Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems

PROGRAMME FOR THE CREATION OF A CADRE OF VILLAGE BASED YOUTH TRAINED IN ORGANIC FARMING

CIKS has launched an effort to create a cadre of village based youth who can be trained in sustainable agricultural technologies through a year long internship programme with us. The candidates must be village based youth in the age group of 18-30 years sponsored by specific groups or individuals who will absorb them in their field work after the year of training. The full sponsorship amount would be Rs.1.00 lakh for the one year training and each selected candidate will be paid a stipend of Rs.5,000/- per month. The last date for receipt of sponsorship application form is 15 th July, 2011.

Stories of men, women and communities that have become local champions of organic farming - their experience, learning, achievements and aspirations.

In 23rd January, all team members of CIKS from various offices gathered for a day long celebration of the sixteenth foundation day of CIKS at the farm at Sukkankollai. In the forenoon there was a presentation by A. V. Balasubramanian giving reflections about what CIKS set out to do sixteen years back and some of the strengths and limitations of the work. This was followed by a session wherein every single team member of CIKS shared their reflections about CIKS in their perception. The day included cultural programmes that were presented by various team members including some games that were organized.

Our Centre is involved in the promotion of organic farming in Alangadu village of Nagapattinam district from January 2009 onwards. Under this programme, the Alangadu irrigation channel (7 kms) has been cleaned and desilted. This is the first time it has been desilted after a period of 35 years. Now irrigation has become easier and efficient. To facilitate the periodic maintenance of the irrigation channel, a farmers group – Alangadu Vaikaal Pasanatharar Sabai consist of 35 members has been formed with the help of the Department of Agricultural Engineering in Mayiladuthurai. An account has been opened with the contribution from farmers and the Department of Agricultural Engineering for the maintenance of the irrigation channel. By utilizing this amount the irrigation channel is being maintained. Hence a permanent solution has been provided for the maintenance of Alangadu irrigation channel.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

TESTING AND VALIDATION OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE:
THE COMPAS EXPERIENCE FROM SOUTHERN INDIA

Editors: A.V. Balasubramanian,
K. Vijayalakshmi, Shylaja R. Rao and
R. Abarna Thooyavathy.
March 2011.

This publication provides an overview of efforts undertaken by the COMPAS partners towards testing and validation of indigenous knowledge of health and agriculture. It encompasses varied themes including – local health traditions, ethnoveterinary tratditions, bone setting practices and treatment for Malaria in the area of health and characterization of properties of indigenous seed varieties, disease resistence, seed treatment and methodology for rapid assessment of traditional agricultural practices with respect to agriculture. The results have been rich and fascinating and this publication is to share the results of this pilot work with a larger readership.

Price : Rs. 200/-

PROCEEDING OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRADITIONAL PRACTICES IN CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE.

An international conference on traditional practices in conservation agriculture was held in Udaipur in Rajastan between 18 th and 20 th September, 2010. The meeting was organized by the Asian Agri-History Foundation along with the COMPAS International, CIKS and various other organizations. Papers were presented relating to indigenous knowledge and traditional practices, diversified systems, weather forecasting, water conservation and management, animal husbandry and organic farming among other topics. This publication is a compilation of a set of a selection of thirty papers presented during the conference along with selected abstracts of all papers presented.

Price: Rs.350/-

ORGANIC FARMING TECHNOLOGIE–CHILLI (TAMIL)

This pamphlet on Organic Farming Technologies - Chilli in Tamil provides details from seed selection to harvest. It also provides detailed information about organic cultivation practices like land selection, manuring, pest and disease management, post harvest and storage practices. The information on common pest and diseases of chilli and their management measures are provided in detail.

WHY BT BRINJAL IS NOT REQUIRED: Representation made by CIKS to the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

brinjal

Currently, a series of consultations at the national level are being organised by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in connection with the recommendation made by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) about the release of Bt Brinjal. Our Centre has made a submission to the Ministry arguing that indigenous knowledge and resources are available for a satisfactory solution to the problem of fruit and shoot borer in Brinjal. More importantly, these solutions have been tested and field tested repeatedly by the research institutes of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), our Agricultural Universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras as part of a mission mode project on Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) that was taken up by the ICAR itself!

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PESTICIDES – Basic facts
(POOCHIKOLLIGAL - Sila Mukkiya Thagavalgal)

This publication in Tamil entitled “PESTICIDES – Basic facts” provides basic information on chemical pesticides. It also provides information on status of pesticide usage in India , harmful effects and health hazards caused to human beings and animals, environmental pollution etc. It also discusses about the alternative practices to avoid the use of chemical pesticides.

ORGANIC VEGETABLE GARDENING (REVISED AND ENLARGED EDITION)

This revised and enlarged edition of publication in Tamil focuses on how to grow vegetables in your garden without any chemical inputs. It gives information about importance and preparation techniques of compost and vermicompost in detail. It also deals about the preparation of different botanicals and their use in pest and disease control. A section on laying out a vegetable garden is also provided. Cultivation details of some important vegetables are given. Description of pests and diseases attacking vegetables and their control measures are provided.

soil fertility book

ENHANCING SOIL FERTILITY IN ORGANIC FARMING (Revised version)

This publication gives details on methods to enhance the fertility of the soil by making use of easily available material like Farmyard manure, Green manure Green leaf manure etc. This book also describes the methods of the preparation of compost and vermicompost in detail.

botanicals book

BOTANICALS FOR PEST MANAGEMENT IN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE (Revised version)

In this publication methods to prepare plant extracts from commonly available plants which have pest control properties and the method of use has been described in detail.

A TOUR OF OUR EXPERIMENTAL FARM

CIKS maintains a 11.14 acre organic farm in a village called Sukkankollai which is in the Maduranthakam taluk of Kanchipuram district in Tamil Nadu. It is 4 kms from the famous Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary. The farm is an important hub for all our activities.

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