“Conservation and propagation of seeds must be a collective effort, and it should not be considered as the sole responsibility of farmers alone” said Mr.Cheruvayal Raman, from Wayanad, Kerala who won the National Geneome Saviour Award 2016 for his life time efforts to conserve traditional rice varieties. He was speaking at an event organized by Community Agrobiodiversity Centre (CAbC), M S Swaminathan Research Foundation to honor him at its Puthoorvayal Campus, Wayanad in the presence of Dr.V.Selvam, Executive Director, MSSRF, Dr.M.K.Prasad, Chairman, Steering Committee, MSSRF and other senior staff of MSSRF on 6th October 2016.
Dr.V.Selvam in his special remarks said that the contributions of Mr.Cheruvayal Raman to the society stand unparalleled, as his efforts to conserve traditional rice varieties compliment the larger dimensions of food security of the nation. Dr.M.K.Prasad in his felicitation speech said that it is the collective responsibility of the society to mould new such Cheruvayal Ramans, who could contribute significantly to agrobiodiversity through conservation and propagation of local varieties.
Mr.Ramakrishnan, MSSRF, made the introductory remarks on Mr.Cheruvayal Raman. Dr.V.Balakrishnan, Head, CAbC, MSSRF proposed a vote of thanks.