Culture

Kerala’s tribal farmer saves 54 local rice varieties from extinction

For the last two decades a tribal man has dedicated himself solely to saving native rice varieties of India and even at the age of 72, he continues to do so. Farmers in Kerala’s Wayanad had been growing indigenous rice varieties but over a period this has changed as they switched to high-yielding and genetically modified seeds posing a serious threat to the local varieties which faced extinction.

Thanks to the efforts of Cheruvayal Raman, also known as India’s “living paddy gene bank” and “Guardian of Native Paddy”, that didn’t happen as 54 ancient types of rice have been saved by him in the last 20 years.

Born in Kurichiyas tribe in Wayanad, Raman and his community had been producing rice and also promoting and preserving its indigenous varieties. When he realised that the native varieties are being substituted by hybrid ones, he sowed the former in 1.5-acre of his field.

Things took a turn for the better, when Raman inherited 40 acres of land in 1969 from his uncle and from then on, he completely devoted himself to farming and saving the local rice varieties.

The storeroom where tribal farmer Cheruvayal Raman keeps the seeds of indigenous rice varieties

Among the varieties saved by him are Mannu Veliyan, Chembakam, Palveliyan, Kanali, Thondi, Channalthondi, Chettuveliyan and the aromatic ones like Gandhakashala, Jeerakasala, and Kayama. All these he keeps in his 150-year-old mud house which also doubles up as a storehouse for rice harvest. Now he is expert in distinguishing the types by their look.

Raman does not sell the seeds but presents them and the only condition he stipulates is that the borrower should return the same quantity of seeds from their field after the first harvest.

He has been appreciated and awarded by several organisations, including the Government of Kerala.

Also read: Andhra’s Usharani shows others the way to do natural farming

IN Bureau

Recent Posts

VINBAX 2024: Vietnam-India bilateral army exercise concludes at Kaushalya Dam

The fifth edition of the historic Indo-Vietnam Joint Field Training Exercise, VINBAX-2024, successfully concluded its…

5 hours ago

India-Russia strengthen defence ties at 22nd Working Group meeting on military technical cooperation

The 22nd meeting of the India-Russia Working Group on Military technical cooperation and defence industry…

5 hours ago

“I want to have strong representation of India at World Nuclear Exhibition 2025”: Sylvie Bermann

Sylvie Bermann, President of the World Nuclear Exhibition expressed confidence in India's nuclear supply chain…

7 hours ago

PoJK: Joint Awami Action Committee protests against government following new ordinance, many injured

Joint Awami Action Committee core member Shaukat Nawaz Mir has condemned the attack of police…

7 hours ago

PM Modi meets 31 world leaders, heads of organisations during his 3-nation foreign visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in 31 Bilateral Meetings and informal interactions with global leaders…

9 hours ago

India- Australia conduct 11th Indian Air Force-Royal Australian Air Force Air Staff Talks

India and Australia conducted the 11th edition of the Indian Air Force and Royal Australian…

9 hours ago