Sathyanarayana Beleri is a farmer and also a paddy conservator of Nettinge village in Bellur Gramapanchayath in Kasaragod district in Kerala.[1] [2] A man who turned to agriculture after completing his studies in the 10th standard, is now maintaining a gene pool of more than 650 varieties of rice using innovative methods developed by him. The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority, a statutory body under Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt of India, conferred on Sathyanarayana Beleri the Plant Genome Savior Farmer Reward for the year 2018-19 for his efforts in conserving plant agro-biodiversity.[1] In the year 2024, Govt of India honoured Sathyanarayana Beleri by conferring the Padma Shri Award for his contributions to agriculture.[3] [4]
The rice varieties in his collection include Chitteni, Akrikaaya, Narikela, Suggi kayame, Vellatuven, Gandhasaale, Jeerige Sanna, Ghangadale, Kumkumsaale, Kalame, Kottambarasaale, Karigajavile, Raajamudi, Jugal Kagga, Karijeddu, Parambu Ucchan, Mysooru mallige.