NEW DELHI: Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu expressed his happiness at 15 farmers being recognised with Padma awards announced on the eve of Republic Day Saluting the efforts of these farmers in a series of tweets on Saturday, Naidu said, “Extremely delighted and happy that for the first time in India, 15 outstanding individuals who have done exceptional work in the field of agriculture and allied services are recognised, respected and honoured with Padma awards.”Among those conferred with the awards are Bharat Bhushan Tyagi, Ram Sharan Verma, and Venkateswara Rao Yadlapalli, progressive farmers who have adopted technology and scientific methods in cultivation.“Agriculture is the basic foundation of our culture and needs to be continuously strengthened. Glad that the government has recognised its centrality to the India’s inclusive growth story,” Naidu said.“The unprecedentedly large number of awards to farmers and those who have supported farming and allied activities is an incredibly motivational gesture,” Naidu added.Also among the awardees are traditional farmers who excelled by conserving old, traditional seeds and promoting organic farming— Kamala Pujhari, Rajkumari Devi, Babulal Dahiya and Hukumchand Patidar