‘Akavayal’ is an initiative to train farmers in conserving indigenous rice varieties with special focus on genetic and phisical purity of seed. The meaning of the Malayalam word ‘akavayal’ is a rice nursery where rice seedlings are taken care of.

Rice is a staple food of over half of the world population. We prepare a variety of foods with this grain. This list of foods is very long and definetly impossible to count. Thousands of rice varieties grown across the globe has made this cultural and agro ecological legacy possible. One can find specific rice varieties for different food items in every culture.

Genetic and physical purity of the grain ensures us this amazing experience of rice which we cherish.

Now we are missing this experience of taste due to domination of hand full of commercially successful varieties, unavailability of indigenous rice varities and quality and purity of grains available in the market.

In this scenario, the ‘Akavayal’ initiative brings together passionate organic farmers on a common platform with the specific goal which is quality and purity of indigenous rice seeds. We are applying a combination of time tested traditional and modern techniques for this.