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WOMAN OF THE WEEK

Tackle pests without poison

K. Vijayalakshmi's research into biological control of pests has proved fruitful over the years

ORGANIC, HER WATCHWORD Dr. K. Vijayalakshmi

You have household pests you want eliminated in the least harmful way; you want some assurance that the food you eat and the milk you drink are free of cancer-causing toxins; you're curious about organic farming, about authentic organic products.

Knock on Dr. K. Vijayalakshmi, Research Director's door at the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems (CIKS) for information. If she isn't available — she's on to a mega project — pick up from the scores of books she has brought out on these subjects. Dr. Vijayalakshmi's research into biological control of pests using predatory spiders proves pest control doesn't have to be done through poisons that muck up your ground water and colour your colas. In fact, she has enough evidence to show that we have the wisdom and the wherewithal to live a life of reduced toxins — the villains blamed for all our ills.

Some years ago, the study group of scientists she belonged to began to voice concerns about the type of development taking place around. Each then decided to take a closer look at a specific area to find out what was giving them that uncomfortable feeling. After putting in hours with established organisations, Dr. Vijayalakshmi and her husband registered a Trust in 1995 to work independently, convinced that our indigenous technology had a lot of answers to problems of development. One was organic agriculture, "vriksha-ayurveda", aspects of which were practised by our farmers as late as two generations ago, before we went chemical. The West was washing its hands off chemicals in agriculture and looking for long-lasting, toxic-free practices. All we had to do for bio farming was to go to the village elders! CIKS would explore relevant, sustainable home-grown methods, refine them and package them for the farmers. "We look at organic agriculture as a co-operative effort, participatory research. Our experiments are mostly on open farms. They see it works, they are convinced."

Dr. Vijayalakshmi was actually fighting a Goliath. "Breaking away from the mainstream wasn't easy," she said. She had to persuade government and private agencies to part with funding. The debt-ridden farmer with his depleted soil couldn't embrace a process that would take three years to break even. All subsidies and support went for chemical farming while organic farming leans on cattle, compost and biomass. The farmer needed sustenance during the conversion years. And a market for his produce.

CIKS has managed all this. "Twelve years ago, very few people would listen to us. Today, we are a 40-strong organisation. We have project and field co-ordinators training villagers. From 30, our network has swelled to 3,000 farmers. Our current project has funding for turning the sod 300 acres belonging to small and medium farmers in Tamil Nadu. Group certification comes in easy now. Agricultural universities are sending students to us for research, ask for organic seeds. Their scientists collaborate with us. The once suspicious farmers have become our spokespersons." CIKS, she is proud, has been recognised by CAPART as a Technology Resource Centre on organic farming. It is the Asian Coordinator for an International Project for "Comparing and Supporting Endogenous Development." Dr. K. Vijayalakshmi was a member of the task force of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) which was involved in the revision of principles of organic agriculture. Core support for her work comes from the Department of Science & Technology.

It's time to smile. The items on her wish-list look like they are at hand-shaking distance. A farmers' institution might take total charge of marketing and in five years, there might be chain stores selling green and dry grocery for total organic meals. A restaurant might put up an "organic idlis (sambar, vadas, chutney) sold here" board. More farmers will run micro enterprises selling farm produce, vermi-compost and seeds. Demand and scaling will bring down prices. And definitely better awareness of the need to go organic.

How comfortable is it having husband in the same office? "Any such arrangement has positives and negatives. Our different strengths balance out the negatives. If we had a contrasting opinion, we bring it to the council of senior people in the office for a collective decision." No, she wouldn't trade this for ten times the pay. "I look forward to being here on Monday mornings. There is no post-retirement life for me. This is life. Satisfaction comes from having been able to enthuse people about organic food and practices (pest control!)."

GEETA PADMANABHAN

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