The Kerala State Farm Awards for 2025 have been announced, with Cheruvayal K. Raman being selected for the first Oommen Chandy memorial award for his outstanding contributions to the state’s farm sector. Agriculture Minister T. Siddique made the announcement in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, August 9, 2026.
Cheruvayal Raman, popularly known as the ‘guardian of native paddy,’ will receive a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, a citation, and a plaque as part of the award. The septuagenarian, who hails from the tribal community in Wayanad district, expressed his happiness at being chosen for the award named after the late Congress leader and former Chief Minister. Raman emphasized the need to encourage farming and farmers, and his selection is a testament to his tireless efforts in promoting sustainable agriculture and preserving biodiversity.
Other notable winners include Anitha M. Kasim, who was selected as the best ‘Urban rooftop farmer,’ and Raja Narayanan, who won the Sibi Kallingal memorial ‘Karshakoththama’ award. Shajahan V.Y. was named the best ‘organic farmer,’ while 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, was selected for the V.V. Raghavan memorial award for the best Krishi Bhavan, and the Nenmeni Paadasekhara Samiti in Kollengode, Palakkad, won the K. Viswanathan (Mitra Niketan) memorial ‘Nelkathir’ award. Haseena Bhaskar, Professor and Principal Investigator, Kerala Agricultural University, Mannuthy, received the M.S. Swaminathan Award for agricultural research.
The awards will be presented by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on August 17 (Chingam 1) at Kalamassery.
