Farmers of the Rohru subdivision in Shimla district will receive the prestigious Plant Genome Saviour Award carrying a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh for their contribution in developing red rice, a rare variety of paddy grown in CSK Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University.

Key Points

• University scientists had gathered all data and helped the farmers growing red rice register the traditional variety ‘Chhohartu’ with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA) eight years ago.

• The researchers, in the past one year, helped the farmers pursue the matter again with renewed efforts to conserve, develop, popularise and further spread the rice variety, bringing laurels to the state.

• The university had even helped the farmers form a society as the award is given to societies only.

• The award, carrying a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, a citation and a memento, would be presented to the farmers’ society on November 11 by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. It is the country’s highest award for farmers, in recognition of their contribution to conserving and developing plant varieties.