Asian Agri-History Vol. 15, No.

1, 2011 (8186) 81

Progress Report 2010: Asian Agri-History Foundation

YL Nene
Asian Agri-History Foundation, Secunderabad 500009, Andhra Pradesh, India
(email: yeshwantn2@gmail.com)

1. The Asian Agri-History Foundation (AAHF) Trust was established and registered in 1994 by a group of agricultural scientists who felt the need to educate agriculturists and all those directly or indirectly connected with agriculture of Asia with its rich agricultural heritage. 2. The number of subscribers to the journal Asian Agri-History in 2010 was 404 (Individuals 334; Institutions 70). Again we record our gratitude to KK Ranade, Director (Operations), IOT Engineers Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai and T Suresh, Genset Engineers, Vijayawada, India for obtaining subscription of over 100 persons. 3. YL Nene, Chairman, AAHF delivered the following lectures: Vrikshayurveda, the science of traditional Indian agriculture at the Training Workshop on Endogenous Development, 1528 February 2010 organized by the Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), Bangalore. Sustainable agriculture using ancient and medieval farm techniques at the 20 th meeting of Friends of Same

Wavelength (FOSWL) (India), Hyderabad on 21 August 2010. Indian indigenous knowledge in conservation agriculture at International Conference on Traditional Practices in Conservation Agriculture, 1820 September 2010, JRN Rajasthan Vidyapeeth University, Udaipur.

4. YL Nene participated in the First World Noni Congress-2010 at Chennai from 1 to 3 October 2010 organized by the World Noni Research Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. He delivered a talk on Potential of Vrikshayurveda techniques in increasing yields of perennial crops. 5. YL Nene and SPS Beniwal, Trustee, AAHF visited Darjeeling from 21 to 27 April 2010 to meet with RS Tiwari, Chairman (Longview Tea & Agro Ltd), VS Parmar, Vice-Chairman (Chemong Tea Co.), and other committee members of the West Bengal Chapter of AAHF, and discuss problems faced by the tea planters and recommend plant protection measures for organic tea cultivation. 6. The Foundation and its Rajasthan Chapter organized the International

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Conference on Traditional Practices in Conservation Agriculture from 18 to 20 September 2010 at Udaipur, Rajasthan on successful completion of ten years by the Chapter. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi sponsored the Conference and sanctioned ` 150,000. The Foundation Headquarters commended the Chapters contributions and assisted in publishing the Abstracts for the Conference. D Surya Prakash, Office Facility Manager, AAHF completed ten years of service. The Foundation awarded him the Trustees Medal (see photo). 7. Prof Nalini Sadhale, Hon. Editor of Asian Agri-History and translator of several Sanskrit texts published by AAHF, has been awarded honorary doctorate by the Maharishi University of Enlightenment, the Netherlands for her very great contribution to the field of Vedic Agriculture (see photo). 8. Rajasthan Chapter of AAHF: In total, 72 persons are members of Rajasthan Chapter; of these, 42 are subscribers of the journal Asian AgriHistory.

Prof Nalini Sadhale awarded honorary doctorate.

Three meetings of the members and five meetings of the Executive Committee were held during the year. The Executive Committee of the Chapter consists of KN Nag (Chairman), SL Choudhary (Secretary), SK Khandelwal (Treasurer), and MM Simlot, SC Bhardwaj, GL Garg, Dhriti Solanki, and G Rajamani (Members). The Chapter has successfully completed ten years. On this occasion and in collaboration with AAHF, the Chapter organized the International Conference on Traditional Practices in Conservation Agriculture from 18 to 20 September 2010 at JRN Rajasthan Vidyapeeth University, Udaipur. The AAHF commended KN Nag and SL Choudhary for their contributions (see photos). The detailed report and recommendations of the Conference have been prepared [see Asian Agri-History 15(1):7779]. The Chapter has fixed deposits of total amount ` 364,124 in the bank, around ` 20,000 in SB account, and assets (books, computer, etc.) of value amounting ` 200,000.

D Surya Prakash honored at the International Conference at Udaipur.

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Rajasthan Chapter celebrates ten years of success International Conference at Udaipur

Dignitaries on the dias.

KN Nag receiving memento from Honorable Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot.

SL Choudhary receiving memento from the Chief Minister.

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SL Choudhary, Advisor, AAHF and Hon. Secretary, Rajasthan Chapter delivered the following lectures and interacted with farmers during the year: Ancient plant protection practices: Relevance as and now and Kunapajal for crop health delivered to the trainees of a program organized by Advance Centre of Plant Pathology, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar on 5 April 2010. Science and technology in ancient India at Allahabad Agriculture Institute (deemed University), Allahabad on 8 April 2010. Also demonstrated the method of Kunapajal prepararion to the students of Department of Plant Protection at the Institute. Traditional agricultural practices for sustainable production at Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Vishwavidyalaya, Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh on 10 April 2010. Science and technology in ancient India on 15 November 2010 to the staff and students of Singhania Senior Secondary School, and Government Girls College, Kota, Rajasthan lecture organized by GL Garg, Executive Member, Rajasthan Chapter and Project Officer, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Rajasthan. In a group meeting with Goshala workers and small farmers organized by the Mahaveer Goshala at Baran, Rajasthan in the evening of 15 November 2010, the importance of cow

dung and urine in agriculture was explained. Also, an effort to make the Goshala independent through these products was recommended. Our rich heritage in science and technology, particularly in agriculture to the staff and students of College of Horticulture and Forestry, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (MPUAT), Jhalawar, Rajasthan on 16 November 2010. Some traditional practices for cultivation of fruits and vegetable crops were elaborated. Cultivation of vegetables through traditional agricultural practices to a group of farmers on 21 July 2009 organized by Krishi Gyan Kendra, Jhalawar. Five farmers of Bherupura village adopted the practices and others are also now motivated. GL Garg assured the scientists of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) to provide financial assistance from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to purchase copper containers to prepare a bio-pesticide.

9. West Bengal Chapter of AAHF: In total, 35 persons from West Bengal are subscribers of the journal Asian AgriHistory. YL Nene, Chairman, AAHF and SPS Beniwal, Trustee, AAHF visited Darjeeling from 21 to 27 April 2010 to attend a meeting on Problems faced in organic farming of tea organized by RS Tiwari, Chairman and VS Parmar, Vice-Chairman of West Bengal Chapter of AAHF. The major problem of die-

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back disease of tea was discussed along with other committee members of the Chapter and tea planters. Also, some tea estates were surveyed (see photos). RS Tiwari, Chairman of West Bengal Chapter conducted a meeting with all committee members on 5 July 2010 to discuss the progress and future activities of the Chapter. TC Sharma of Nagrifarm Tea Estate and V Dhanchullia of Marylong Tea Estate attended as invitees. Two papers were presented at the International Conference on Traditional Practices in Conservation Agriculture, 1820 September 2010, JRN Rajasthan Vidyapeeth University, Udaipur: Management of die-back disease of tea by RS Tiwari; and Darjeeling tea industry going organic by VS Parmar.

Research Fellowship for MS thesis on agrihistory beginning academic session 2010 11. The Foundation Headquarters allocated ` 250,000 towards the Fellowship. 11. The website of the Foundation www.agri-history.org has been in existence since 2001 and updated regularly. Over 129,503 persons visited our website so far. A large number of persons from all over the world contacted AAHF seeking information on agricultural heritage of Asia. 12. During 2010, twenty-five articles were published in the four issues of the journal Asian Agri-History (Vol. 14). Also, the Catalog of Publications 19962010 was published; this catalog contains information on all publications of AAHF and its Rajasthan Chapter. 13. With the donation of ` 100,000 by Sipani Krishi Anusandhan Farm (SKAF), Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, India, AAHF instituted SKAF Award for the Best Paper published in Asian Agri-

10. Uttarakhand Chapter of AAHF: In total, 40 persons from Uttarakhand are subscribers of the journal Asian AgriHistory. The chapter has instituted AAHF

YL Nene in discussion with tea garden staff in Darjeeling.

SPS Beniwal,YLNene, APalchoudhuri, RS Tiwari and VS Parmar during field visit in Darjeeling.

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History each year. Accordingly the Award for 2010 has been given to the paper entitled Himalayan Medicine System and its Ayurvedic Perspective authored by Lalit Tiwari and PC Pande (Asian Agri-History 14(3):261272). The Award consists of a cash prize of ` 5000 (which will be split equally between the authors) and a certificate to each author. 14. With the donation of ` 100,000 by Ms Santosh Mehra, w/o the Late Dr KL Mehra, AAHF Founder-Advisor, the Foundation instituted Dr KL Mehra Memorial Award for the Best Paper on Biodiversity published in Asian AgriHistory each year. Accordingly the following two papers in series have been selected as one award-winning entry for the Award 2010: Probable Agricultural Biodiversity Heritage Sites in India: V. The Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia Hills Region by AK Singh (Asian Agri-History 14(2):133156).

Probable Agricultural Biodiversity Heritage Sites in India: VI. The Northeastern Hills of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura by AK Singh (Asian Agri-History 14(3):217243).

The Award consists of a cash prize of ` 5000 and a certificate to the author. 15. SM Sinha, Hon. Advisor (Art and Printing) continued to actively help in ensuring high quality of all publications. We are grateful to Sinha. 16. Many persons helped the Foundation. We are especially grateful to Ch Vengala Reddy and S Vijay Ramchander. 17. We are also grateful to the Foundation staff for their hard work and dedication: Sheila Vijayakumar, K Salai Muthu, and D Surya Prakash. 18. The accounts were audited by the auditors Messrs. ND Karwa & Co., Hyderabad and submitted to the tax authorities in time.

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Sipani Krishi Anusandhan Farm Award 2010

The Asian Agri-History Foundation (AAHF) announces the Sipani Krishi Anusandhan Farm Award 2010 for the Best Paper in Asian Agri-History. The paper entitled Himalayan Medicine System and its Ayurvedic Perspective authored by Lalit Tiwari and PC Pande (Asian Agri-History 14(3):261272) has been selected by panels of judges and trustees as the Best Paper for the Award 2010. The Award consists of a cash prize of ` 5000 (which will be split equally between the authors) and a certificate to each author. The Award has been possible through a donation by Sipani Krishi Anusandhan Farm, Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, India. Papers authored by trustees, editors, and advisors of AAHF were not considered. We congratulate the authors. Chairman AAHF

Lalit Tiwari

PC Pande

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Dr KL Mehra Memorial Award 2010

The Asian Agri-History Foundation (AAHF) announces Dr KL Mehra Memorial Award 2010 for the Best Paper on Biodiversity in Asian Agri-History. The following two papers in series have been selected as one award-winning entry by panels of judges and trustees for the Best Paper on Biodiversity for the Award 2010: 1. Probable Agricultural Biodiversity Heritage Sites in India: V. The Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia Hills Region by AK Singh (Asian AgriHistory 14(2):133156). 2. Probable Agricultural Biodiversity Heritage Sites in India: VI. The Northeastern Hills of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura by AK Singh (Asian Agri-History 14(3):217243). The Award consists of a cash prize of ` 5000 and a certificate to the author. The Award has been possible through a donation by Ms Santosh Mehra, w/o the Late Dr KL Mehra, Founder-Advisor of AAHF. Papers authored by trustees, editors, and advisors of AAHF were not considered. We congratulate the author. Chairman AAHF

AK Singh

Another Award Instituted

Through the kind donation of Prof Lindsay Falvey and Ms Simone Falvey, an annual award will be given from 2011 to the best paper on Asian agricultural history aspects of animal welfare, notable historical innovations associated with the past period of Indianization across Asia, or spiritual aspects of agriculture, published in future volumes of Asian Agri-History. The Award will be called The Falvey Award. The Award consists of a cash prize of ` 10000 and a certificate to the author.