Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems Key Issues and
Operational Areas, Major Activiities & Achivements
Operational Districts: Chennai, Cuddalore, Dindigul, Kancheepuram, Nagapattinam , Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Tiruvannamalai, Viluppuram, Chennai, Cuddalore, Dindigul, Kancheepuram, Nagapattinam , Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Tiruvannamalai, Viluppuram
Operational States: TAMIL NADU
AchieveMents: Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems (CIKS) has been working with the objective of exploring and developing the contemporary relevance and applications of Indian Knowledge Systems focusing in the area of indigenous agriculture. In terms of our work we are focused broadly in the following three areas.
1. Research consisting of farm based research, laboratory based research and participatory research with and in farmers fields
2. Extension including training programmes, trainers training programmes, production of educational and training material
3. Farmers institution building and nurturing a large number of farmers institutions including women farmers who are provided technical support, training and institutional capacity building.
THEMATIC FOCUS
The thematic focus is on three different areas namely Biodiversity conservation, Sustainable organic agriculture and Vrkshayurveda (Traditional Indian Plant Science).
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
1. RESEARCH
Some of the key activities and achievements are Testing and standardization of 25 plants, some animal products, use of natural products for the control of certain pests and diseases. Development of storage forms of biopesticides based on approaches of Vrkshayurveda (Traditional Indian Plant Science), development of organic packages for the cultivation of several crops such as paddy, cotton, ground nut, little millet and specific vegetables. Characterisation of agronomic properties of about 100 indigenous paddy varieties including factors such as pest and disease resistance, drought and flood tolerance, tolerance to salinity.
Standardisation of process and setting up of units for production of inputs for sustainable agriculture such as vermicompost, neem seed powder, biopesticides and value added products. Packages for retention and enhancement of soil fertility involving techniques such as biofertilizers, liquid manure, green manure seeds and various other practices. Development of packages for various aspects of seeds and seed technology including production of certified seeds, techniques for seed storage and treatment, techniques for fumigation of seeds to impart resistance to diseases.
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2. TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL
We have conducted over a thousand training programs on organic agriculture and over hundred training programs for trainers and about 100,000 farmers have been covered through trainings. We have brought out 125 publications in six languages of which about 1,50,000 copies have been sold or distributed in various parts of India and thirty seven other countries. Sharing of experiences and research findings relating to several topics including the use of animal products in sustainable agriculture, on farm conservation of indigenous seeds, testing and validation of traditional knowledge.
3. FARMERS INSTITUTIONS
Spread over eight districts, about 110,000 farming families have benefited from our activities and 10,000 Ha of land has been converted to sustainable agriculture (includes certified and under conversion lands)
