The ASHA Kisan Swaraj Sammelan 2026 drew seed savers, farmers, researchers, and biodiversity champions from South India for a three-day celebration of seed sovereignty and agroecology. Held February 27-28 and March 1 at Karnataka State Open University, Hunsur Road, Mysore, the festival was jointly organized by Sahaja Samrudha, Using Diversity, Keystone Foundation, and Bharat Beej…
On January 3, 2026, the CIKS team participated in the Indian Folk Rice Conference 2026. The event was organised by CREATE at Pachaiyappa’s College, Chennai. It brought together folk rice custodians, farmers, researchers, policymakers, and civil society organizations from nationwide. Participants advanced conservation, seed sovereignty, and resilient food systems through dynamic knowledge exchange and collaboration.…
On 1st September 2025, the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Prof. Dhanapalan College of Science and Management, invited the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems (CIKS) to deliver a guest lecture on the topic “Traditional Rice Varieties: A Legacy of Nutrition and Wellness.” The session was conducted on behalf of CIKS by Ms. Janani.S and…
On Aadi 18 (August 3, 2025), the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems (CIKS) held its annual Seed Sowing Festival. This year, we’ve expanded our collection to 179 traditional paddy varieties. The event featured the ancient Mulaipari ritual and a ceremonial plowing by our bullocks, Veeran and Theeran. Guests participated in sowing seeds that were treated…
We organized our quarterly review meeting in early July 2025 at the Technology Resource Centre (TRC) in Sukkankollai village, located in Chengalpattu district. Designed as a residential event, the meeting brought together staff members from all CIKS locations. Away from the bustle of city life, the team immersed themselves in the serene atmosphere, enjoying the…
On May 21, 2025, in celebration of International Day for Biological Diversity, the Government of Tamil Nadu organized an awareness event at Guindy National Park to promote public understanding and action towards biodiversity conservation. CIKS actively participated in this event by showcasing 170 traditional paddy varieties, in collaboration with Care Earth Trust. This initiative aimed…
It is with deep regret that we inform you that Mr Ramakrishna Rao, – a member of the board of Trustees of CIKS passed away on 3rd April 2025 at Mysore. He was ailing for the last few weeks but he was cheerful and active almost till the very end. He joined the Board of…
Seminar on Community Seed Banks in India in Times of ChangeDate: 8th and 9th April 2025Venue: National Agricultural Science Complex (NASC), New Delhi A two-day seminar titled “Community Seed Banks in India in Times of Change” was jointly organized by the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI), Norway, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Chennai, Protection of…
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:…
Shri A.M.M.Murugappa Chettiar Research Centre (MCRC) and the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems (CIKS) entered into a contract on April 1, 2023, to collaborate on promoting sustainable agricultural practices through the cultivation and management of Traditional Rice Varieties (TRVs). This contract spans five years, placing the program in its third year since inception. Both MCRC…
