Veteran educationist, agriculturist and cooperative leader Dr. Prabhakar Basaprabhu Kore was conferred the Padma Shri by President of India Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday in recognition of his distinguished contributions in the field of literature and education.
Founder of the Karnataka-based Prabhakar Kore Multi-State Cooperative Society, Dr. Kore has played a transformative role in rural development, agricultural advancement and farmer empowerment.
In 2011, he established the ICAR–KLE Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Mattikopp in Belagavi district, which has emerged as a leading centre for agricultural research, farmer training and the dissemination of modern farming practices. He also founded the KLE School of Agriculture to promote scientific farming and encourage youth participation in agriculture.
A stalwart of the cooperative sector, Dr. Kore strengthened farmer livelihoods through the Chidanand Basaprabhu Kore Co-operative Sugar Factory at Chikodi and contributed to national cooperative policy as a former Director of the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited (NFCSF). His initiatives in cooperative banking and women’s empowerment have also made a significant impact.
The Padma Shri is being widely hailed as a fitting recognition of Dr. Kore’s lifelong service to farmers, education, rural development and the cooperative movement.
