Padma Shri award-winning tribal farmer Cheruvayal Raman, known as a living paddy gene bank for preserving indigenous rice varieties, died at 74 on Wednesday.
Raman passed away while undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital after dedicating his life to conserving traditional rice varieties in Wayanad.
Political leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra paid tribute to the Kurichiya community farmer who protected more than 45 indigenous rice varieties.