Shillong: The Sadolpara Farmers Group from West Garo Hills has secured the 2023-24 Plant Genome Saviour Community Award. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in India handed the group this top honor for their work protecting the rare Comilla cotton. The variety, known as Gossypium arboreum L. race cernuum, remains a rare genetic treasure limited to this specific region of Meghalaya.
This village group out of the Dadenggre block kept the old ways alive. They preserve traditional seeds and pass down production knowledge through generations. The award recognizes how they hold onto heritage while supporting agricultural biodiversity. The group also maintains indigenous varieties of many other crops to keep local plant resources healthy.
The prize includes a citation, a memento, and 10 lakh rupees. Members will travel to New Delhi on 12 November 2026 to accept the award. The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority organizes the event. Officials chose the village because Comilla cotton represents a valuable component of the region's agricultural heritage and indigenous knowledge systems.
Comments