Cheruvayal Raman
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement
Cheruvayal K. Raman, popularly known as the ‘guardian of native paddy,’ has been selected for the first Oommen Chandy memorial award for outstanding contributions to Kerala’s farm sector.
Agriculture Minister T. Siddique announced his name while announcing the 2025 Kerala State Farm Awards in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday (August 9, 2026).
The award carries ₹5 lakh in cash prize, citation and plaque. In a message, the septuagenarian Mr. Raman, who hails from the tribal community in Wayanad district, told The Hindu that he was happy to have been picked for the award named after the late Congress leader and the former Chief Minister. Mr. Raman, who was conferred the Padma Shri in 2023 for his “contribution to sustainable agriculture and preservation of biodiversity,” underscored the need to encourage farming and farmers.
Anitha M. Kasim of Fathimapuram, Changanassery, was selected as the best ‘Urban rooftop farmer,’ another new award included on the list of 38 award categories. Raja Narayanan of Thiruvilwamala, Thrissur, has won the Sibi Kallingal memorial ‘Karshakoththama’ award. Shajahan V.Y. is the best ‘organic farmer.’
The Koduvally block panchayat and the Ullikkal grama panchayat shared the ₹ 5 lakh C. Achutha Menon memorial award for local bodies involved in farming. The Krishi Bhavan, Kuttoor, Pathanamthitta, has been selected for the V.V. Raghavan memorial award for the best Krishi Bhavan.
The K. Viswanathan (Mitra Niketan) memorial ‘Nelkathir’ award has gone to the Nenmeni Paadasekhara Samiti in Kollengode, Palakkad. Haseena Bhaskar, Professor and Principal Investigator, Kerala Agricultural University, Mannuthy, has won the M.S. Swaminathan Award for agricultural research.
Other prominent awards are: ‘Kerakesari’ – K.K. Xavier, Chakkitapara, Kozhikode; award for tribal settlements for heritage farming/seed and crop conservation – Gottiyarkandi Unnathi, Palakkad; best young farmer – Hashiq K., Pozhuthana, Wayanad; Haritha Mithra – Rejeesh K., Taliparamba, Kannur; hi-tech farmer – Pushpahas P., Chithara, Kollam; Karshakajyothi – Kishore V., Kadaplamattam, Kottayam; beekeeper – Aneesh K.P., Wandoor, Malappuram; Karshakathilakam – Savithri K., Pulloor-Periya, Kasaragod; and mushroom farmer – Sachin G. Pai, Ballal, Kasaragod.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan will present the awards on August 17 (Chingam 1) at Kalamassery.
Published – August 09, 2026 08:11 pm IST
