Wonder Women.

Over 50% of the beneficiaries in our various programmes are women farmers. They play a crucial role in the success of the initiatives, taking on key leadership roles in the community, contributing to decision-making, and contribbuting considerable skill and energy towards the sustainability of the programmes.

Do you know this man?
He can protect your
family’s health.

Velmurugan is an organic farmer with a small 3 acre farm in Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu.

How is he a part of your life? Along with his fellow farmers in the region, he works to ensure that the food on your table is safe, healthy and free from chemicals.

CIKS works intensely with these farmers, mobilizing their communities, organising them into groups, and providing them with the training and input they need to go completely organic.

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

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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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 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.

SATHUNAVU THITTATHIL IYARKAIVAZHI KAIKARIGAL (USE OF ORGANICALLY CULTIVATED VEGETABLES IN MID-DAY MEAL)

CIKS implemented a project on ‘Improving the status of Mid-day meals programme through Organic Kitchen Gardening in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu’. The project activities were implemented in ten schools in Nagapattinam district. The experiences gained through this project have been compiled in this book. This publication provides information on importance of balanced diet, preparation of nutritious food, simple methods for setting up organic vegetable gardens in homes and schools in detail.

USE OF ANIMAL PRODUCTS IN TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURE – A PILOT PROJECT IN SOUTHERN INDIA

The COMPAS partners in India have been involved in wide ranging activities in the area of agriculture, traditional healthcare and natural resources management. The partners have a presence in the Southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and varying and complementary strengths relating to field work, experimental research, laboratory work and expertise in the traditional literature and scholarship. It was decided to undertake a coordinated programme involving the four partners in Southern India on the theme of the use of animal products in traditional agriculture. This was a pilot project but the range of activities undertaken was large encompassing - survey of literature of folk practices as well as classical texts of Vrkshayurveda, field survey, research in the laboratory and parallel field research and a continuous process of engagement of partners as a group within themselves as well as members of an expert panel. The results have been rich and fascinating and this publication is to share the results of this pilot work with a larger readership.

System of Rice Intensification – An Introduction (Semmai Nel Sagupady - Oru Arimugam)

System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method is gaining popularity in recent days because of the advantages involved in it like low requirement of water, seeds etc. This book provides information on ways to implement SRI method of rice cultivation organically. It also highlights the advantages of SRI method of cultivation. This book is available in English and Tamil.

English : Rs. 25/- International Price : US $ 4.00

Organic farming Heroes

CIKS has been encouraging and supporting Small and Marginal farmers to convert to organic farming. Through organic farming, CIKS has been trying to enhance the livelihood security of these farmers. In this book, case studies of successful farmers have been presented. Their experiences, reasons for shifting to organic farming, their views and aspirations and a come out on their way of thinking and way of life has been presented in this book. The case studies were done as a series of interviews with the farmers and hence present their learnings in a narrative format. This book is available in English and Tamil.

NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTION (partial document) (TAMIL)

This publication in Tamil provides complete information on standards to be followed in organic production in India. It also provides information on organic methods of animal husbandry, standards to be followed by farmer groups for getting organic certification, list of inputs allowed and restricted in organic agriculture and the quantity of use..

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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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