N.M. Shaji looks upon 307 varieties of edible tubers, some of which are medicinal and aromatic, on his two acres of land with a sense of pride and achievement. The 43-year-old farmer from Mananthavady in Wayanad is also known as the “tuber man of Kerala” for his relentless efforts in conserving and popularising a wide array of tubers.
Mr. Shaji has received many accolades, including the 2014 Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Award; a special Indian biodiversity award in 2018; the 2021 India Biodiversity Award; and several State awards.