C.A Joseph, creator of ‘Uma’ rice variety, selected for Kerala Food Prize

The late C.A. Joseph, Professor (Plant Breeding) and former head of the Kerala Agricultural University’s Rice Research Station at Mankombu, who developed Uma, Kerala’s most popular rice variety, has been posthumously selected for the first Kerala Food Prize, instituted by the Alumni Association of the College of Agriculture, Vellayani.

The award recognises individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Kerala’s agricultural sector. The honour carries a cash prize of ₹55,555, citation, and trophy.

A statement by the organisers noted that Prof. Joseph, a student of the first batch (1955–58) of the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, served as the head of the Monkompu Rice Research Station during the development of the Uma rice variety and had contributed to the creation of around 17 rice varieties, including Annapoorna.

Developed in 1998, the Uma rice variety revolutionised paddy cultivation in the State. Within a few years of its launch, Uma became a household name among farmers and remains one of Kerala’s most widely cultivated paddy varieties even after three decades.

Recently, Uma rice also gained international attention after being included in a space research mission alongside astronaut Shubhamshu Shukla, it added.