Bio Basics Nandri Awards 2025 Awardee Profiles
Thangavel– Veteran Organic Farmer
Thangavel has been an organic farmer for 33 years. His work in the revival of organic farming stands out for its grassroots approach, intensive on-farm training, and commitment to accessible, practical organic education for all. He is committed to passing organic knowledge to the next generation and ensuring access to safe, poison-free food for society. Towards this, he follows a non-commercial, community-centric approach, with a focus on environmental restoration, soil health, and farmer self-sufficiency.
With a cheerful and positive demeanour, he has connected a large number of young people with organic farming over the decades.
Thangavel operates the Agaram Iyarkai Vazhviyal Pannai (Agaram Natural Living Farm). He is a strong adherent and promoter of the philosophies of natural farming leaders like Nammalvar and Subash Palekar.
He is from a multigenerational farming family based in Athappagoundanpudur, Coimbatore Dt., Tamil Nadu. He has farms of 4 acres. He has been practicing strictly organic or natural farming since 1991 with the major crops being greens, coconuts, groundnuts, vegetables and fruits. He supplies greens to organic stores and direct customers.
Thangavel’s farming journey started in 1986. He grew jasmine flowers for the market, having taken over his father’s farm. He adopted the use of chemicals as he believed it was a modern approach. However the soil fertility was ruined by overuse of fertilizers. Around 1990 he read about organic farming in an article by G Nammalvar (a passionate evangelist for organic farming in Tamil Nadu). This was a turning point after which he began learning and adopting organic methods. He furthered his knowledge of the science of natural farming through Subash Palekar’s methodology. He also attended various training sessions at Vanagam.
Thangavel has been involved in organizing Palekar workshops in Coimbatore, as also consulting for schools, colleges, IT companies and other corporate personnel.
He consistently conducts weekend workshops on his farm. His unique “1-2-3 Free Natural Farming Training” initiative is based on 1 cent of land, 2 hours of work daily, 3 months of guided hands-on field training.
His training programs are for all age groups and backgrounds, aiming to counter widespread confusion on how to practice organic farming. At these vibrant sessions that are like family gatherings, he teaches sowing, weeding, transplanting, pest management, and harvesting using natural methods. Participants can keep the vegetables grown during the course, with all learning being 100% free. Over 6,000+ visitors, including students and farmers, have learned from his demonstration farm and training programs.
Thangavel Ayya, now 68, has been an inspiring presence in the Coimbatore region active as a trainer, consultant and a lead farmer floating many innovative ideas.
Nandri Awards Jury thanks Thangavel for:
Working with 1000s of youth and children, especially urban youth, to connect them with agriculture
Being a trainer par excellence
Offering the innovative 1-2-3 scheme free of cost to those interested in learning farming
Continuing with sustainable agriculture as a livelihood and consulting in a peri-urban area for decades
P.J. Manuel – Seed Conserver
P J Manuel (77) has lived in Wayanad, Kerala all his life, growing up in the ambience of farming, art and social service. On his 4.9 acres he grows rice, tubers, pulses, and vegetables and has dedicated over five decades to organic farming, seed conservation, and the revival of traditional agricultural knowledge. He is associated with Keystone Foundation, FTAK and TAPCO and is the founder of Naattarivu Padanakendram, Wayanad.
He underwent Master Farmer training and furthered his depth of knowledge, eventually becoming a “Master among Master farmers”. Imparting knowledge via songs, stories and other methods came naturally to him and thus he became a sought-after trainer.
As the key figure behind People’s Biodiversity Register in Edavaka Panchayat, he set a national example in community-led biodiversity documentation.
He has been conserving over 100 varieties of tuber crops, as well as many traditional rice varieties. He is deeply knowledgeable about the nutritional specialty of tubers. A sacred grove (Kavu) is being developed on 10 cents of his own land.
Manuel Chetta established the Eco Friends Traditional Knowledge Study Centre (Nattarivu Padanakendram) in 2020. Through the centre he trains farmers, educates children, runs a seed bank, and fosters community awareness on agroecology. The centre hosts many visitors from India and abroad. Manuel Chetta is also very active in conducting nature study and motivational sessions for children, and leads a children’s group named Eco Friends Kutti Koottam (Children’s Collective). He actively participates in events such as Jaivolsavam (Organic Festivals) and Vitholsavam (Seed Festivals).
P J Manuel has written two books: “Tuber Crops for Tomorrow and for Nature”, published by Nallabhoomi, Payyannur and “True Paddy Knowledge”.
Despite his outstanding grassroots work, leadership, and impact, he remains largely unrecognized, making him a truly deserving candidate for the Nandri Awards.
Nandri Award Jury thanks Manuel-Chettan for
Conserving over 100 tubers
Publishing multiple books on rice conservation
Working with children and youth for decades
Being committed to and promoting organic farming for 45 years
Using art, poetry and music to promote agro-biodiversity and natural farming
R. Chandrasekar – Young Farmer
Chandrasekar is a 28-year old farmer, hailing from a poor farming family in Sorpanandal Village of Tiruvannamalai District. He has been a dedicated full-time natural farmer since 2018, managing six acres of land through both family-owned and leased fields. His agricultural practice is rooted in sustainability and tradition, using only heirloom seeds and natural methods to cultivate and preserve a wide variety of crops. Over the past six years, Chandrasekar has successfully grown around 200 different crop varieties—including millets, leafy greens, vegetables, tubers, and paddy—adapted to local soil conditions.
Chandrasekar’s journey started as a conventional farmer. Along with his father he used to cultivate 8 acres of sugarcane and paddy using chemicals. This led to a debt of a few lakhs. Having a Diploma in Electronics, he took up a job with an internet service provider company in Chennai in order to repay his family’s loans. However, the salary was just enough to sustain himself in the city with no possibility of savings. Hence, he took an instinctive decision to return to his farming roots. He started growing organic greens on 14 cents, and re-invested that income into expanding the acreage under organic cultivation.
Chandrasekar’s conviction is that organic farming can provide sufficient income to lead a simple life as part of a village community. His priority is to lead a debt-free life. At the weekly and monthly organic farmers market, he sells seeds, greens, tubers, rice and vegetables.
Chandrasekar is actively engaged in community-centric agricultural initiatives. Since 2019, he has collaborated with the Parampariya Vithai Maiyam (Traditional Seed Centre), Kalasapakkam, and since 2021, has been associated with the Tamil Nadu Seed Collectors Federation. His contributions include leading natural farming training programs, organizing seed and food festivals, coordinating monthly organic markets, and facilitating seed sharing events.
He loves the non-materialistic life of the village and takes joy in nature. He is committed sustaining these as they are threatened by urbanization. Passionate about biodiversity and the synergy between organic farming and birdlife, he has counted more than 50 species of birds on his farm.
Chandrasekar’s ongoing mission is to promote traditional seed conservation, natural food production, and knowledge sharing within farming communities.
Nandri Awards Jury wishes to thank Chandrasekar for
Having the courage and confidence to leave an urban opportunity with promise of steady earning to take the risky path of organic farming
Creating multiple streams of income through the sale of grains, seeds, and saplings to make farming viable.
Understanding the larger spirit of organic farming and redefining success and satisfaction
Being an active member of two collectives – Tamil Nadu Seed Savers’ Network and Traditional Seed Centre – Kalasapakkam
Being the hope for the future.
Deiva Shanmugam – Woman farmer
Deiva Shanmugam, hailing from Chettiyur village, Salem District, Tamil Nadu, is a progressive farmer who has built a thriving natural farm over nearly two decades. Natural farming is her own initiative without familial or spouse support. Overcoming numerous setbacks in her personal life, her story serves as an inspiration for farmers and entrepreneurs looking to adopt sustainable, spiritual farming methods in modern India.
A profound transformation began in 2000 when she listened to the Vayalum Vaazhvum program on Trichy radio featuring organic pioneer G. Nammalvar. She was deeply impacted by his words—”If you plough with cows, the soil remains alive; with tractors, the soil hardens. Cows give manure and calves, tractors bring debt and pollution”. This ignited Shanmugam’s lifelong interest in nature and sustainable cultivation.
The pivotal moment came in January 2006 at a cotton seminar, where further interaction with Nammalvar steered her convictions towards natural — what she calls spiritua l— farming.
Shanmugam gradually converted her entire 12-acres of dryland farm into irrigated fields using well and borewell water sources. She puts into practice a careful blend of Nammalvar’s and Subash Palekar’s farming philosophies. Her convictions are not merely about natural farming as a technique but as an activity central to a holistic way of life that sustains human and environmental health. Her accomplishments can be credited to her vision and innovative spirit. She is ably assisted by her daughter, a college graduate.
Shanmugam intensively grows a huge diversity of produce: banana varieties (Poovan, Thenvaazhai, Sevvaazhai, Pachainaatan, Rasthali, Sambalmonthan), banana stem, curry leaf, coriander, moringa, greens, guava, lemon, tomato, small onions, white and red radish, eggplant, bottle gourd, cluster beans, country okra, pumpkin, white pumpkin, betel leaf.
In addition she grows roots and tubers (elephant foot yam, taro, palm tuber, sweet potato, turmeric), coconut, moringa seed, groundnut (which she presses into oils), black gram, green gram, areca nut, pomegranate, native lemon, mango, palm trees, avaraikai, native toor dal and processes both cane and palm jaggery. She maintains several native cows and goats.
Shanmugam markets everything via direct sales, the local organic farmer’s market and the conventional market in Salem.
Nandri Award Jury wishes to thank Dheiva Shanmugam for:
Converting her family farm into a productive, profitable organic farm
Taking up marketing in addition to farming – In a daily market and weekly organic market
Developing expertise in organic farming techniques and inputs and staying committed over two decades despite all odds
Being a role model for other women farmers
Speaking at various farmer gatherings on organic farming and challenges faced by women farmers
Velusamy– Organic Farmer
Velusamy (aged 42) is an idealistic, yet pragmatic young man based in Erode, Tamil Nadu, with a vision to work for the larger good of organic farmers. In addition to being committed to earning a living through organic farming, his passion to help and collectivize other organic farmers, the scope of which has broadened over the years is inspiring.
After completing his 10th Std Velusamy initially went into electrical parts business. He moved into organic farming later due to his father’s ill health and has always been fully organic. He started growing turmeric and vegetables, identifying a market in nearby Coimbatore. His idea was also to bring together the spread-out and disparate farmers who were trying to farm organically but struggling due to lack of markets. He and his wife Thangamani faced tremendous challenges during the drought years of 2014 to 2017. Their borewell dried up and they lost their crops. They took 2.5 acres on lease and began farming there. At no point did they consider going back to chemical farming.
The couple is now working on his leased land for the tenth year. They grow several varieties of brinjal and tomatoes, gourds and creepers, native round and long chillies. In addition to farming, Velusamy has played a principal role in collectivising organic vegetable farmers to market their produce. He brought together around 50 farmers in and around Erode, Gobi, Thalavady , to pool their vegetables and send it to organic retailers all over Kerala and Tamil Nadu and a few items to Karnataka also. This collective was called Pasumai Perayam, and has evolved into a larger group named Ainthunai, managed by Velusamy and Thangamani.
Research which seed varieties suit the local soil and climate conditions to promote among other farmers is possible with the support of Ainthunai. There are now 180-200 farmers supplying their produce to a store run by Ainthunai with ten staff members.
Thangamani is from a farming family and since their marriage, she has been supportive of his passion in organic farming. She began to get involved in the post-harvest stage work. Today Thangamani she is at the helm of Ainthunai operations as well as keeps an eye on the farm, while Velusamy travels and engages in many meetings on farmers issues. This partnership ensures that they and farmers depending on them have their markets and can continue to farm organically.
Velusamy plays an active role in Tamil Nadu Iyarkai Velan Kootam, a non-political collective advocating with the government about issues related to land use, water issues, organic farming policies, genetically modified crops and much more.
Nandri Award Jury thanks Velusamy for
Being an organic farmer, farmer leader and entrepreneur
Building an organic farming eco-system from ground up with minimum social and financial capital and barely two acres of own land
Being involved in the larger issues of farmer’s rights, water and land rights in his region and taking these up at the local, state and national levels
Demonstrating a model for young farmers that there is viable career in farming.
Arachallur Selvam – Organic Farming Champion
Arachallur Selvam (65) is one of the most dynamic Organic Farming leaders of Tamil Nadu. He holds a B.Sc Zoology, M.A Defence Studies, and a PG Diploma in Environment and Ecology..
Early Environmental & Conservation Work (1985–1993)
Due to an innate love for nature and forests, and concern for the environment Selvan began working with Erode Environmental Society in 1985 while in government service, focusing on conservation and wildlife education for students and youth. Activities during this period:
Organized hundreds of nature awareness camps in forests for students; later adapted camps to farmers, illustrating “how nature does farming” by cultivating the forest.
led a pollution awareness cycle yatra on the issue of effluents from a viscose factory polluting the Bhavani River, involving large numbers of students and villagers.
co-founded the Tamil Nadu Green Movement (TNGM), assisting Nilgiris activists with awareness drives in many villages.
Influenced elections by highlighting pollution issues, prompting DMK leader M. Karunanithi to publicly pledge environmental protection in TN.
organized ~100 wildlife trekking and nature programmes, inspiring several participants to pursue careers as Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers.
During a conversation with Mr. Jeeva (a well known environmentalist in Erode), the latter pointed out the scale of toxicity created in soils due to agricultural chemicals, and the need for bringing about a change in that too. This led Selvam to shift from environmental and wildlife education to the purpose of Biofertilizer Entrepreneurship. He left government service and co-founded Erode’s first biofertilizer production unit (1993), producing location and crop-specific biofertilisers.
During this time, he got irresistibly pulled into the “blackhole” of Nammalwar’s influence. He became a passionate advocate, trainer, author and activist for organic farming, and has been at the forefront of many initiatives at the state, national and international levels.
Contributions in farming innovation, training, and seed-saving:
Vermicomposting Innovation & Organic Training (1998 onwards) along with his wife Poongodi.
Vazhilviyal Multiversity – Farmer Training & Biodiversity — addressing the need for farmer-to-farmer knowledge transfer and organic systems education.
Created a futuristic farm with a focus on climate resiliency, tree cover, and biodiversity; now home to many local bird species.
Hosted “trainer of trainers” programs
System of Rice Intensification (SRI) Leadership. Inspired many other farmers, and trained both farmers and agriculture officers.
Maintains 9 traditional paddy varieties personally, cultivating and saving seed every year.
Promoted organic kitchen gardens in schools for the mid-day meal scheme, teaching children seed-saving and nutrition.
Initiated the “Life Time Seed” Network: farmers conserve a traditional seed for their lifetime and pass it to the next generation.
International Representation:
Attended Terra Madre 2004 (Turin, Italy) and again in 2006 (presenting on organic transition techniques in Tamil Nadu).
Author:
Organic Way of Paddy Cultivation
Organic Farming Techniques (5 editions)
Agroecological Farm Design
Quarter Acre Farming
Numerous articles in Dinamani, Vivasayee Ulagam and Pasumai Vikatan.
Works in progress: Tamil translations of One Straw Revolution, Seeds of Deception, and books on SRI, soil health, genetic engineering.
Policy Activism:
Successfully opposed the the TN State Agriculture Council Bill restricting non-graduate farmer advisors
GM Issues, Seed Conservation, and Youth Training
Key member of SAGE and GM-Free India Coalitions; led protests and debates around Bt Brinjal and TNAU’s handling of biosafety.
Key Networks & Roles:
Coordinator, Organic Farmers Federation of Erode
Vice President, Pasumai Gramam Pannai Vana Membattu Sangam
Advisory Member, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (MYRADA)
Associated with Tamil Nadu Women’s Forum, GM-Free India, Safe Food Alliance, and numerous NGOs.
Current Focus
Strengthen producer–consumer–trader organic networks
Train new farmer-trainers and writers
Build stronger GM-free and organic farming coalitions
Expand energy-efficient, climate-resilient organic and agroecological farming models in Tamil Nadu
Stopping gene edited rice, for which he is generating public awareness among government officials, politicians and the public in Tamil Nadu.
Selvam credits his wife Poongodi as the reason he was able to manage such a diversity of accomplishments, as she shouldered their household responsibilities all on her own leaving him free to pursue his causes
Nandri Award Jury thanks Selvam for:
Boldly following in Nammalwar Ayya’s footsteps at a time when organic farming was merely a dream
Risking his career and personal comfort to champion and take the movement across Tamil Nadu
Taking up various causes like river pollution, pesticide usage in farming, GM crops, gene-edited crops at the ground level, at every forum, right up to every political party in the state.
Writing and speaking on these issues untiringly over the years.