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 and CIKS will engage in activities aimed at enhancing sustainability, biodiversity, and conducting ecological and socio-economic studies through research, training, and on-farm implementation. Key research components include the protection and conservation of TRVs, exploring the scientific foundations of traditional knowledge to advance biodiversity, and developing strategies for risk management in agriculture, particularly in relation to climate change. This encompasses early warning alerts based on soil, water, biodiversity, and crop yield outcomes.
Training sessions will be provided for young farmers, farming organizations, and to other farming related institutions. Major topics covered in these trainings include crop variety selection, seed selection and treatment, preparation of organic inputs, main field management, identification of crop maturity indices, post-harvest and storage techniques.
On-farm implementation involves identifying suitable farmers for TRV cultivation, supplying quality seeds, monitoring fields during critical cropping stages, and providing ongoing technical support.