Download Press Notes - Aranya Agricultural Alternatives

Aranya Agricultural Alternatives
Press Note
Date: 5-7th February 2016
National Permaculture Convergence - 5th to 7th February, 2016
Aranya Agricultural Alternatives hosted the National Permaculture (Permanent Agriculture)
Convergence (NPC) on the 5th-7th February 2016 at the University Auditorium of Prof. Jayashankar
Telangana Agricultural University in Hyderabad, India.
The Convergence provided a forum for rural and urban farmers, those interested in ecological farming,
and others who are passionate about sustainability initiatives, to meet and share their ideas and
techniques. Academicians, students, NGOs and other institutions, along with government functionaries
and decision makers in the field of natural resource management attended. The event featured talks,
presentations, discussions, exhibition stalls for eco-friendly groups and products and demonstrations of
sustainable agricultural practices.
A goal of the Convergence was to help integrate the various strands of ecological agricultural
movements in India. Expert sessions covered methodologies on regeneration of living soils, water
harvesting & management and its importance in this crucial time, climate change mitigation and
sustainable living practices for a better living for all beings.
Permaculture (the word is a contraction of “permanent” and “agriculture) is an innovative international
movement that enables people to design and establish productive systems to provide for their food,
energy, shelter and other material and nonmaterial needs, in harmony with natural systems.
Featured among the 37 speakers and presenters were:
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The Convergence opened with Dr. Vithal Rajan, a renowned international development
professional, delivering the welcome address by sharing his “Inpirations”. Dr. Vandana Shiva,
world-renowned seed activist, dellivered the keynote address on “Permaculture and Indian
Agriculture.” Dr. Ganesan Balachander, Director of ATREE, followed with a talk on “Small-scale
Agriculture, Poverty, and Biodiversity Conservation”.
Dr. C. Suvarna of the Indian Forest Service and Member Secretary of the Biodiversity Board and
Dr. Purushottam Reddy, one of India’s preeminent environmentalists and member of the faculty
at Osmania University, spoke on “Forests, Biodiversity & Climate Change.”
Dr. Sultan Ismail, soil biologist and ecologist, and Director of the Ecoscience Research
Foundation in Chennai will spoke on “Living Soil” and how we can regenerate our soils with
ecological practices.
Mr.Narsanna Koppula, Rico Zook, Ardhendu Chatterjee, Clea Chandmal and others, led various
permaculture sessions, covering basics of permaculture ethics, design principles
Mr. Claude Alvarez, environmental activist from Goa and OFAI (Organic Farmers Association of
India) spoke on “Farming as if Nature Mattered”.
Dr. G.V. Ramanjaneyulu is Executive Director of the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and K.S.
Gopal, Director of Centre for Environment Concerns, spoke on “Policy Framework for Dryland
Farming.”
Aranya Agricultural Alternatives
Press Note
Date: 5-7th February 2016
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Dr. Praveen Rao – Hon. Dean of PJTSAU and Dr. Yella Reddy of WALAMTARI spoke on “Water
Management in Irrigated Lands”, while Mr. M.V. Rama Chandrudu of WASSAN and P.Narendra
of BAIF, spoke on the how and why “Water Harvesting.”
Mr. Umendra Dutt founder of Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM) in Punjab spoke on “Changing Trends
In Indian Agriculture”
Ms.Uzramma founder of non-profit research centre Dastkar Andhra, has been associated with
the cotton textile industry of India since 1989. She shared the “Story of Cotton”, the changes in
the industry and its impact.
Ms.Laxmi Nadendla and Sangeeta Khanna spoke on the connections of soil, food nutrition.
Ms.Deepika Kundaji – an expert seed saver will speak on “Seed Conservation”
Sessions on urban farming included kitchen gardening, composting, and lake regeneration
conducted by experts in these subjects.
Farmers successfully practicing ecological ecologically sound agricultural methodologies
presented their case studies and shared their expertise.
For detailed event schedule please check: www.npcindia2016.org/pdf/NPCSchedule.pdf
The host, Aranya Agricultural Alternatives (“Aranya”) is an NGO based in Hyderabad. It was founded in
1999 by Narsanna and Padma Koppula along with lother ike minded people to bring good natural
resource management and Permanent Agriculture to farming communities across Telangana and
Andhra Pradesh. Aranya operates based on “permaculture” principles. Permaculture is particularly
relevant to India given the nation’s declining water resources, soil health, biodiversity, and wildlife
habitats, as well as associated social issues including increasing farmer debt, the loss of traditional
agricultural practices and the erosion of localized self sustained village economies.
Aranya is also organizing the “XIII International Permaculture Convergence’, in November 2017 in
Hyderabad, Telangana. IPC 2017 is an international meet of permaculture practitioners from across the
globe.
Contact for additional Information on National Permaculture Convergence 2016.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 8500281058