CIKS has initiated efforts in the realm of traditional rice varieties and has now embarked on a pilot study that specifically targets the biodiversity of fruits and vegetables. This pilot program is set to run for two years, from April 2023 to March 2025.
The key components of the pilot study include:
- Survey of Literature: An examination of both published technical and popular literature, along with classical texts from the Ayurveda and Siddha systems of medicine.
- Field Study: Conducting research within Tamil Nadu.
Based on the findings of the pilot study, the following activities will be undertaken:
- Field-Level Conservation: Preserving selected varieties identified during the study.
- Theme Development: Creating specific themes and topics for further exploration.
- Literature Survey: Investigating literature relevant to Tamil Nadu, focusing on popular Tamil sources, lexicons, dictionaries, Siddha literature, and technical documentation about the properties of traditional vegetable and fruit varieties.
- Field Surveys: Conducting surveys in regions known for the presence of traditional vegetable and fruit varieties, selected based on literature reviews and established network connections.
- Conservation and Documentation: Focusing on the conservation, documentation, and propagation of varieties deemed significant based on their value and threat status.
- Conservation Sites: Preserving selected varieties at both the CIKS Technology Resource Centre and in farmers’ fields.
- Data Documentation: Developing standardized formats for documenting data at various stages of crop growth.
- Cultivation Techniques: Standardizing cultivation practices for key vegetable crops.