Kozhikode: Cheruvayal Raman, the Padma Shri awardee renowned for preserving traditional rice varieties in Kerala’s Wayanad district, died on Wednesday while undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. He was being treated for abdominal pain.
Born into the Cheruvayal Kurichya family at Kammanam in Edavaka panchayat, Wayanad, Raman dedicated his life to conserving traditional rice varieties. He preserved around 55 varieties of rice, including those capable of withstanding climate variations.
Raman participated in agricultural conferences in around 11 countries and received several honours, including the Genome Saviour Award from the Union Agriculture Ministry. Recently, he was conferred the first Oommen Chandy Memorial Agricultural Award instituted by the Kerala government.
Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan paid tribute to Raman, describing him as a farmer who safeguarded generations of agricultural heritage in Wayanad.
Satheesan said Raman had made endangered traditional rice varieties part of his life and preserved them for future generations. His death was an irreparable loss to Kerala’s agricultural sector and heritage conservation, he added.
He also said Raman’s life demonstrated that farming was not merely a means of livelihood but a responsibility towards the soil and nature.
