Rice Data Interoperability WG rev-002

Abstract

Amrita Sadivaiyal Vyavasayam Kulu, a group comprising of twenty farmers,
belonging to the tribal community of Irulas, initiated organic farming at
Sadivaiyal, a tribal hamlet in the suburbs of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
This paper explores the case of organic agriculture in a tribal village in
Tamil Nadu. Amrita SeRVe is an initiative launched by the Mata
Amritanadamayi Math. One of its main objectives is to motivate farmers
to make the transition to organic agriculture and hand-hold / mentor
them as they make the switch.Amrita SeRVe (Self Reliant Village project)
planned and helped the farmers from tillage, collection of seeds,
preparation of manures and pesticides, introduction of technological
innovations, modern methods in production and processing of raw
materials till the marketing of products. This experiment  tried at Sadivaiyal
united the farmers in a pristine culture of sharing, caring, protecting and
selling paddy together. This empowered them to know and bargain for
their rights. This was clearly demonstrated in their farming practices,
done without any instance of money-lending or of borrowing loans from
banks.

Keywords:  Organic Farming, Convergence Method, tribal hamlet, Bhavani rice, Tamil
                     Nadu, Sustainable development, Organic rice production, panchagavya,
                     jivamritham, mulching.

Program Manager, Amrita SeRVe, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Amritapuri Campus, Kerala, India. Email: krsreeni72@gmail.com

Article Received on: 06-10-2018                            Accepted on: 18-04-2019

Article-JAEM_0.pdf