The Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) honoured the Thayannan Kudy tribal society of Idukki, which was given the National Plant Genome Saviour Award for 2015-16. The award was declared in November.
KAU Vice Chancellor R. Chandrababu honoured the members of the society at the university headquarters at Mannuthy on Friday. The settlement, situated in the Chinnar wildlife sanctuary, has a population of 150, in 42 houses.
Their commitment to conserving cereals and millets, spices, tubers, vegetables, fruits and rice won them the award given by Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Right Authority under the Union government.
Diverse crops are conserved in this hamlet, including 17 varieties of millet, using traditional farming practices. The tribal society was guided to the ecognition by the KAU IPR Cell.
“KAU has been in the forefront of activities to help farmers gain recognition. The number of Plant Genome Saviour Awards won by Kerala farmers is a testimony to it. I hope this award will prompt all Keralites to view farming with respect,” he said. The members presented seeds of traditional varieties to the Vice Chancellor, who promised to preserve them in the seed bank of KAU.
Dr. Chandrababu said the GI application for Tirur vettila had been submitted by the university. “The university is striving to obtain GI tag for more products. After Pokkali rice, Vazhakulam pineapple, Wayanadan rice varieties, Chengalikodan Nendran, Kaipad rice and Nilambur teak, we have moved the application for Tirur Vettila. Attempts for GI tag for Marayur jaggery, Onattukara sesame, Kuttyattur Mango and Kodungallur pottu vellari are also on,” he said.
