Monu Varghese Mammen is the winner of the Malayala Manorama Karshakashri Award 2026 for his outstanding achievements in farming.
Varghese, 38, is set to receive a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh, a citation, and a gold medal in February, Malayala Manorama managing editor Jacob Matthew announced on Wednesday.
The award-giving ceremony will be held in Thrissur in February 2026.
Monu, who is from Veliyathumalili, Elanji Erjnakulam, known in the state for Monu Icecream, was selected unanimously by judges for his innovative farming methods.
The 38-year-old farmer has a mechanical engineering degree. He was found to be consistent in his methods to increase the productivity of his fields and dairy units using a combination of technology, marketing, financial management, and diversification of products.
He and his mother, Valsa, sought to diversify their 20-acre rubber plantation after rubber prices began crashing. In 2019, he set up a dairy unit where he found methods to increase production using climate-controlled cattle sheds and technology for milking. Monu also developed his own formula for making a total balanced ration and effectively reduced the intercalving periods, which he said was crucial in increasing production and income from dairy farming.
As the dairy production turned successful, he got his wife Niss and sister Meenu involved to lead ‘Monu’, a brand that has been gaining popularity in Kerala. The farmer has continued to diversify his cropping and use of technology. He introduced a poultry farm between his rubber plantations in an effort to reduce urea application in paddy fields.
The winner was chosen by a judging committee by evaluating a detailed video report and final observations of the five finalists’ farms, which included M.K. Purushothaman from Sultan Bathery, Wayanad, C.D. Raveendran Nair from Vandanmedu, TV Rajanarayanan from Thiruvilvamala, Thrissur, and K. Saseendran from Vengapally, Wayanad.
The five-member jury said that Monu was selected as the winner as he was an example for young, educated farmers who are willing to use technology for sustainable and profitable farming.
This is the 18th Karshakashri award. A winner is selected every two years. Applications for this year began rolling in on July 1, 2025. The finalists were chosen from a list of 117 applicantsm who were judged for their integrated farming methods, commercial ventures, and agricultural experiments that emphasised environmental protection. Nineteen were shortlisted after the first round, and the list was further reduced to five finalists.
The 17th Karshakashree award was given to PB Aneesh from Kannur District, for establishing a new model of farming with the inclusion of a weather station, sensor-assisted self-regulated drip irrigation system, and fertilizer application based on soil acidity and nutrient levels.
