𝗗𝗿 𝗔𝗣𝗝 𝗔𝗯𝗱𝘂𝗹 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗺 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
The Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Foundation awarded a recognition certificate to the founding Chief Executive of Bhutan Seedling, Rinchen Pelzang. He was awarded for his skillful performance in agriculture and environment towards community development, coinciding with the 92nd birth anniversary of Dr APJ Kalam International Foundation, Kolkata, on 15 October.
Registered under the Trust Act of India, the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Foundation was established in 2016 in Howrah, West Bengal.
The 11th President of India, known as the missile man of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s focus was on transforming India into a developed nation by 2020. The Foundation aims to fulfill the dreams and progress the ideals of Dr Kalam.
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Foundation supports the program in the areas of education, science and technology with students, rural development, health care, and women's empowerment. The mission of the Foundation is to work in the remote regions of several states in India.
The invitation letter to the awardee states, “You have been nominated as an awardee" by the Foundation, “for your outstanding contribution to the Bhutanese nursery firm.”
In an award acceptance note, Rinchen Pelzang expressed, “I am thrilled beyond words to accept this prestigious award. This recognition is not only a personal milestone but also a tribute to the ideals and values that Dr Kalam exemplified throughout his illustrious life.”
The award recipient thanked His Majesty for his vision and inspiration to serve the country through innovation and technology.
One of the close associates of nursery founder, Pema Samten claimed to have witnessed Rinchen Pelzang providing a wide range of social services through his own business. In light of this, "he deserves an award, and I am proud of his services."
The award recipient was nominated by the Horticulture Association of Bhutan.
To maintain national standards of seeds and seedlings within the country, initially a 39-year-old retired civil servant, Rinchen Pelzang from Nganglam, Pemagatshel, established Bhutan's first commercial seeds and seedling nursery in 2009.
Started as East-West Nursery small-scale operation on 0.50 acres of land in Punakha, it later was renamed as Bhutan Seedlings. Expanding in two acres of plantation, it launched new platforms to reach customers nationwide.
Intended to contribute to sustainable conservation and promotion of horticultural fruits and ornamental diversity of both exotic and indigenous species, Bhutan Seedlings supplies seeds and seedlings throughout the country. It aids in enhancing food security through the introduction of high-quality horticultural fruits, forestry timbers-based seedlings, livestock fodders, ornamental plants, and vegetable seeds and seedlings.
The private nursery also caters to the demands and needs of consumers efficiently and effectively, while also continuing to create job opportunities and, in a small way, curbing rural-urban migration.
Bhutan Seedlings was one of the seeds and seedlings suppliers in phase-II million tree plantation project, 2023.
Rinchen Pelzang said that the nursery had supplied seedlings to some of the monasteries and schools free of charge with free technical backstopping in the country.
The former agriculture extension officer is the technical adviser of Bhutan Seedlings, which is run by his wife.
As a part of the 92nd birth anniversary celebration, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Foundation also awarded distinguished personalities from the USA, UK, The Netherlands, Myanmar, Qatar, Germany, Nepal, Thailand, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and UAE.
“It is our sincere efforts toward cultural exchange and raising awareness of the profound literary heritage of India and international relations among the people across the globe,” the organizers stated.