Traditional Farming

with Innovation

Praseed Kumar Thayyil, a dedicated farmer from Sultan Bathery in Wayanad, Kerala, has garnered acclaim for his innovative approach to agriculture by integrating art into paddy cultivation. He has transformed his fields into canvases using rice varieties. Creations include Buddha, the Indian map, and the revered elephant Guruvayur Kesavan. Praseed is committed to preserving India's rich rice biodiversity. Over the past decade, he has collected and cultivated more than 125 traditional rice varieties from across the country. In recognition of his contributions to biodiversity conservation, he was honored with the Plant Genome Saviour Award for 2021-22 by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority of India.