Farmers’ Training
CIS periodically conducts farmers’ workshops in different parts of the country, and gives training to farmers and NGOs in crop genetic diversity coinservation, ecological agricultural techniques, and participatory documentation of local biodiversity.
Participants get involved in the demonstration of the efficacy of ecological agricultural methods. Basudha acts as the base for an awareness of the benefits of organic farm management through in situ demonstrations, farmer meets, posters, skits and folk songs. Demonstrations include different techniques of composting, mulching, cover crop and multiple cropping.
Every year, farmer-conservators from different States of India receive training in methods of rice conservation, especially in characterization, rouging, and prevention of cross pollination – to maintain genetic purity of folk rice varieties and methods of rice characterization and documentation on Basudha campus. This national training is being supported by the Organic Farmers Association of India (OFAI).
Every year, Basudha holds a week-long crash course in Agroecology, involving updated advances in agroecological theory and hands-on practices to interested farmers and researchers from India and abroad. The curriculum was developed by Dr. Debal Deb and Prof. Steve Gliessman. This year’s Agroecology Training will be held from 26 Oct to 31 Oct 2017 on campus.