Programme Activities
The major objective of this initiative is to concurrently conserve and utilize the rich agro-biodiversity held by poor tribal communities in three agro-biodiversity hotspots: the Jeypore tract in Orissa, known to be a secondary centre of origin of rice; Wayanad in the Western Ghats of Kerala, a Global Biodiversity Hotspot and Kolli Hills in Tamil Nadu, a site known for cultivation of a range of millets. This important project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), New Delhi comprises four thematic areas: Biodiversity Conservation, Utilisation and Enhancement (BCUE), Food Security (FS), Biovillage (BIOV) and Village Knowledge Centre (VKC).

MSSRF, as a technical knowledge and resource center has been concurrently innovating people-centric institutions at other experimental sites. The bio-village model has helped promote synergy between conservation and enlarged options of natural resources like soil, water and biodiversity and to generate non-farm livelihoods. The food security scheme is based on community food banks (CFBs) managed by committees consisting of community members have worked as an effective method of ameliorating poverty in villages. The Village Knowledge Centres (VKCs) are providing valuable and dynamic information and education concerning health, farm productivity, producer-oriented marketing and forewarning of weather and climate driven likely disasters and their management. As valid and innovative structures of integrated management of bio-resources of farming communities, the four paradigms have come to be recognized and commended. Theoretically they have collective strength to reinforce and power integrated Natural Resources Management (NRM) to greater heights. Options to enhance economic and social status can be attempted only after ensuring that poor tribal communities get continued food of their choice.

Earlier work on landraces in Jeypore, has shown that tribal poor have specific preference of food consumption that is difficult to change. Traditional food crops have high nutritional quality and hence up-scaling them would bring about a concomitant improvement in the nutritional status as well. The method namely Food Security, Biovillage and Village Knowledge Centres (VKCs) provide additive support to enrich the economic and stability of the tribal poor and hope to eventually accelerate the reach to MDG1. The process is expected to bring about improvement in the cultural, social and nutritional status. After intense in house discussion, MSSRF chose Jeypore as the site for testing the cumulative output of this initiative.


Biodiversity Conservation, Utilisation and Enhancement

Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB)
In 1998 a MSSRF undertook a pilot survey of farmer practices in the Jeypore tract to understand their traditional practices in rice cultivation. Some of the important problems identified included poor land preparation; direct seeding using a high seed rate, non-availability of quality seeds, disease and pest incidence. The project set to address some of the problems related to land races, their conservation, sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits. Farmers planted 26 landraces of their choice in small plots in upland, medium land and low land using traditional methods and compared with modified method of cultivation. A package of modified methods, which included deep ploughing, proper use of farmyard manure, and selection of seeds by soaking seeds in water and sowing is being promoted. Special attention has been given to large-scale cultivation and market development of Kalajeera, a much- preferred aromatic rice variety by the local communities.

Modified and Farmer Method of Cultivation
Modern agronomic practices advocate optimal plant population to enable effective use of light and nutrients for realizing good yields. This intervention is aimed at exploring possibilities of modifying traditional cultivation while retaining the indigenous technical knowledge. This method of modified agronomy inter spread with traditional practices were termed Modified Cultivation in contrast to the traditional practices followed by farmers.

Participatory breeding including participatory seed purification, participatory breeding and participatory conservation were some of the pathways chosen to demonstrate the benefits of modified methods to farmers. While propagating the modified method, two key criteria were central to the efforts: a) Methods suggested were simple and doable by farmers and b) Methods should not increase the existing cost of cultivation. Farmers were made to understand each step of the modified methods to demonstrate the methods. Modified methods covered land preparation, application of farm yard manure, seed selection before sowing, nursery preparation, sowing and transplanting methods, weeding, seed selection and water management.

The experiments and demonstration yielded varying results that were attributed to varying land holdings and variation in the adoption of modified practices. The adoption of modified methods by farmers was ranked in the following descending order: space planting, optimal seed use, nursery preparation, full- modified module, FYM application, FYM preparation, and land preparation.

Banks with a difference: Gene-Seed-Grain Bank
For ensuring food and seed security and conservation of biodiversity a linked series of community banks have been established.

Field Gene Bank - Land races with distinct characteristics are stored for long term, both by ensuring their continued cultivation in the farm and hence their consumption and through the "Community Gene Bank" at MSSRF, Chennai. The seeds of these landraces are accessed for their genetic material and the economic benefit arising from such use will go to the individual or the community who conserved the landrace.

Seed Bank - A facility for storage of excess seeds of farmers, which can be accessed during times of shortage or can be lent to other needy farmers who return seeds with a small interest.

Grain Bank - A facility for storage of excess grain, which can be lent and returned with interest to families in need. Grain banks ensure food security and also reduce the danger of seeds being consumed in times of stress.

Kalajeera Enhancement and marketing
Kalajeera is an aromatic landrace (LR) of rice cultivated in lowlands. As the names implies, it is a black coloured, small and oval grain variety. It is traditionally used for consumption, particularly during festivals, marriage and birth ceremonies. It is also used to make puddings, Biriyani, Palau. The aroma, taste and other culinary properties of this variety are unique and highly preferred. The tribal custom prefers black-coloured offerings such as black hen, black mustard seeds and black paddy for propitiation of deities.

The tribal community in a participatory stock -taking of currently valued/used landraces, zeroed in on about 26 land races. These landraces were grown in participatory plant improvement experiments using Farmer (F) and modified (M) practices of cultivation. MSSRF provided the modified practices up tuning the tribal practices with scientific input. The very high yields under M compared to F made people realize the value of M for landrace cultivation and decided to switch over to M on their own accord. At harvest, people were provided training on seed selection thus ensuring seed material for the next season. At the end of the experiment, people in coordination with MSSRF scientists, preferentially selected 6 landraces to cultivate on a large scale, 2 each for upland, medium land and low land. Kalajeera is one landrace selected this way for lowland cultivation. Its yield in farmers' small experimental plots of 120 sq.m under traditional and modified conditions clearly demonstrated the high grain and straw yields. People thus became seriously interested in its large-scale cultivation.

As a result of these interventions of MSSRF, the importance of Kalajeera is now increased both within the community and outside. Improved yields realized consistently in farmers' large plots naturally created an increased demand for Kalajeera seed. MSSRF has organized training to participatory farmers on purification and production of good quality seed. It has also enabled the establishment of gene-seed-grain banks, to cope with a demand driven self-reliant seed supply and seed security system. In Tolla, a tribal village farmers voluntarily provided lands for seed production of Kalajeera to extend the programme among more farmers. With technical guidance and using appropriate technology provided by MSSRF, the farmers were able to produce a stock of 29ql pure seeds from mother plants in 2003. In the year 2004, it was extended among 49 farmers cultivating in 29 acres. Simultaneously it was spread over to 83 & 127 farmers cultivating in 66 & 100 acres of land in 2005 & 2006 respectively. Initially the Kalajeera rice marketing was conducted locally in door- to- door approach, retailers, hotels etc. About 16ql rice were sold in a price of Rs.20 to Rs.25 per kg. Marketing problems got compounded during 2006 when production of Kalajeera in Kharif 2005 went up to 45 tonnes and farmers, after reserving seeds and grains for their own use, offered 29.3 tonnes for sale. Neither was it possible to convent them into hand-pounded rice nor was it feasible to sell to local merchants who offered low price realizing the rise in production. Realizing the problems, MSSRF requested the help of the Government to arrange for marketing Kalajeera paddy through Government controlled channels. Government, in turn, directed NAFED to procure Kalajeera at a favorable price. After satisfying about the quality, NAFED gave a good price of Rs.10/-kg of paddy. This is the highest price secured for the first time by poor tribal farmers for a rice landrace.

This success story of Kalajeera has attracted the attention of several villages under Jeypore, Boipariguda and Kundura blocks and it resulted in the formation of Kalinga Kalajeera Rice Growers Cooperative Society (KKRGCS). The increased production of Kalajeera has also revived the market demand for this grain with favorable market prices. MSSRF, handicapped by limited personnel and resources, found it arduous to monitor production in even about 100 acres across 27 hamlets. Therefore there is a need of mainstreaming Kalajeera with Agriculture Department and formation of farmers association those can able to take responsibilities to monitor the cultivation, promotion and market tie up of Kalajeera. The initial step was taken by conducting meetings with 126 farmers.

Kalajeera Paddy Growers Cooperative Society (KPGCS)

State Govt. has accepted the idea and this year the large-scale cultivation of Kalajeera was conducted in collaboration with Agriculture Department of Government Orissa and MSSRF. 69ql of pure seeds of Kalajeera were provided to Government along with training to field officials (VAW, AO, JAO) with package of practice. Preliminary information received from Government and Kalajeera Rice Growers Cooperative Society shows a rise in number of farmers to 319 with an area of 400 acres. NAFED is in the process of procuring the produce.

Contact details of Scientists/leaders involved

Dr. V. Arivudai Nambi
Principal Scientist (Biodiversity)
M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation
III Cross Road, Institutional Area
Taramani, Chennai - 600 113
Tamil Nadu
India
Tel: +91-044-22541229/22541698/22542698
Fax: +91-044-22541319
Email: nambi@mssrf.res.in

Mr.Siba Sankar Mahapatra, Senior Scientist
M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation
Phulbad, Jeypore - 764 002
Koraput Dist.
Orissa
India
Phone: 06854- 233856
Fax: 06854-233856
Email: sibamahapatra@yahoo.co.in;

Dr. Israel Oliver King
Senior Scientist
M. S.Swaminathan Research Foundation
# 42, B2, President Venkat Rao Street
Gandhi Nagar, Mohanur Road
Namakkal - 637 001
Tel: 04286-224499
Email: ediok151173@gmail.com

BIOV
Dr. Sudha Nair
Programme Director (Ecotechnology)
M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation
III Cross Road, Institutional Area
Taramani, Chennai - 600 113
Tamil Nadu
India
Tel: +91-044-22541229/22541698/22542698
Fax: +91-044-22541319
Email: sudhanair@mssrf.res.in

Ms.R.V.Bhavani
Project Director (Food Security)
M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation
III Cross Road, Institutional Area
Taramani, Chennai - 600 113
Tamil Nadu
India
Tel: +91-044-22541229/22541698/22542698
Fax: +91-044-22541319
Email: bhavani@mssrf.res.in

VKC
Mr. S.Senthil Kumaran
Programme Director (Informatics)
M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation
III Cross Road, Institutional Area
Taramani, Chennai - 600 113
Tamil Nadu
India
Tel: +91-044-22541229/22541698/22542698
Fax: +91-044-22541319
Email: senthil@mssrf.res.in

Equator Initiative Award
The Equator Initiative is a global movement committed to identifying and supporting innovative partnerships that reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The programme is based on the recognition that, while biodiversity losses and poverty are increasing in most tropical countries, indigenous and local communities are rising to meet these challenges in creative and effective ways. The Initiative is a partnership of UNDP, the UN's global development network, with Brasil Connects, the Government of Canada, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), IUCN-The World Conservation Union, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Television Trust for the Environment (TVE), and the United Nations Foundation. The Initiative aims at showcasing highly successful and innovative Partnerships.

Tribal Communities of the Jeypore tract won the Equator Initiative Award at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg on 30 August 2002 towards conservation of biodiversity and reduction of poverty in the Equatorial belt.

Panchabati Gramya Unnayan Samithi (Pgus)
The PGUS (Panchabati Gramya Unnayana Samithi) was formed by representatives from 16 villages and located in Tolla village. It has now a registered body and has an executive committee, a constitution and byelaws. The total numbers of General Body members are 100 (Male: 52; Female: 48), and the Executive Committee consists of 32 members (17 male and 15 female). Of the 100, 77 members are Schedule Tribes and 33 belong to other Castes. The Executive Committee of the PGUS operationalises activities related to biodiversity conservation, its enhancement and sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits.

Genome Savior Award
The Panchavati Gramya Unnayana Samiti (PGUS) was conferred with the Genome Savior Award 2007 for conservation of rice germplasm. The award is instituted under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act 2001 by the Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers Rights Authority (PPVFRA) of the Government of India to recognize and reward communities and farmers for their collective efforts in conserving crop/agrobiodiversity resources. The citation by the PPVFRA reads, "These collections were used in the breeding programmes for developing new varieties namely Padma, Vijaya, Pooja, CR 104 and Ketaki Joha and subsequently made available to farmers for cultivation…. Without such selfless conservation of plant materials made by the community and sharing them with others, development of this/these new improved variety (ies) would have been difficult…. In recognition of their outstanding services in conserving, improving and in making available plant genetic resources for the development of new plant varieties, the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority confers on them the certificate of Plant Genome Savior Community Recognition for the year 2007".