<p>Thiruvananthapuram: For Padma award recipient farmer Cheruvayal Raman, the decision of the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) to designate him as 'Professor of practice' is not just a recognition but a relief from his financial crunches.</p><p>Wayanad native Raman, who received the Padma Shri in 2023 for his efforts in conserving around 60 traditional varieties of paddy, has been going through acute financial crunches. </p><p>"Like most farmers, I too was going through financial crunches. The decision to designate me as 'Professor of practice' also seems to be due to the financial crisis I am going through. Hence the new responsibility is more than an honour for me," Raman told <em>DH</em>.</p><p>Raman, who could study only up to fifth standard, will be sharing his knowledge acquired through practice to the students of KAU. Already he was being invited by many institutions to share his knowledge with students.</p><p>Raman says that it was high time that the government offered incentives so as to bring back the younger generations to agriculture. </p><p>"Now even the younger generations of traditional families of farmers are not showing much interest in agriculture owing to the poor returns from it. Most of the active farmers now are in the sixties and seventies. They have no other options. If some youngsters are now into cultivation, it is mainly to help their parents who are traditional farmers. Same is the case with my family," says Raman who is in his mid seventies.</p>.Union Budget 2025 | Feeling the 'pulse' of the nation: Six point push to irrigate agriculture sector.<p>Kerala agriculture minister P Prasad took the initiative in designating Raman as 'Professor of practice' following reports of the acute financial crunches he was facing. He would be given an honorarium as remuneration based on his hours of engagement.</p><p>KAU vice chancellor B Ashok said that it could be for the first time that a farmer from a tribal community was being appointed as 'Professor of practice' in a university.</p>
<p>Thiruvananthapuram: For Padma award recipient farmer Cheruvayal Raman, the decision of the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) to designate him as 'Professor of practice' is not just a recognition but a relief from his financial crunches.</p><p>Wayanad native Raman, who received the Padma Shri in 2023 for his efforts in conserving around 60 traditional varieties of paddy, has been going through acute financial crunches. </p><p>"Like most farmers, I too was going through financial crunches. The decision to designate me as 'Professor of practice' also seems to be due to the financial crisis I am going through. Hence the new responsibility is more than an honour for me," Raman told <em>DH</em>.</p><p>Raman, who could study only up to fifth standard, will be sharing his knowledge acquired through practice to the students of KAU. Already he was being invited by many institutions to share his knowledge with students.</p><p>Raman says that it was high time that the government offered incentives so as to bring back the younger generations to agriculture. </p><p>"Now even the younger generations of traditional families of farmers are not showing much interest in agriculture owing to the poor returns from it. Most of the active farmers now are in the sixties and seventies. They have no other options. If some youngsters are now into cultivation, it is mainly to help their parents who are traditional farmers. Same is the case with my family," says Raman who is in his mid seventies.</p>.Union Budget 2025 | Feeling the 'pulse' of the nation: Six point push to irrigate agriculture sector.<p>Kerala agriculture minister P Prasad took the initiative in designating Raman as 'Professor of practice' following reports of the acute financial crunches he was facing. He would be given an honorarium as remuneration based on his hours of engagement.</p><p>KAU vice chancellor B Ashok said that it could be for the first time that a farmer from a tribal community was being appointed as 'Professor of practice' in a university.</p>