M S Swaminathan Research Foundation Key Issues and
Operational Areas, Major Activiities & Achivements
Operational Districts:
East Godavari
Operational States: ANDHRA PRADESH
AchieveMents: MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) was established in the year 1988 as a non-profit Trust and recognized by the Department of Industrial and Scientific Research, Government of India. The vision of MSSRF is to link science and society for sustainable and equitable development and the mission is to develop and demonstrate models for large scale replication and policy influencing following a pro-poor, pro-nature and pro-women approach and the principles of anticipatory and participatory research. The MSSRF is working on six thematic areas namely, i) Coastal Systems Research, ii) Biodiversity, iii) Biotechnology, iv) Ecotechnology, v) Food security and vi) Information, Education and Communication.
Coastal Systems Research Programme aims at integrating ecological security of coastal areas and the livelihood security of coastal communities, in a mutually reinforcing manner, to achieve sustainable management of coastal resources. Community centred mangrove wetlandrestoration and conservation is the major focus of this programme. Apart from these, this programme also concentrates on integrated coastal zone management, enhancing adaptive capacity of local community to sea level rise and carbon dynamics in coastal environment.
Biodiversity programme is to optimize conservation and livelihood benefits of the poor who live in the ââ¬Ëbiodiversity hotspotsââ¬â¢ of the Indian peninsular region. Community agro biodiversity -a vital source for livelihood sustenance to a majority of the poor, particularly the tribal communities, and Rare, Endemic and Threatened (RET) plant diversity, including the medicinal plants are the priority areas of action.
Biotechnology programme is based on the societal needs and takes adequate care in blending the conventional technologies with advanced state of art technology in the field of biotechnology research. The focus is on molecular mapping and studying phylogenetic relationships among the mangrove species to gain an insight into intra and inters populations and species diversity. Currently, work is going to develop salt and drought tolerant paddy varieties using genes from mangroves and Prosopis juliflora.
Ecotechnology Porgramme undertakespioneering R&D activities to diffuse environmentally sound technologies through innovative delivery mechanisms, by an inclusive and a process oriented approach for sustainable livelihoods at the grass root level. The Centre promotes sustainable agricultural practices by enhancing input use efficiency - particularly water and nutrients, pest management and farming systems - to improve total factor productivity as well as to conserve natural resources.
Food Security Programme focuses on research, field action training and advocacy. Studies are done on the state of food insecurity in rural and urban India and are undertaken by the Centre and reports are published periodically.Under the Community Food Security Systems, models of Community foodgrain banks are in operation in tribal pockets in Orissa and Tamil Nadu. Pilot initiatives to increase food availability through Community Food grain Banks while the Community-managed nutrition security model isfocusing on infant and young child feeding practices and is being piloted in three villages in Koraput district of Orissa.
Information, Education and Communication Programme implements Village Resource Centres (VRCs) and Village Knowledge Centres (VKCs). This Centreconnects several data generators and data providers focusing primarily on content and capacity building(universities, experts, financial institutions, corporate sector, technocrats, grassroots academicians, etc.) to community and grass roots organizations.In partnership several national and internationalorganizations, MSSRF initiated steps to extend the VKC concept to different parts of the country by creatingmulti-stake holder partnership called ââ¬ÅMission 2007: Every Village a Knowledge Centreââ¬Â.
