CREATE is widely recognized as a key consultative and advisory organization in Tamil Nadu for the revival and conservation of traditional paddy varieties.
We have successfully organized 14 Annual National Paddy Festivals between 2006 and 2019, reaching over 1 lakh farmers and distributing more than 2 lakh kilograms of traditional paddy seeds.
So far, we have revived 174 traditional paddy varieties, with 80% being native to Tamil Nadu.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we decentralized our paddy festivals starting in 2020, conducting 36 district-level events across 10 districts. These reached over 7,500 farmers annually, distributing around 15,000 kilograms of traditional seeds each year.
We have established district-level seed banks in 10 districts, conserving over 10,000 kilograms of 10 distinct traditional paddy seed varieties annually, sourced from local farmers.
Alongside every festival, we host traditional food festivals and exhibitions, engaging more than 10,000 consumers — especially women, youth, and students.
In each district, we have empowered 30–40 farmers through capacity building in value addition, processing, and direct marketing of traditional rice varieties.
We have set up five Rice Diversity Blocks across Tamil Nadu, conserving and showcasing over 300 traditional and indigenous paddy varieties.
We have entered into formal collaborations with Thiyagarajar College and SASTRA University to carry out scientific research on the nutritional properties of traditional rice varieties.
Notably, our MoU with SASTRA University led to the first-ever ethno-scientific study screening four indigenous rice varieties for potential health benefits for diabetic patients, offering evidence-based validation.
