As you are aware, our Centre has been involved for over sixteen years in building capacity for sustainable agriculture in various parts of Tamilnadu. The last few years have witnessed a great degree of interest in organic farming and an ever increasing demand from consumers for organic food. There have also been an increasing number of people taking to organic farming and these are of various kinds such as – small and marginal farmers, large farmers, commercial farmers interested in export, NGOs who are involved in assisting farmers in agriculture and create rural livelihood, institutions and organizations with concerns relating to environment and human health etc. However, one of the main limitations that have been faced in this effort is the lack of trained quality manpower with knowledge in organic farming. Various agricultural universities have educational programmes that are focused almost exclusively on chemical farming and only now there is a slow awakening or realization about the need for education in this area.
PROPOSED CIKS PROGRAMME
Under these circumstances, our Centre has decided to initiate a programme to create a cadre of village based youth with capacities in organic farming. The salient features of our approach would be the following –
• Identify village based youth in the age group of 18 – 30 years who have at least a minimum level of literacy (preferably high school level). • Strong inclination or aptitude to be involved in farming and allied activities preferably with a farming background and farming
• The candidates must be those who take to farming in their own farm or villages or be sponsored by organizations that are ready to absorb them in suitable programmes.
• The training given to candidates will be practical as well as theoretical involving placements with various CIKS field areas, experienced farmers and institutions involved in relevant work.
• Training will be for a period of a year during which time the candidates will receive a stipend of Rs.5,000/- per month.
• To begin with, we are only considering candidates from Tamilnadu / Pondicherry area who know Tamil.
SPONSORSHIPS
The cost for training of one candidate over a period of one year will be Rs.1.00 lakh which includes the stipend of Rs.5,000/- per month that will be paid to the candidate. We are looking for organizations that can identify suitable candidates and meet the sponsorship fee for the training. This sponsorship will also ensure that the candidate can be absorbed in a suitable programme which has a felt need for this expertise.
• In case an organization is unable to raise the full sponsorship amount of Rs.1.00 lakhs we can also consider applications where partial sponsorship amount is raised so long as a suitable candidate is identified.
• Candidates who consider themselves suitable may also apply directly with a sponsor who can support them partly or fully. In case a candidate is found to be suitable, we can also offer a full sponsorship if the candidate cannot find any sponsor.
• Selecting a candidate for training will be considered independent of the availability of sponsorship – no candidate can be assured of selection only because a full sponsorship is available and selection can be assured only if the candidate is found to be suitable by the Selection Committee.
RESPONSE REQUESTED
• Kindly let us know if you would be interested in sponsoring a candidate for this programme. If so, you can fill in the enclosed form and return it to us.
• We also welcome suggestions from you about other institutions and organizations who may be interested in such a programme. Please feel free to share your suggestions with us or pass on copies of this letter to whose who may be interested.
• Any other suggestions from you about the development of such a programme would be most welcome.
IMPORTANT DATES
Date for receipt of sponsorship applications – 15 th July, 2011
Date for finalization of selected candidates – 30 th July, 2011
Commencement of training programme – 15 th August, 2011
SPONSORSHIP FORM - WORD / PDF
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