On March 2, 2025, the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems (CIKS) collaborated with the Pasumai Vikatan team to provide hands-on training in the cultivation of Traditional Rice Varieties (TRVs). The training session was conducted at the CIKS farm, with 33 participants, including farmers, traders, landowners seeking cultivation knowledge, and individuals interested in traditional rice marketing. Among them, three were women.
The program covered key aspects such as selecting Traditional Rice Varieties based on soil type and seasonal suitability, technological methods to enhance yield in traditional paddy fields, the traditional rice hulling process that retains essential nutrients, value addition techniques for TRVs to improve marketability, and insights into sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices.
At the end of the program, participants received certificates of participation, along with 1 kg of TRV seeds and a handbook on Traditional Rice Varieties. This initiative and its impact were also featured in the Pasumai Vikatan bi-monthly magazine.