Two Wayanad Farmers Receive Plant Genome Saviour Awards

Two farmers from Wayanad received National Plant Genome Saviour Awards presented by P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, at a function in New Delhi on November 12, 2026. The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPVFRA), New Delhi, conferred the awards.

Awards and crop conservation

Babu N.K. received the Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Reward for 2023-24, comprising ₹1.50 lakh, a citation and a memento. On his four-acre farm, he conserves traditional and underutilised crops, including 39 banana varieties, 11 root-tuber varieties and six ginger varieties. Sooraj C.S., also identified as Suraj Purushothaman of Mathamangalam, received the Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Recognition for 2024-25, comprising ₹1 lakh, a citation and a memento. His collection includes 670 genetic resources, among them 104 tomato varieties, 23 brinjal varieties and 36 chilli germplasm accessions. Kerala Agricultural University facilitated and documented both farmers' efforts.

Important Facts for Exams

• Registration rights: Under India’s PPV&FR Act, plant-variety registration creates separate heritable, assignable rights in the variety and its breeder-assigned denomination.
• Farmers’ seed use: Farmers may save, sow, re-sow, exchange or sell produce, including seed of a registered variety, provided it is sold unbranded.
• Farmer award eligibility: Plant Genome Saviour Farmer awards recognise conservation of landraces and wild relatives, especially where selected and preserved material has served as gene donors in registrable varieties.