MSSRF | Biodiversity

Activities of the Biodiversity Theme at Namakkal and Kolli Hills

Conservation and Enhancement of biological diversity through strengthening livelihoods among rural and tribal women and men in and around Namakkal

Introduction
Namakkal is located in the semi arid region of the southern peninsular India with hilly regions like Kolli Hills and plateau region at the outset. The rainfall varies between 300 to 750 mm and the soil type varies between red to black clay. Agriculture in this region is mostly dependent on rainfall during southwest monsoon. Depending upon the availability of water the cultivation pattern ranges from sugarcane, paddy, cotton, Onion, Sorgham, Tapioca, etc. Millets like little millet; foxtail millet and ragi were once cultivated in large quantities and used for food for sustenance lost its demand due to change in food habits and its low economic potential, though they are the key stone species in such semi arid condition. However, these millets are still continued to be cultivated in fringes of the district and hilly tracts like Kolli Hills, where communication through road and telecommunications are difficult. During seventies heavy investments were made by the government for heavy vehicle loan and poultry industry in Namakkal district. This investment picked up well and became the major revenue for the district. However, the poultry industry on one hand suffer from steady increase in feed cost due to purchase of feed materials from far of states on the other hand the agriculture dependent farm families in the rural sector suffer from poor agriculture development and lack of agricultural support system.

As elsewhere on the globe this semi arid tract (Namakkal) harbors very high Biological diversity and diversity of agriculture crops among the marginal traditional rural and tribal communities. The rural and tribal women and men in these regions are also repositories of vast knowledge of this biological diversity on its ecology, environment, medicinal use and cultivation techniques. In the recent past these biologically rich areas are threatened of extinction due to their poor economic potential to support their livelihood in the changing socio-economic condition.

Agro-biodiversity plays a vital role in food security, poverty reduction and management of natural resources. Changing socio-economic conditions leads to both loss of biodiversity and the ecosystem services they render. It is pertinent to mention that of the 7000 edible species only 30 are widely used in agriculture for fulfilling human needs. Even among the thirty, only three species - rice, wheat and maize fulfill 90% of the global food needs. Therefore, there is an urgent need for widening the food basket to ensure sustainable development. Against such a backdrop, the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) has initiated activities in Jeypore (Orissa), Wayanad (Kerela) and the Kolli Hills, Namakkal (Tamil Nadu) for developing models for conservation of agro-biodiversity for food security, reduction of poverty and management of natural resources by increasing the food basket. Foundation strongly believes that anything that is used will be conserved.

The Conservation efforts that focus on In-situ and Ex-situ methods lack in approaches on recognition and enhancing the community conservation methods in In-situ conservation has been a major thrust areas of work of M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, Site Office in Namakkal. In this process several models are being tested in Kolli Hills in Namakkal for creating an economic stake in conservation through strengthening their livelihoods with a Philosophy of "Creating economic Stake in Conservation". The Site office aims at facilitating the empowerment of rural and tribal women and men in this regard with socio-economic and ecological security.

Goal

Facilitate the traditional rural and tribal communities to strengthen their livelihood options through conserving their local biodiversity.
Impart skills to the traditional communities towards Management of Natural Resources and Conservation of their Biological Diversity
Empower rural and tribal women and men towards social and gender issues in conservation, enhancement and equitable sharing of benefits of Biological diversity.

Objectives

Ensure availability of seed stock of Agro biodiversity and Biological diversity of region amongst local community
Ensure Conservation and enhancement of knowledge pertaining to Agro biodiversity and Biological diversity of region amongst the local community
Strengthen socio-economic and ecological function of local Agro biodiversity and Biological diversity of region towards sustainable livelihood of local community
Empower tribal and rural women and men towards efficient management of Natural Resources for sustainable future.
Enhance production and productivity of agriculture systems with improved techniques for traditional varieties
Exposure, selection and adoption of improved agriculture techniques in cultivation, processing and value addition of traditional crops by rural tribal women and men for a successful enterprise development.
Creating demand for neglected and under utilized crops through increasing the food basket locally and outside.
Improving organic cultivation and farming techniques for increased quality and quantity in agriculture systems of rural and tribal community
Building capacity of rural and tribal women and men to avail organic certification
Create partnership with public and private entrepreneurs for successful marketing of agriculture produces
Create network among different government departments, NGO's and public sectors for technical and logistic support.

Activities are conducted through three different projects at Kolli Hills, Namakkal and Dharmapuri. The projects are implemented through the site office within the mandate of the foundation and take lessons on ground to address issues at policy level.

Kolli Hills
The Kolli Hills located in the Eastern Ghats of southern India is a center of diversity for millets. The Malayalis, the tribes inhabiting the Kolli Hills use nine landraces of little millets (locally known as Samai), eight landraces of Italian millets (locally known as Thinai), four landraces of Kodo millets (locally known as Varagu), etc.(See Table below). They have evolved a variety of cropping practices that includes intercropping, crop rotation, mixed cropping and mixed farming suited to the local agro climatic conditions to support their food and nutritional security. In the last two decades, promotion of commercial crops like tapioca, coffee, pepper, has reduced the area under traditional food crops; has increased the use of chemical fertilizers; has encouraged migration of people destroying their sound cultural values and practices leading to a food insecure future for the region. Such an approach without insights into local tradition and culture leads to unforeseen consequences, which is not conducive to the sustainable development of the region. Moreover, the interest and attitude of the tribal community towards commercial horticulture such as plantation of silver oak, pepper, coffee, and cardamom estates has put added pressure on traditional agriculture. Besides, there is a growing trend of weakening culture and value system, dilution of traditional institutions and growing interest in commercially oriented development, resulting in ignorance about the importance and nutritive values of millets, especially among the younger generation. There is a tendency among the younger generation in the Kolli Hills to argue that hand-pounding millets is drudgery and minor millets do not have any marketing value. Government policies related to crop loan, crop subsidies, also tend to favor commercial agriculture. The Public Distribution System (PDS) supplies food items like rice, wheat, maida, rava at reasonable cost, offering an easy choice for people to prefer these instead of locally grown millets. All these conditions have had a cumulative effect in bringing down the cultivation of millets.

This issue is being addressed by MSSRF through its site office in Namakkal by making an attempt to raise the profitability of cultivating millet landraces through processing, value addition and marketing. M. S. Swmainathan Research Foundation has been conducting research under the frame work of Conservation, Natural resource Management and Poverty reduction in Kolli Hills, a part of Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu in India with the participation of Malayali tribes who reside in the discontinuous hill region. Millets are the traditional crops cultivated and consumed by the people of this region. The millets, particularly the Finger millet (Eluesine coracana), the Italian millet (Setaria italica) and the little millet (Panicum sumatranse) have been identified under the category of "Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS)" in this hilly tract. Although these crops are less competitive in comparison with the commercial crops which are now under cultivation, they are strategic in local consumption and production systems as sources of nutrition, income and risk mitigation for local people and are highly adapted to the agro-ecological niches. So in order to promote the millets in this region, there is a need to develop better production and post harvest technologies, competitiveness, new opportunities such as new food and lifestyle trends and rural tourism and better policy frame works to support nutritional rich millets. Different strategies have been developed through Conservation, Cultivation, Consumption and Commerce. Key activities conducted the year 2007 are summarized below:

IMPROVED AGRONOMIC PRACTICES IN MILLETS
Participatory Plant Improvement on Little Millet (Panicum sumatrense)

Landraces of millets cultivated in Kolli Hills

Common name	Local existing landraces
Common name: Little millet Scientific name: Panicum sumatrance Vernacular name: Samai	Sadansamai, Thirikulasamai, Karumsamai, Kettavettisamai, Kottapattisamai, Malliyasamai, Perumsamai, Vellaperumsamai, Elansamai,

Common name: Italian Millet Scientific name: Setaria italica Vernacular name: Thinai	Senthinai, Palanthinai, Karunthinai, Perunthinai, Killanthinai, Koranthinai, Mosakkannathinai, Mokkanathinai

Common name: Common Millet Scientific name: Panicum miliaceum Vernacular name: Panivaragu

Common name: Kodomillet Scientific name: Paspalum scrobiculatum Vernacular name: Varagu	Peruvaragu, Thirivaragu, Karunkalivaragu, Senkalivaragu.

Common name: Finger millet Scientific name: Ellucine quracana Vernacular name: Kezvaragu	Sattakezvarugu, Karakezvaragu, Kurungkezvaragu

For the Kharif 2007, the following method of cultivation has been advocated to the farmers across four Panchayats. After the analysis of the data gathered from Kharif 2006, appropriate changes were made as per advice in the Modified method of cultivation and in the procedure in the data collection (a, b, c).

a. Field preparation

Seed selection - Soak in water, remove floating seeds
Nursery - Keep soil well prepared - transplant 20 - 25 old seedlings
2 - 3 cm deep - sow soaked seed , sow in rows spaced 20 - 25 cm apart broadcast in rows and then thin plants to have between-plant spacing around 10 cm
Spacing 10cm X 22.5 cm
Seed rate 8 Kgs/ hectare - line sowing
Use rectangular or square plots as far as possible
Use North -South rows
If needed One or two weeding
Use plots ¼ acre and above in Patta lands
Identify and utilize services of 10 ITK farmers for supervising purity of crop

b. Record maintenance

Rain fall/ temperature from June 2006 to end of the cultivation (Record from news paper)
Seedling Vigor (Poor, Good and Excellent)
Date of sowing
Days to 50% flowering
Days to seed fill (Milky stage)
Days to seed maturity

c. Harvesting data collection (Day on which harvested)

On (2m X 2m) random samples (Take 5 such samples) per field
No of plants at Maturity in each (2m X 2m) Quadrate
Plan height in cm ( based on 10 plants at Random)
No of effective tillers (Tillers that bears grain( based on 10 plants at Random)
No of Non effective tillers
No of Internodes
No of Panicles (based on 5 plants at random)
Panicle Length Average of 10 Main panicles
Seed/Grain weight per 500 ml volume measuring jar using dried grains per quadrat
Grain Yield / Quadrat
Straw Yield / Quadrat
Grain Yield / Plot
Collect all the seed from farmers and make it available for next year sowing (One way - keep 20% seeds at a common place at your control)

Distribution of Seeds for Relay Cropping
In Kolli Hills, traditionally relay cropping was practiced after Kharif season. Crop such as Coriander, Pulses and Greens are mixed and cultivated following Kharif millet cropping. This is grown as mono cropping as well as mixed farming. This relay cropping system has almost displaced due to cultivation of annual commercial crop, Tapioca. This has resulted in shrinkage in food crop diversity and availability with in the tribal villages. To address this issue, seeds of Mung Dhal and Coriander were distributed to the Farmers, who practiced modified method of cultivation in Kharif 2006.

Mini Percolation Pond Construction
During summer season up land farms severely affected due to drought. Due to erratic seasonal rain fall, farmers could not depend on rain water for second cropping. But, seepage water from the forests and rock crevices, farmers takes the second crop (paddy) in the valleys. In the recent years due to severe drought, farmers could not even take second paddy crop. In this context, Mini percolation pond system was introduced to this region to effectively make use of the seepage water for the purpose of relay cropping after the Kharif 2006. A Mini pond, with size of 8 ft Length, 5 ft depth, 5 ft Breath was advised to dig nearer to the water canals, rivulet and seepage sources which are closer to the farmer's field. Such mini ponds were dug in 11 Farmers field in Aripalapatti, Aripalpatti colony, Vilaram, Periyamangalam and Chinnamangalam. Farmers have shown interest in taking up this advice as this facility is useful in their farming especially for millets, vegetable and fruit crops. Water is lifted from pond manually using vessels in most cases except a farmer who uses a power motor to lift water. Adequate safety measures have been made to ensure protection of ponds from access to children and cattle's. Stone obstacles, soil bunds, life fencing have been made by farmers to protect these ponds. Sign boards also have been placed nearer to these ponds highlighting importance and methods of usage of these ponds.

RURAL INFERASTRUCTURE CREATION

Aripalapatti Processing Mill
Millet processing involves lot of drudgery and human labor. There are two millet de-husking mills were installed in two locations in Kolli Hills and operated by SHGs in Kolli Hills. Devanur is known for cultivation of Millets. Based on the demand of the SHGs and millet farmers in this region efforts were made to bring a dehusking mill at Aripalapati with the support of DRDA and Community Banking programme of MSSRF. Resolutions were made by SHGs to get Infrastructure support from DRDA, Namakkal. Accordingly, SHGs representative were facilitated to participate in District collector and Project Officers meeting and requested for infrastructure. District collector assured the SHG for bringing infrastructure for the mill at Devanur region as per the guidelines of DRDA. In another meeting with project officer, DRDA asked the SHG to purchase and register the land in the name of SHG and donate the portion of land to Block development officer (BDO). After the completion of this prerequisite the proposal has been approved by DRDA for construction. SHG has resolved to purchase the land accessible to road in Aripalapatti. As a follow-up of this initiative, 5 cents of land has been purchased by Kaliamman Sutrusulal padukappor sangam collectively by 12 women SHG members and legally registered. Of this area, 3 cent of land has been donated as Dhan settlement to the Block development officer, Kolli Hills block as part of administrative procedure. With the support of DRDA, under the rural infrastructure scheme, building has been constructed with the estimate of Rs. 3.75 lac. Further efforts have been taken with proposal of SHG for the support of purchase and erection of Mills in this premise.

Improving standards of existing Mill at Kuchakiraipatti
Millet dehusking facility in Kuchakiraipatti has been aided with oil engine. During the period, Nanbargal SHG proposed to convert the existing unit to electrify the processing unit. As apart of this process, a loan of Rs.60, 000.00 has been taken by group from Friends of MSSRF. With this financial support, effort has been taken through the government departments to get the electrification for mill. Pathways have been discussed for improving standards of machinery units. New set of packing materials are designed and printed. Efforts are being taken for getting the TIN no for the group from the Sales tax office. These steps would helps in scaling up the volume of production with quality standards.

Minor Millet Value Addition and Marketing Linkage
Value added marketing for millets have been identified as a viable approach for conservation of millets for Natural Resource Management (NRM), enhance Food Security and Poverty Reduction. This is being achieved through a network of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), who have been trained to process millets, make food products such as rava and flour from Samai and Thinai. Quality control measures like uniform grain size, colour and moisture have been standardized. Market specific value addition techniques like recipes, packing material, and gifts have been imparted to the groups. This capacity building exercise has led millet growers to get linked with the local markets and to the FOOD WORLD, a supermarket departmental chain store, for sale of their products. The move enables SHGs to increase their income. Prior to the MSSRF intervention, millets mostly Samai and Thinai were bartered for other locally produced grains. For the first time through MSSRF facilitation these were sold in the year 1999 at a cost of Rs.5/- per kg to TRIFED. Gradually, the quality increased through processing and value addition. Currently it is sold at the rate of Rs.33/- per kg. The market demand has increased to several tons per month, which encourages farmers to increase the area under millets.

As a part of constant millet promotional effort, millet producers and processors are encouraged to supply their product to various Organic Shops at Namakkal, Coimbatore, Erode, Trichy, Thiruvanamalai, Chennai. Following millet value added products has been periodically supplied in the market: Samai, Thinai rice and Flour, value added items like Samai Bajji Mix, Samai Dosa Mix, Ragi Malt, Samai Uppuma mix, Thinai Payasam Mix, Thinai Laddu, Ragi Rotti mix, and Ragi Flour were promoted and supplied to different shops. Recently, 10 additional supply linkages have been created for Millet products to name few: Annai organic shop, Madipakkam, Chennai, LAYCO'S Nature Food Shop in Thanjavur, Earth Trust, Nilgris, Arnodhya Organic Farm Products in Thiruvannamalai. Arya, Coimbatore which are apart from 8 market institutions already established. New strategies also have been worked out to tie up with agencies like Green Fiesta, "24 letter Mantra" Sresta chain of Super Bazars of organic out lets.

Efforts in improving the packing standards
Packing covers for the millet packing cover designed since the earlier stock was exhausted. A size of 6"X10"and 7"X10" is made for millet rava and millet flour respectively. 62 Kg of millet value added product cover printed the cost of packing material and printing charge is around Rs.10,000/- which is taken from the loan amount of Rs.0.6 lacs. Packing is made with a common logo but with different colors for different products. Product details are printed at the rear side of the pack cover bilingually. Half a Kilogram covers also printed for Value added products. Packing material cost has been reduced when compare with earlier attempt.

Natural Resource Management
Millets are raised under inter cropping, multiple cropping, mixed cropping and crop rotation with a range of cereals, pulses and vegetables. Such cultivation practices involves combination of crops having different food value, maturity period, input period and capacity to withstand calamities, and helps in minimizing the risks, stabilizing household food supply, maintain soil health through recycling crop residue and meets

Multiple needs of the rural poor. Further, these crops respond poorly to fertilizers, creating a condition for organic inputs and encourage mixed farming systems, whose fodder output is used for cattle and grain is for backyard poultry. The nutrients thus generated, provide organic inputs to crops making a balanced nutrient cycle. However, such a production system may not be able to compete with hybrid production systems. At the same time, the market values for organically produced goods are higher in the international and national metropolitan markets. The differential nature of the markets has been communicated effectively to the tribal community in order to build their capacity. They have been facilitated to avail internationally recognized organic certificate like ECOCERT of Germany. Further, supporting technologies like earthworm compost, biodynamic composting and bio-fertilizer have been highlighted to the community in an organized manner. All these enhance the functions of the village ecosystem and efficiency of resource use resulting in an effective and sustainable management of natural resources.

ORGANIC FARMING
In the changing economic scenario the agricultural systems are modernized day by day. Hybrid varieties brought about marked changes in the agricultural production sector and increased the income level of the farming communities. In this scenario inorganic fertilizers and pesticides production increasing in a much rapid rate to substitute the natural supply of nutrients from the soil system. Such a development not only leads to loss of biodiversity at all levels starting from soil it also leading to contamination of various natural systems like soil, water, air etc. and also enters into food chain through bioaccumulation process. Thus presence of inorganic residue in the agricultural products draws international attention and people are switching over to organic farming methods and also prepared to pay higher cost for organically produced agricultural goods especially the food grains, vegetables and fruits. Hence, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) has identified organic market as an important market place for creating a value added market chain for Kolli Hills tribal community. MSSRF Facilitated this organic market value added chain with the help of Ion Exchange Enviro Farms Limited (IEEF) between the years 1999-2005 and created inter-national market tie-ups for the tribal community through organic certification process. Tri-partite agreement has been ended by end of 2005

Revival of Organic Pine Apple Export Linkage
Based on felt need and demand of the people, efforts have been taken for revival of such linkage with the new partner-ITC, a leading organic product promoter in India. Mr.Purusotham, ITC representative visited Kolli Hills in the month of November last year. Apart from series of discussions, efforts have been taken for making agreement with ITC and Certification with IMO control. Field data and Mapping, Field inspection Internal Control System maintenance with the support of ICS personnel support would likely to start from subsequent months.

This on going efforts not only promotes the household stable income, but also reduces the drudgery and relieves the people from loss incurred due to fluctuating market demand and helps in safeguarding from the over exploitation of middlemen and promoting the organic farming practice for sustainable livelihood of the rural poor. Apart from these direct benefits, the organic marketing strategy helps in natural resource management through retaining them in management of their soil with organic manures.

GRASS ROOT INSTITUTIONS IN KOLLI HILLS
There are 21 Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Kolli Hills, facilitated by M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF). They are, for convenience, grouped in 3 clusters named Chenbagam, Mullai and Roja. The 21 SHGs consist of 15 exclusively female, 6 exclusively male and 1 mixed groups. Participatory appraisal was conducted in December 2007 to find out their income saving status of the SHGs.

Village Knowledge Centre and National Virtual Academy
Efforts have been taken to officially inaugurate the Village Knowledge Centre at Varagur, Namakkal District. Subsequent to formation of VKC Management committee at Varagur, three sets of computer systems have been installed at VKC. This VKC is managed by two knowledge workers from same village. As a part of the Jamsetji Tata National Virtual Academy for Rural Prosperity (NVA) fellowship programme about 25 NVA fellows have attended iv and v convocations of NVA is being held at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore on 17 Feb 2007 and 1 August 2007 at New Delhi respectively. Apart from social prestige, NVA has provided them with an opportunity for giving full expression to their talents and to their commitment for rural uplift. The fellows of the NVA will help to bridge the growing urban-rural digital divide in remote terrain like Kolli Hills. NVA fellows will help to make our country a truly knowledge society, where knowledge helps to improve the quality of life of the poorest of the poor.

IFAD PROJECT IN KOLLI HILLS
Conservation, Productivity Improvement, Values addition and Poverty reduction related issues are addressed by M. S. Swaminthan Research Foundation with the Support of Bioversity International - IFAD- MSSRF project with the aim of "Empowering the rural poor by strengthening their identity, income opportunities and nutritional security through the improved use and marketing of neglected and underutilized species".

Project Area:
The first phase the IFAD project was started in Kolli Hills in 2001 and was operational in two villages namely Padasolai and Semboothuvalavu of Thirupulinadu Panchayat. The second phase of the project has been started in the year 2007 and is being operated in five villages namely, Padasolai, Thirupuli, Puliampatti, Semboothuvalau and Thuvarapallam of Thirupulinadu Panchayat. There are five Self Help Groups and two Farmer's Clubs functioning in the project area

Areas of focus:

Assessment and enhancement of income generation based on NUS
Assessment of nutritional values of NUS and development of strategies or their enhanced use in nutritional programmes
Enhancement of human and social capital of stakeholders to manage NUS and derive benefits from their use combined with strengthening local identity
Exploring role of rural tourism in promoting NUS
Improvement of availability, knowledge and maintenance of genetic resource base
Promoting better policies and legal frame works for the sustainable and equitable use of NUS.
Promoting cooperation in NUS management and raising awareness of the importance of NUS to livelihoods.
Mobilization of support and raising funds for NUS activities

Farmer Participatory field trials:
In order to enhance the productivity and income per unit area in the millets, the farmers are encouraged to adapt improved methods of millet cultivation as against the traditional method. The improved methods of cultivation are demonstrated to the farmers through participatory field trials and conducting on farm training programmes.

Intercropping of millets in Tapioca crop In the last two decades, tapioca has become a main cash crop in Kolli Hills. To revive the interest of cultivating millets, intercropping of finger millet or little millet with tapioca was chosen as strategy. In the early stages of tapioca crop, till 2 months, the canopy spread is very much limited. It is suggested to the farmers to utilize the space between two rows of tapioca lines for growing millets.

The participatory trials are conducted in order to demonstrate that the farmers can get an additional income through growing millets without losing their Tapioca crop.

Participatory Varietal Selection
A collection of 6779 varieties of Finger millet, Italian millet and Little millet were assembled from ICRISAT and the National Millet Improvement Programme located at Almora, Rajendra Nagar, Pant Nagar and Bangalore and participatory varietal trials were conducted consecutively for two years during the first phase of the project. Twenty one farmers and project scientists made a preliminary selection of more than 150 accessions. During the second cycle of selection, 125 varieties comprising 65 finger millet, 36 Italian millet and 24 little millet accessions in Kolli Hills. In further selections about 35 varieties were selected including 12 Finger millet, 11 Italian millet and 12 Little millet varieties. The selected varieties are being multiplied and are supplied to the millet growers in Kolli hills. In the year 2007, 8 varieties of finger millet, 1 Italian millet and 1 little millet varieties have been received from All India Small Millets Improvement programme, UAS Bangalore which are also multiplied and seeds of selected varieties are supplied to farmers

Value addition:
Value addition of millets helps to realize better income to the millet growers. The members of Self Help Groups have been trained in value addition of millets in UAS Dharwad. In order to help making the millet products, two small mills have been given to the Self Help Group members. Six more flour mills have been proposed to be given to the Self Help groups in Kolli Hills for making millet products like Ragi flour, Ragi malt etc.,

FAO IFPRI MSSRF project in Kolli Hills and Dharmapuri Plains
Using markets to promote the sustainable utilization of crop genetic resources. Case study on minor millets in Kolli Hills and Dharmapuri Plains, Tamil Nadu, India

Background and Rationale
India was selected for one of the case study countries under the overall project on "Using Markets to promote the Sustainable Utilization of Crop Genetic Resources" because improving access to seeds and varieties and maintaining local diversity are important issues in the current agricultural development and biodiversity strategies of the country. Moreover India is the first country to pass legislation on the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act in 2001. In principle, although not yet in practice, the legislation grants intellectual property rights to a spectrum of plant varieties, including farmers' varieties or landraces. The effect of changing intellectual property regimes on plant variety development and dissemination, especially in the developing world, is yet to be seen. The proposed legislation on seeds are expected to have wider impact on genetic resource policies, specifically the multilateral intellectual property rights regimes being negotiated under the WTO and the recent enactment of Farmers' Rights provision in India.

This project is implemented by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) with the technical backing of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). The Foundation is a leading NGO working on sustainable agriculture and rural development efforts in India. The project also fits aptly into their agenda as the major focus of the Foundation is to orient policy relevant to crop genetic resources and their conservation efforts in India. Typically minor millets could be best described as examples of underutilized plant species, being locally important but commercially traded on a very limited scale outside the producing communities. They are often termed "coarse grains," and pertain here to finger millet, foxtail millet, and little millet. Further "minor" refers to the extent of research investment and commercial importance of the crop in terms of area, production, and consumption (Nagarajan and Smale, 2005). Though the area under minor millets is limited to certain states of India, these crops still play a significant supplementary role in dryland farming systems.

Project Site
In Kolli Hills situated in the Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu, a genetically diverse pool of minor millet varieties are grown by the tribal farming communities to meet their subsistence food needs as well they are autarkic (self-sufficient or subsistent) in terms of their seed needs. Most of these minor crops are not traded outside the farming communities, though on a limited scale in the local and urban markets as a result of recent development interventions. Despite a consumption preference among the local farming communities for minor millets, in the recent past the acreage under minor millet crops have declined considerably due to the availability of substitute crops such as cassava, rain fed rice, pineapple and coffee which are exclusively grown for market purposes. The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, has led targeted conservation cum commercialization intervention programs over the last 7-8 years in the Kolli hills, with the objectives of 1) increasing the marketing potential of these minor millet crops by adding value to them and 2) helping the farming communities to maintain the existing diversity among the minor millet crops by providing economic incentives for their conservation efforts.

In Dharmapuri, a neighbouring district, characterised by semi-arid, plain conditions, minor millets such as finger and little millet are grown under large acreage with the existence of fairly developed market centers for the grains located in Pennagaram and Harur blocks and Dharmapuri. The farm households also specialize in other grain crops (rice) although minor millets are still considered important from supplementing their food needs. The grains that are traded in the market centers are exported to neighboring states such as Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and also to North India. The district also has an agricultural research station located in Payyur that conducts research towards the improvement of small millet crops in Tamil Nadu. Thus it is evident that compared to Kolli Hills, in the major millet-producing district of Tamil Nadu namely the plains of Dharmapuri district, there exists markets for grains. Here again, there exists no well-developed market for seed. Sometimes seeds of improved or modern varieties of finger and little millet seeds are provided through either government subsidy programs or through field demonstrations of agricultural research stations . Also as such there are no specific or key interventions undertaken by any civil or governmental institutions to support marketing of minor millets in the plains. Our preliminary visits and discussions with vendors in major market centers and farm households that grow minor millets in Dharmapuri district revealed that farmers in these semi-arid, marginal environments choose to grow different types and varieties of minor millets (finger, little and fox-tail millet). The varieties include both traditional (mostly in the case of little and fox-tail millets) and modern varieties in the case of finger millet. It was not clear if the diversity that exists in the farm level is transmitted to markets or vice versa.

To recall, the major objective of this research project is to empirically assess the ways in which agricultural markets affect how farmers utilize crop genetic resources, and to identify possible interventions the public sector could take to improve the market-stimulated farmer incentives to use these resources in a sustainable way. Hence it is important to investigate the relationship between genetic diversity in the market system and that on-farm with regard to (small or) minor millets, that includes finger millet, little and fox-tail millets.

Process and Out put
Selection of site and the crop (millets) was completed by June 2006. Farmer's focus group discussion were organised in the months of June-July 2006. Following this, the methodology and research designs for three different components of the study, viz. market survey, household survey and value chain analysis were firmed up. Value chain analysis was undertaken in October-November 2006 in Kolli hills. Market survey and Household survey at Dharmapuri and Household survey at Kolli hills were done between Sept 2006-Aug 2007. Data entry has been completed by December 2007 and efforts for Analysis and production of respective reports based on the surveys are in the pipeline.

Analytical report based on VCA has been prepared submitted in September 2007. The following reports emanating as offshoot are under consolidation. 1. Millet value added product standardization -economic analysis, 2.Millet market flow in Tamil Nadu, 3. Farmer evaluation of Best practices of Millet land race conservation in Kolli Hills, 4.Case study on Small millet diversity and markets in Pennagaram block, Dhamapuri, Tamil Nadu. Germplasm collected both from Dharmapuri and Kolli Hills is being raised in on-farm trial plot; Data collection and Morphomatric characterization is being done and report will be prepared by 03/08. Final consolidated report will be submitted possibly by 03/08.

Anticipated Outcome of the project

Quantitative estimate of the Millets Conservation, Cultivation, Consumption, Commerce (4c's) Scenario of Millets in Dharmapuri Region and Kolli Hills
Strengthen the Database of Millets status and Provides pathways and strategies for improving 4c's of millets in Kolli Hills
Product Standardization would help Grass Root Institutions in Marketing
Field and genetic Characterization of Millets provides robust data and deeper understanding in terms of role of market in maintaining diversity
Help in identifying the policy issues related to Millets
a) role of research and technology investments in Millets,
b) role of PDS, Crop subsidy, Crop Loan for Millet Farming
c) inclusion in Noon Meal Programme, ICDS Schemes as health food
Holistic idea about the millet status in Tamil Nadu
A workshop to share results with stakeholders and for policy advocacy and explore the way forward can be planned for 07/08.

Significant leads
The study has larger policy implications not covered under the LOA. These findings can help promote a case for market support for millets and widening the food security basket under the public distribution system to include millets, as recommended by the national commission on farmers

Molecular characterization of germplasm collected from both regions can help establish genetic diversity in samples collected from the markets and households - will require more time and can be a follow-up of the project

This study has also given a preliminary overview of millet cultivation in the state. More intensive study could be undertaken as a follow-up to get a broader perspective that can have larger policy implications

Products and Publications from Community Biodiversity Centre, Namakkal

Ph.D Thesis

Name	Year	Title

E.D.Israel Oliver King	2005	Sacred Forest of Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu, India- A Study on Botany, Ecology and Community Interaction

S. Malarvannan	2004	Studies on Biocontrol of Helicoverpa armigera using traditional plants

R.Rengalakshmi	2003	Conservation biology of little millet (Panicum sumatrense Rothex Roem.A Schultz) landraces of Kolli Hills, South India.

Jeyasree Venkatesan	2000	Biodiversity and Gender correlates: A case Study of Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu.

M.Jeyanthi	1997	Saving endangered plants: A case study on the Crotalaria longipus Wight and Arn

M.Sc Dissertation

Name	Year	Title

T.Rajesh	2007	Land Use, Land Races and Land Tenure System In the Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu

M.Kumaran	2004	Assessment of Development Interventions of M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation in Kolli Hills Using Geographical Information System

Contributions as/in Popular Articles/Academic Journals/ Books/Reports

As Popular Articles:

E.D. Israel Oliver King et al, Sacred groves: Socio-Biological aspects. The Indian Express, September 19 1996, Page: 4.
E.D. Israel Oliver King, Pasunsolaigalaal Paadhugakkapadum Sutrusulal. Dinamalar (Tamil), August 29, 1999 Page: 18.

In Journals:

Israel Oliver King, E.D., Chitra Viji., and D. Narasimhan.1997. Sacred Groves: Traditional Ecological Heritage. International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences 23:463-470.

In Books:

Rengalakshmi, E.D. Israel Oliver King and D.Dhanapal. Working with Farmers to enhance the productivity of traditional millet landraces. In Source book on Agrobiodiveristy Conservation: CIP-UPWARD, IDRC and GTZ, March 2003 Volume 1.
Rengalakshmi, D.Dhanapal, E.D.Israel Oliver King and P.Boopathy. Institutionalizing traditional seed exchange network. In Source book on Agro-biodiversity conservation: CIP-UPWARD, IDRC and GTZ, March 2003. Volume 2.
R.Rengalakshmi,G.Alagukannan,N.AnilKumar,V.ArivudaiNambi,V.Balakrishnan,K.Balasubramanian, Bibhu Prasad Mohanty, D.Dhanapal, M.Geetha Rani, G.Girigan, Hemal Kanvinde, E.D. Israel Oliver King, Prathiba Joy, T.Ravishankar,
E.D. Israel Oliver King. D.Narasimhan, Sacred Groves in Different Ecological zones of Tamil Nadu.1997. In conserving our Ecological Heritage (Ed) Nandita Krishna. CPREEC, Chennai.

As Online Publications:

Guillaume Gruere, Latha Nagarajan and E.D.I. Oliver King. Marketing underutilized plant Species for the Poor: a case study of Minor Millets in Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu, India. Global Facilitation unit for Underutilised Species (GFU), Rome, Italy, November 2007.
Guillaume P. Grudre, Latha Nagarajan and E.D.I.Oliver King. 2006. Collective action and marketing of underutilized plant species: the cases of minor millets in Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu, India. Research workshop on collective action and Market Access for Small holders. 2-5 October 2006, Cali, Columbia.
D.Winfred Thomas, E.D.I. Oliver King, J.Soundrapandi and D.Narasimhan. Evolution of Livelihood strategies among geographically isolated hill tribes of South India. Presented in the Interdisciplinary conference at the Centre for Indian Studies, Mysore, India, 17-19 October, 2006. Published in SASNET 2003
L. Gnanappazham, M. Navamuniammal, R. Rengalakshmi, K. Balalsubramaniam, D. Dhanapal, E. D. Israel Oliver King and S. Krishnakumar Application of Multispectral Remote Sensing data and GPS for area Estimation of Minor Millet - Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu. The Asian GPS Conference held on 24 - 25 October 2002, India International Centre, New Delhi, India

Monographs:

In: M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation. 2007. Changing Equations: the Impact of SHGs on Gender Relations - An MSSRF Study", Chennai, MSSRF/MG/23
M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation. 2004. Kollimalai Samai, Thinai, Paramparia Onavugalin Samayal Muraigal. Manual No.20, MSSRF, Chennai. 38pp.
M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation. 2004. Mouth Watering Gourmets from Traditional Foods of Kolli Hills. Manual No.19, MSSRF, Chennai. 38pp.
Samudayathirku Niraivana Unavu. A small Hand book in Tamil. (Eds: P.Boopathy et al.) 2003. MSSRF.
In: Bio-conservation and Utilization of Small millets. MSSRF/MG/2002/14
Agro biodiversity Corps: Catalysts of a Community Agro-biodiversity Movement. 2001. MSSRF.
Kolli Malai Makkal Padalkal (Eds). L.Vedavalli, E.D.Israel Oliver king, S.Balusamy & K.Balasubramanian. January 2002, Kalaigaan Padhipaagam.416 pp.
In: Shubh Kumar-Range. Like paddy in Rock Local Institutions and Gender roles in Kolli Hills. December 2001. MSSRF/MG/01/13
Vembu (In Tamil) (Eds) D.Dhanapal and A.Udayakumar. 1997.MSSRF.

In Proceedings:

E.D. Israel Oliver King. Strategy for Conservation of Sacred Forest of Kolli Hills.Tamil Nadu, India. A study on Botany, Ecology and Community Interaction. International Conference on Sustainable Forest Management and Poverty Alleviation: Roles of Traditional Forest related Knowledge organized by APAFRI. Malaysia. 17-20 December 2007. Kunming, China.
E.D.Israel Oliver King. Role of youth in Sustainable Rural Development at Regional Youth Camp organized by Nehru Yuva Kendra, Namakkal on 08.December 2007
E.D.Israel Oliver King and A.Vedhamoorthy. Public-Private Partnership Model in Organic Pine Apple Export - A Case Study. India organic 2007 Seminar on Indian Organic Agri Business… At Threshold of Growth, 29-30 November 2007, NASC Complex, New Delhi.
E.D. E.D.Israel Oliver King. Cultural and Conservation Dimensions of Malayali Tribes of Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu. Conference on Tinai - A Social order at Madras Christian College, Chennai on 2 November 2007
R.Rengalakshmi, Smita Mishra, Susanta Sekar Chaudhury, E.D.Israel Oliver King and Trilochana Ray. Gendered Knowledge and Gender Relations: Case studies in Two Agro Biodiversity Locations. In: Participatory Plant Breeding and Knowledge Management for Strengthening Rural Livelihoods. (Ed.) V.Arunachalam, MSSRF, MSSRF/PR/07/66.
Israel Oliver King, E.D. Invited paper on Role of Sacred Groves in Biodiversity Conservation - Current Status and Conservation Options - A case from Tamil Nadu. In: Proceeding of National Workshop on Sacred Groves. Organized by Ministry of Environment and Forest, GoI. Forest and Wild Life Department. Government of Kerala at Kozhikode. 16-18 September 2004
Israel Oliver King, E.D., L.R.Gopinath and P.Boopathy.2004. Conservation of Sacred Groves in Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu: Strategies for Sustainable Management. In: Biodiversity Resources Management and Sustainable Use. (Ed.) K.Muthuchelian, Centre for Biodiversity and Forest Studies, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai. 191-194
Gopinath L.R., E.D. Israel Oliver King, D.Sengottuvel.2004. A Value Added Marketing Chain Approach for Agro biodiversity Conservation. A case Study from Kolli Hills. In: Biodiversity Resources Management and Sustainable Use. (Ed.) K.Muthuchelian, Centre for Biodiversity and Forest Studies, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai.161-164
Contributed to the farmers' rights and Biodiversity A gender and community perspective MSSRF. Proceeding No 03/49 August 2003.

Abstracts in Conferences / Symposia / Seminars / Workshops:

E.D.Israel Oliver King, J.Soundrapandi and D.Winfred Thomas. Forest dependant livelihood of Paliyan Tribe: A case from Sathuragiri hills, Tamil Nadu. Paper presented in the State level seminar on Tribals, Forest and Futures, organized by Department of Future Studies, Gandhi gram Rural University. 11 December 2006
Boopathy, P., Gopinath, L.R., E.D.Israel Oliver King. Organic Pine Apple export by Tribal communities of Kolli Hills-A case study (Processes, Opportunities and Challenges in Improving Economic Status of the Tribes. Abstracts in: Second National Level Biological Congress on Perspectives and Future Trend s in Biological Sciences. BIOFOCI - 2K5. 7-8 January 2005. Organised by Department of Biological Sciences, Selvamm Arts and Science College, Namakkal.
Sengottuvel, D., L.R.Gopinath, E.D.Israel Oliver King. Participatory Varietal selection in Millets in Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu. Abstracts in: Second National Level Biological Congress on Perspectives and Future Trend s in Biological Sciences. BIOFOCI - 2K5. 7-8 January 2005. Organized by Department of Biological Sciences, Selvam Arts and Science College, Namakkal.
Israel Oliver King.E.D., D. Sengottuvel, L. R. Gopinath and V. Arivudai Nambi.2003 Commercialization for Conservation: Agro biodiversity conservation strategies for small millets - A case from Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu. XIII Swadeshi Science, Congress, MSSRF, Kalpetta, Kerala. November 6-8.
Israel Oliver King, E.D., C.Livingstone., and D.Narasimhan. Role of Sacred grove in Medicinal Plants Conservation - A case Study In: Abstract Proceedings of the 35th World Congress on Natural Medicines Organized by Sri Venkateswara University, Thirupathy in Collaboration with Medicina Alternativa, Sri Lanka. March 14-16,1997.
Israel Oliver King, E.D., D.Narasimhan., and C.Livingstone. Sacred Groves and the Changing Socio-Economic Scenario - A Case Study. In: Abstracts of the National Conference on Flowering plants: Systematic and Diversity, Aurandabad, October 16-18, 1997.
Winfred T.D., James. M.R. and E.D. Israel Oliver King. A Case Study on Documenting Practical Ecological Knowledge Using Community Biodiversity Register. Proceedings of Second Traditional Science Congress, Chennai, India. 1996.

Reports:

M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation. 2004. Kollimalai Samai, Thinai, Paramparia Onavugalin Samayal Muraigal. Manual No.20, MSSRF, Chennai. 38pp.
M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation. 2004. Mouth Watering Gourmets from Traditional Foods of Kolli Hills. Manual No.19, MSSRF, Chennai. 38pp.
Conservation, Integrated Natural Resource Management and Poverty Reduction. Phase 2 Completion Report (April 2001 - March 2006) Supported by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, New Delhi. MSSRF.
Conservation, Enhancement and Sustainable and Equitable Use of Biodiversity. Phase 1 Completion report (April 1998 - March 2001) Supported by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, New Delhi. MSSRF. August 2001.

Scientific Posters:

E.D.Israel Oliver King, L.R.Gopinath and D.Sengotuvel Role of Sacred Forests in Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources - A case from Kolli Hills in Agro biodiversity conference organized by National Biodiversity Authority, Chennai between 12-15, February 2006
L.R.Gopinath, E.D.Israel Oliver King, and D.Sengotuvel Enhancing contribution of Agro biodiversity for conservation and Community development in Agro biodiversity conference organized by National Biodiversity Authority, Chennai between 12-15, February 2006

Visual Publication:

In: Kolli Malai Mooligai Thavarangal. (Ed). Periasamy, Kannadasan Padhipadam 2004.
In: Farmers rights and Biodiversity A gender and community perspective MSSRF. Proceeding No 03/49 August 2003.
In: Filters of Imagination ISBN 0-7951 -5100-4, International Library of Photography. 2002
In: Kolli Malai Makkal Padalkal (Eds). L. Vedavalli, E.D.Israel Oliver king, S.Balusamy & K.Balasubramanian. 2002, Kalaigaan Padhipaagam.416 pp.
In: Like paddy in rock: Local Institutions and gender roles in Kolli Hills. (Ed.) Kumar Range Shubh, MSSRF, 2002.

Video Production:

A Short film on Biodiversity Conservation, Natural Resource Management, Poverty Reduction and Food Security
MSSRF Film in Tamil Dubbed