Cheruvayal Raman Demise

October 16 , 2026 15 hrs 0 min 10 0

Padma Shri awardee Cheruvayal Raman, known for conserving traditional rice varieties, passed away in Kerala.
He belonged to the Kurichya tribal community and was from Kammana village in Wayanad, Kerala.
He was popularly known as “Nellachan” (Father of Paddy) and the “Guardian of Native Paddy.”
Around 2000, he began collecting and preserving indigenous rice varieties.
He received the Padma Shri in 2023 for his contribution to agriculture.
He also received the National Plant Genome Saviour Award for conserving traditional plant varieties.
He promoted traditional farming practices and the conservation of agricultural biodiversity.