Thirty-eight-year-old Rajesh won the award for integrated, organic cultivation of traditional paddy seeds such as the reddish Thondi, white Mullankaima, fragrant Gandakashala and Veliyan, and for saving native seeds from extinction. “It is believed that there were more than 3,000 varieties of native rice in India. Around 219 kinds of paddy seeds are cultivated in Panavally in Wayanad by Thanal. His success in farming paddy has motivated many other farmers in the region to convert to organic paddy farming and learn from each other to improve their prospects as a community. Thanks also to all my fellow women in arms on struggles to sustain our food, farming and freedom.

Source: The Hindu August 04, 2017 12:01 UTC