‘Bicycle Man of India’ Prajapati embarks on 1100 km ride

Pulwama, Nov 06: Neeraj Kumar Prajapati, widely known as the “Bicycle Man of India,” embarked on an ambitious 1100-kilometer bicycle journey through Kashmir to promote the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP).
His journey, which began on November 6, aims to raise awareness about organic farming and encourage sustainable agricultural practices across the valley.
The 18-day journey was officially flagged off by Chaudhary Mohammad Iqbal, Director of Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare, Kashmir, in Srinagar. Neeraj’s route will take him through 10 districts, including Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Budgam, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, and Anantnag. He plans to spend several days in each district, where he will meet with local farmers and agricultural stakeholders to share insights on organic farming and showcase the achievements of the HADP.
In a conversation with Rising Kashmir, Neeraj emphasized that his ride, dubbed “Mission Organic Kashmir,” aims to highlight the agricultural potential of the region. “The motto of our ride is to promote the agriculture of Kashmir,” he said, adding that HADP, launched over a year and a half ago, has already shown promising results in boosting local production across various farming sectors.
Neeraj hopes to increase awareness of HADP’s initiatives, which encourage farmers to cultivate organic crops such as saffron, the aromatic rice variety Mushk Budji, red chilies, honey, dry fruits, and apples. “We want these organic products to find market linkages so that local farmers benefit,” he stated.
Alongside promoting organic farming, Neeraj will also be sharing glimpses of Kashmir’s culture, traditions, and local cuisine with a global audience through his social media pages. By focusing on local heritage, he hopes to connect consumers with the stories and practices behind Kashmir’s organic products.
The journey is supported by the Department of Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Kashmir, SKUAST-K and ICAR, among others.
HADP is a flagship government program comprising 29 projects that address critical agricultural areas, including crop production, horticulture, livestock management, and sustainability. With 75 unique schemes, it aims to boost productivity, encourage organic practices, and develop commercially viable agricultural models across Jammu and Kashmir.