Nammalvar update

• Founded a learning center VANAGAM (model farm)• Asha funds used for lease on this• In Karur district• Inaugurated on Pongal (Jan 14th)• Started living there from Apr 1st

• Have constructed (from locally available bamboo and coconut leaves)– A training center– Cattle shed– Kitchen– Store room

More activties

• In June, bought two heifers to get water from 1 km away

• More lands were bought for training purposes (non-Asha funds)

• Used dry summer for preparing the land for future demonstrations

• Sep/Oct rains were helpful for sprouting seeds

And some more

• Working with organizations in AP, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh (apart from TN)

• Various campaigns –– Save Rice – Anti-GMO– Save water source– Rain water harvesting– Organic farming certification

• Taking forward ecological farming principles and philosophy to all these areas

Talks etc

• Talked at schools, colleges, environmental councils, consumer movements and farmer forums on– Impact of industrial agriculture on

environment and human health

• Joined hands with Isha Yoga Center to promote tree planting

More talks and activities

• Writing in Tamil journals on issues and organic farming practices

• Talks on AIR and Visual media interviews• Member of executive committee of Millet

network of India• Conducted two five-day workshop for farmers at

VANAGAM• VANAGAM recognized as an organization

towards organizing farmers to get PGS certification

Other campaigns/issues

• GEAC approval for B.T Brinjal

• Draft of Right to Food Act prepared by Government of India and 2009 Tamilnadu State Council Act of agricultural forum

• Bio - Technology draft introduced by Government of India

• Farmer’s forum campaign for tapping of toddy from Coconut and palm trees etc.

Nammalvar’s Schedule

• There are a lot of activities done, almost on a daily basis – which are not listed earlier

• A look at the monthly schedule gives a better idea of the kind of work

Sl.no. Date Place Activity

1 2nd June Kadavur Inauguration of Vanagam

2 5th June Vanagam 100 Seedling planting

1 1st July Vanagam Model farm Taken on lease with fund from Asha

2 3rd July AI Radio Trichy Environmental Awareness

3 4th July Vanagam Organic farming farmers training

4 8h July Trichy Organic farming seminar

5 9th July Aruppukkottai St. xavior college Organic farming seminar

6 10th July Thenkasi Farm design consultation

7 11th July Vanagam Trainers Training

8 12th July Vanagam s Trainers Training

9 13th July Vanagam Trainers Training

10 14th July Tanjavur, Tamil University Farming Verses environment

11 15th July Palayur, Nagai Dt. Organic farming farmers Training

12 16th, 17th July Vanagam Farm designing

13 18th July Musiri, High school. Seminar on environmental issues

14 19th July Salem Environmental issues for farmers

15 20th July Chennai, T.Nagar Green shop visit

16 21th July Thirunintravur, Thiruvallur Dt. Training students and farmers

17 22th July Athimancherry, Thiruvallur Dt. Organic farming seminar for farmers

18 23th July Chennai Eco farming consultation

19 25th July Bhopal (M.P) O.F.A.I National council meet

20 26TH July Bhopal (M.P)MorningAfter Noon

Visit to Water shed Management modelVisiting Pesticide leak Victims

21 28th July Oorapakkam, Chennai Farm serve

22 30th July Madurai, Women’s forum Seminar on Food and Yoga

23 31st July Vanagam Training for workers

1 2nd august Sathiayamangalam Selection of land to study mountain eco system

2 3rd august Sathiyamangalam Selection of land to study mountain eco system

3 4th august Kodaikanal, Solai school Farmers Training - Organic

4 6th august After Noon Womens collective, ChennaiPothigai T.V

Global Warming seminar for women teachersInterview

5 7th august Chennai South Against Genetic Engineering meeting

6 8th august Salem Brinjal Exhibition cum Panchayat leaders meet

7 9th august Salem Brinjal Exhibition cum farmers meet

8 10th august Trichy Planning meeting for campaign against Tamilnadu act.

9 11th august Vanagam Workers training

10 12th august Vanagam Quarter Acre farming

11 13th august Vanagam Discussion with Malaysian farmers leader

12 14th august Thiruppur Visit to Green shop. Family discussion on food and health

13 15th augustPrg.1Prg.2Prg.3After noon

Thiruppur High schoolPunchai Uthukuli

Tree planting and independent addressAddressing school children – Greening IndiaFarmers training – Organic

14 16th august Dharmapuri, Bommidi Brinjal exhibition

15 17th august Palayur, Nagai Dt. Training to 15 women’s on Organic farming

16 19th to 25th august Bhopal Sri Batha Dhapolkar 85th birthday celebration

17 30TH august Coimbatore Brinjal exhibition

18 31st august Pollachi Seminar on green environment for students in colleges.

1 1st sep Pollachi Seminar on environmental friendly farming

2 2nd sep Kaveripattinam Brinjal exhibition

3 3rd sep Vanagam Discussion with social worker Mr.John Peter

4 5th sep Rasi farm Muthupatty, Karaikudi Organic farmers meeting

5 7th sep Coimbatore Brinjal exhibition

6 8th sep Thirumangalam PARD Local Radio inauguration

7 9th sep ICSA Chennai Campaign against Black act

8 10th sep Bangalore Organic farming conference (Asia meet)

9 11th sep Dharmapuri NGO campaign for organic farming

10 12th , 13th and 14th sep Arur Trainers training

11 15th sep Pudukkottai Exchange of Farmers seeds

12 16th sep Chennai CSIM college Seminar for consumers on food poisoning

13 17th, 18th, 19th sep Rishi vally, Andhra Visit cum Farmers meet

14 20th sep Chennai Nammalvar Ecological foundation trust meet

15 21st, 22nd sep Tiruvananthapuram Save rice campaign

16 23rd sep TMSSS Thuthukudi Organic farming seminar

17 24TH Sep Chennai Mega T.V Interview

18 25th, 26th Sep Ananthapur. Andhra Discussion over Climate Change report by central Govt.

19 28th sep Chennai Green shop opening

20 29th sep Pune Swiss Aid – India executive meet

21 30th sep Trichy Campaign against water lake encroachment

1 2nd, 3rd oct Somanur, Kovai Farmers training - in Organic

2 4th oct Nerur, Karur Dt. Vadalur Ramalinga adigal Birthday address

3 5th oct Pudukkottai NGO meet on Water resources protection

4 6th to 10th oct Vanagam Training – Eco farming

5 11th oct Sivarakkottai, Madurai Study team visiting land occupied by SIPCOT

6 12th , 13th oct Pollachi Farmers Training organic. seminar on environmental impact in teachers training college

7 14tt, 15th oct Hyderabad SURP conference on non chemical plant protection

8 16th, 17th oct Vanagam Workers Training

9 19th oct Nagarkoil Inauguration of cultural yatra for water protection

10 21st oct Coimbatore Visiting Isha Green garden by Isha home school children’s

11 22nd oct Vella koil, Karur Dt. Tree planting by school children in Two schools

12 23rd oct Vanagam Workers Training

13 24th oct Palayur, Nagai Dt Training women farmers

14 25th to 29th oct Vanagam Training – Ecological farming

15 30th oct Trichy, St. Joseph high school Environmental awareness

16 31st oct Vanagam Assisting the workers

1 1st Nov Govindhapuri, Near Kumbakonam Visiting Kosala Maintained by Panduranga Ashram

2 2nd Nov Palaiur, Nagai Dt. Training of Women farmers

3 3rd , 4th Nov Goa Discussion with O.F.A.I director Miguel

4 5th, 6th, 7th, Nov Vanagam Assisting Farm workers

5 8th MorningAfter Noon

ThiruppurRamachandra Mission

Consultation on organic agricultureSeminar on Save cow yatra

6 9th 10th 11th 12th and 13th Nov

Vanagam Rain water harvesting

1 Salary of one coordinator Rs.6000x12 Rs.720002. Salary of one documentation in charge Rs.6000x12 Rs.72000

Total Rs.144000Capital ExpensesOne house for workers Rs.15000One cattle shed Rs.30000Sprinkler for irrigation Rs.30000Two cycles Rs.4000x2 Rs. 8000

Total Rs.83000PublicationsHand books 5 No x Rs.10000 Rs.50000Video Production Rs.20000

Total Rs.70000

Staff salary Rs.144000Capital expenses Rs. 83000Publications Rs. 70000

Grant Total Rs.297000

One time Vanagam Budget Requested