Cheruvayal Raman, Kerala’s Paddy Seed Conservator, Dies at 74

Cheruvayal Raman, a tribal farmer from Kammana in Wayanad district, Kerala, died on 14 October 2026 at the age of 74. He belonged to the Kurichiya community and conserved more than 45 traditional rice varieties on his three-acre farm. He was also known as ‘Nellachan’, meaning ‘father of paddy’, and as a ‘living paddy gene bank’.

Rice diversity and on-farm conservation

Raman cultivated native rice varieties including the aromatic Gandhakashala and the red-grained Thondi. He shared seeds with other farmers without charge and advocated chemical-free farming. On-farm conservation involves maintaining crop varieties through continued cultivation in their farming environments, while seed banks conserve seeds under controlled storage conditions. Traditional crop varieties, often called landraces, can carry genetic diversity developed through cultivation in local conditions.

Awards and recognition

Raman received the Padma Shri in 2023 for his contribution to conserving indigenous plant varieties and promoting environment-friendly farming. He received the National Plant Genome Saviour Award in 2016 for protecting plant genetic resources. In 2025, he received the first Oommen Chandy memorial award for contributions to agriculture. His farm also served as a learning space for students, farmers and other visitors.

Traditional agriculture and biodiversity

Raman began farming at the age of 10 and represented Kerala’s farming community at an international biodiversity conservation conference in Hyderabad in 2011. The conference included participants from 11 countries. Agricultural biodiversity includes the variety of crops, domesticated animals and other organisms associated with food production. Conservation of native seeds can take place through cultivation, exchange among farmers and storage in seed collections.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Padma Shri is one of India’s civilian awards and was instituted in 1954.
• The National Plant Genome Saviour Award recognises efforts to conserve plant genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge.
• Wayanad is a district in Kerala, and Mananthavady is one of its taluks.
• Gandhakashala and Thondi are indigenous rice varieties associated with Kerala.

Raman was treated at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital before his death. His work centred on conserving traditional rice varieties and sharing seeds with farmers.