliram Ronghang. Ministers Kaushik Roy and Krishnendu Paul congratulated Bapan Das, calling his achievement a symbol of Barak Valley’s self-reliance movement.
The event also posthumously honored social reformer Dr. Nagen Thakur and recognized other notable personalities including Amar Upadhyay, Abinash Hazarika, Debashish Roy, and Umananda Duara for their outstanding contributions in various fields.