Wayanad: Cheruvayal Raman, the Padma Shri award-winning tribal farmer known for preserving Kerala’s traditional paddy varieties, has died at the age of 75.

Raman breathed his last while undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital.

A native of Edavaka Kammana near Mananthavady in Wayanad district, Raman was widely known as ‘Nellachan’ or the ‘Father of Rice in Wayanad’. He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023 in recognition of his efforts to conserve indigenous paddy seeds and traditional farming practices.

Born in 1952, Raman took up farming at the age of 17 despite having no formal education in agriculture or botany. He lived in a traditional mud house with a thatched roof in Wayanad, remaining closely connected to the region’s agricultural heritage.

Raman devoted his life to preserving indigenous paddy varieties. Of the more than 100 traditional varieties that existed in Wayanad a century ago, he cultivated and conserved 30, helping safeguard the region’s rich agricultural biodiversity.

His contribution to agriculture was also recognised by the Kerala government. In 2026, he received an award instituted by the state Agriculture Department in the name of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy for his comprehensive contributions to the agricultural sector.

Raman is survived by his wife, Geetha, and children Ramani, Rameshan and Rajesh. His family members also include Thankamani, Rajitha, Rajan and Unnikrishnan.