Now Reading: Kerala State Farm Awards: Oommen Chandy memorial prize for native paddy guardian
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Kerala State Farm Awards: Oommen Chandy memorial prize for native paddy guardian
Kerala State Farm Awards: Oommen Chandy memorial prize for native paddy guardian
The Kerala government has announced the first Oommen Chandy memorial award for Cheruvayal Raman, a tribal farmer from Wayanad known as the 'guardian of native paddy', for his contributions to the farm…
The Story in Brief
The Kerala government has announced the first Oommen Chandy memorial award for Cheruvayal Raman, a tribal farmer from Wayanad known as the 'guardian of native paddy', for his contributions to the farm sector. The award carries a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, citation and plaque. Agriculture Minister T. Siddique made the announcement as part of the 2025 Kerala State Farm Awards in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
The ceremony on August 17 will honour 38 recipients across categories. Anitha M. Kasim won the best urban rooftop farmer award, Raja Narayanan the Karshakoththama award, Shajahan V.Y. the best organic farmer prize, and institutions like Koduvally block panchayat received the C. Achutha Menon memorial award. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan will present the awards at Kalamassery.
The Indian Opinion
It is heartening to see the Kerala government honour farmers who preserve native seed varieties and traditional farming methods. The award to Cheruvayal Raman rightly spotlights a grassroots hero often overlooked by mainstream agriculture policies. The hyperlocal focus of the prize categories, including tribal farmers and urban rooftop growers, addresses real diversity in Kerala's farm sector. However, one must ask whether these awards translate into concrete support like better market access or soil health schemes. The real test will be if state budgets back such recognition with dedicated funds for indigenous farming communities.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
