Institute for Integrated Rural Development

	September 2008
	National Workshop on Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) and Organic Bazaar (Sep 9-12) A workshop is organized from September 9-12 to discuss on the implementation of PGS among the different partners of IIRD in the Organic Bazaar Network. About 25 participants shared views on PGS and organic bazaar activities. The participants were also provided knowledge on biodynamic farming facilitated by an renowned expert. PGS Organic India Council Meeting (Sep 18-19) Representatives from about ten organizations around India who are members of the PGS Organic India Council will be meet at IIRD campus in Bidkin from Sep18-19. A field visit to the villages in Aurangabad district where PGS is implemented will take place where the participants can witness the PGS and few of the organic farms. Besides, the meeting will also discuss on ways to take PGS forward at the national level.
	August 2008
	Independence Day celebrations (August 15) The Independence day celebrations were held in the campus at IIRD in Bidkin. About 400 farmers - mainly women farmers - from Aurangabad district gathered on this occasion to witness songs, dramas, and cultural events that mark the importance of Independence, and our duties and responsibilities towards the nation. Follow-up Workshop on evaluation of Programmes (Aug 19-22) Senior staff of IIRD involved in management of programmes took a break from their regular activities to evaluate the activities particularly related to housing and vocational training and to chalk out further steps. Strategic Planning Meeting of Development Policy Research Centre (Aug 25) On Aug 25, senior staff of IIRD conducted a workshop with the staff of DPRC on strategic planning which resulted in work plans of the team and individual members of the staff.
	July 2008
	Consultative Workshop on Biodiversity Conservation and Maharashtra Gene Bank (July 23-24) A consultative workshop is organized from July 23-24 in cooperation with Agarkar Research Institute of Pune to discuss on a common strategy for documentation and conservation of biodiversity in Maharashtra state. Representatives from about 40 NGOs involved in promotion of organic agriculture in Maharashtra state are expected to participate in this workshop. Training on Soil Testing for Farmers and Extension Workers (July 15-19) IIRD in cooperation with Parbhani University organized a training programme from July 15-19 on appropriate soil testing and interpretation methods for small and marginal organic farmers. This training was participated by twenty participants - farmers and extension workers - representing five districts of Marathwada. The trained participants are expected to share this knowledge with farmers of their respective districts and strategize ways for implementation of soil testing and interpretation at the grassroots level.
	June 2008
	IIRD Participation in IFOAM World Congress in Modena, Italy (June 17-20) Joy Daniel, Executive Secretary of IIRD, participated in the IFOAM World Congress in Modena, Italy from June 17 - 20. At this event, the concepts and experiences of implementation of PGS in Aurangabad district was shared with the participants of the congress.
	May 2008
	Result-Oriented Planning Workshop (May 5-7) As is the practice of once in every 3 years, a workshop was organized for all the staff of IIRD in Hyderabad to get to a shared vision and concretize steps to achieve this shared vision. The workshop focused on a bottom-up approach in a very participatory manner with external facilitation. IIRD and a Farmer Participate in World Congress on Planet Diversity in Bonn, Germany from 12-16 May Saraswatibai Gaikwad, a woman farmer from Chittegaon of Paithan Taluka, attended the World Congress on Planet Diversity in Bonn, Germany from 12-16 May, 2008. About 600 participants from 100 different countries will participated in this event. This was a parallel event to the UN Convention on Biodiversity in Bonn when farmers, consumers, and NGOs will discuss on the need and ways to preserve and enhance biodiversity in the world. She presented at this congress on the theme, “Can Organic Farming Feed the World.” During her presentation, she spoke about the benefits of conserving traditional varieties of plants in dry land areas and urged the participants to support organic farming as the way for sustainable food production.
	April 2008
	Founders Day - April 13th The Founders Day was celebrated in IIRD and participated by about 400 farmers from the district. This day, which is also the birth anniversary of our late Founder, is commemorated every year to re-instill the values for which IIRD is founded. The day concluded with a renewed commitment and plan by the village development animators of the 90 villages catered by IIRD's projects.
	February 2008
	1st Maharashtra State Conference on Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) for Organic Agriculture The first Maharastra State Conference on PGS was held in the IIRD campus in Bidkin from Feb 7-8. About 500 farmers and development activists from Maharashtra participated in this conference. The prominent guests included Dr. Bhoge (Executive President of Maharashtra Human Development Mission), Dr. Jayant Deshmukh (Joint Director of Agriculture), Prof. Dhawan (HOD of Soil Science Department in Parbhani University), many other prominent development activists, and farmer activists. Workshop of National Organic Bazaar Partners A workshop of national Organic Bazaar Partners will be held from 11th to 14th February. The objective is to share experiences in the implementation of PGS and Organic Bazaars and to strategize the steps forward. National Conference on Human Rights A conference on Human Rights with the theme - "Women's Right is Human Right" - will be organized from Feb 22-23. Noted speakers from the country are invited and the participants from all walks of life are expected to attend this conference. This conference is jointly organized by IIRD and Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW). Consultative Workshop on Bio-diversity and Gene Conservation A consultative workshop on bio-diversity and gene conservation is to be held from Feb 25-26. About 30 development activists and farmers from Marathwada will jointly discuss on ways to document the bio-diversity and conserve local varieties of plants and animals. The Agarkar Research Institute (ARI) will provide technical guidance for this workshop.
	January 2008
	Workshop of Mahiti Sevikas The first workshop of Mahiti Sevikas (Women knowledge workers) was organized at IIRD, Bidkin from January 3-4. About twenty women farmers from five districts of Marathwada participated in this workshop. The objective is to build capacity of the women farmers to gather and disseminate knowledge and information among the farmers in the districts.
	December 2007
	Founders Memorial Day Dr. R Arole, Director of Comprehensive Rural Health Project of Jamkhed and a Magasysay Award winner, led a workshop with IIRD staff on 21st December 2007 which is also the Founders Memorial Day. In this event, a quarterly Marathwada regional newsletter on organic agriculture was released.
	November 2007
	Participation in the National Food Sovereignty Seminar The National Food Sovereignty Seminar was organized jointly by SVARAJ and Green Foundation in Bangalore from Nov 2-3. Joy Daniel presented a paper on IIRD's experiences in facilitating alternative guarantee and marketing systems for the small and marginal organic farmers. Participation in ICCOA Trade Fair The partners of IIRD in the Organic Bazaar network participated in the ICCOA Trade Fair organized in New Delhi from Nov 29 to Dec 1. In this event, case study of Organic Bazaar Network was presented in the respective session.
	October 2007
	1st National Conference on Participatory Guarantee Systems for Organic Agriculture The first National conference on PGS is being organized to network and exchange information with practitioners of alternative organic guarantee systems across the country and to stimulate and create nation wide awareness on PGS. For More Info...
	May 2007
	Parrie Centre for Technology (PCT) Day The 3rd of May will be commemorated as the day when PCT was formally founded. This will be a day to re-dedicate ourselves and local partners on the objective of PCT - alternative and appropriate education for rural youth, particularly women.
	April 2007
	Founders Day Celebration The Founders Day will be celebrated on April 13 which is also the birth anniversary of our Founder President, late Dr. Alexander Daniel. Cultural events, meetings, exhibition, and launch of a video documentary on PGS is scheduled for this day. National Consultative Meeting on Participatory Guarantee System IIRD and Organic Farming Association of India (OFAI) are jointly organizing a consultative meeting of PGS Organic India council members and representatives of other interested organizations in Panjim, Goa from April 16-18. The full details of this meeting is at www.pgsorganic.in Workshop on Domestic Marketing and Organic Bazaar Concept A workshop on domestic marketing of organic agriculture and related information management is scheduled from April 17 - 20 at Aurangabad. Participants for this workshop includes representatives from network organizations in W. Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Founders Day Celebration The Founders Day will be celebrated on April 13 which is also the birth anniversary of our Founder President, late Dr. Alexander Daniel. Cultural events, meetings, exhibition, and launch of a video documentary on PGS is scheduled for this day. Study Visit by John Cunnington and Jayashree Mukherjee Jayashree Mukherjee and John Cunnington, independent consultants, will visit IIRD's project area to study the community based organic seed banks and organic bazaar. These have been identified as good practices for achieving food security. The study is expected to document the experiences and will help to promote the concept.
	March 2007
	Training on Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) and Marketing Fifteen representatives from partner organizations in Marathwada region participated in a training on PGS and organic agriculture marketing at the local levels.
	February 27 to March 2nd
	Farmer Study visit on Participatory Guarantee Systems A group of small and marginal farmers from Karnataka will be introduced to the concepts, principles, and practices of PGS at IIRD campus and will visit the villages in the project area to know more about its implementation in the field. This sharing of experiences is being facilitated by Green Foundation of Bangalore and IIRD
	February 2007
	Farmer Study visit (February-2007 ) and Certification Ten farmers from Wardha plan to visit IIRD's project area to learn from the organic farmers about Participatory Guarantee System(PGS),Organic Agricultures practicals and organic Bazaar.This study visit is jointly organized by Chetana-Vikas of Wardha and IIRD.
	January 2007
	Training Course on Organic Agriculture (January-2007) and Certification A workshop was held from Feb 5 ^th to Feb 9^th at Institute for Integrated Rural Development (IIRD)'s campus in Bidkin (Paithan Taluka, Aurangabad District, Maharashtra) on principles of organic agriculture and certification systems particularly on Participatory Guarantee System (PGS). The participants for this course were from interested NGOs and other organizations in Marathwada region of Maharashtra involved in promoting sustainable agriculture. The training course included farm visits, village visits where PGS is being implemented, and interactive learning sessions. The faculty were experienced organic farmers implementing PGS, development activists of IIRD, and other experts from the region. For additional information, please contact Joy Daniel (Mr.) - jdaniel@iird.org.in

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