570 paddy varieties on 3.5 acres; Peringottukara village gains national pride after mention in Mann Ki Baat

THRISSUR: Cultivation of 570 varieties of paddy across three-and-a-half acres, along with the preservation of traditional seed varieties, has brought national attention to an organic farm run by the Sarvathobhadram Organic Society at Avanangattil Kalari, Peringottukara. The unique initiative was recently mentioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat programme, making the village proud.

Highlighting the effort, the Prime Minister noted that the initiative is not just about farming but also about preserving the heritage of indigenous seeds. A total of 570 paddy varieties from India and abroad are being cultivated at the farm. Of these, 160 varieties are native to Kerala, while the others are sourced from different states across the country, except Maharashtra and Gujarat. The collection also includes three varieties from Thailand, along with aromatic, medicinal, matta, and black rice varieties.

Each variety is cultivated with careful maintenance, as the harvesting period differs from one variety to another. The project began with a trial of 124 paddy varieties. After setting aside seeds for the next season, the remaining seeds are shared with other farmers engaged in similar cultivation. The farming activities are carried out under the supervision of Adv. A.U. Raghuraman Panicker, Adv. Rishikesh Panicker, and Adv. A.V. Rahul.

In recognition of their efforts in soil conservation and climate-friendly farming practices, Solidaridad Asia and the Indian Institute of Soil Science jointly honoured the initiative with the ‘Regenerative Community Champion Award’.

Rare paddy varieties
Rare paddy varieties cultivated here include Chennellu, Jeerakasala, Cheera, Kulappandi, Thavalakkannan, Kuruvai, Chitteni, Orppandi, and Cheradi from Kerala; Nazar Bath from Karnataka; Coimbatore Sanna from Tamil Nadu; Jugal (a twin-grain variety) from West Bengal; Kalanamak from Bihar; and Jeeraphool from eastern India.

“It is a matter of pride that the farming methods of Sarvathobhadram were mentioned in the Prime Minister’s Mann Ki Baat,” said Adv. A.U. Rishikesh Panicker, President of the Sarvathobhadram Organic Society.