The French Institute of Pondicherry (IFP) is a research institution under the joint supervision of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). It conducts its 7th edition of Festival called “Local Food Systems 2025: from farm to fingers” from 21st to 28th, February, 2025. As DHAN being a partner with the institute and French Centre-Val de Loire region, we took part in the festival as a collaborator in facilitating the festival events on the first two days. This festival is the culmination of the PATAMIL research project, which aims to promote food justice by establishing short circuits accessible to poor producers and consumers in India and the French Centre-Val de Loire region.
DHAN Hosted the participants and institute people to the Vathalagundu Kalanjia Jeevidam Farmers Producer Company at Nilakottai to gain experience from the Moringa farmers on the first day. A presentation on PATAMIL Project and the status of local food systems in Madurai and Jawwadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu was done on the second day. Followed by, the interaction with the millet growers and millet entrepreneurs on value addition, millet food festival and a mahasabha at Jaihindpuram women Kalanjiam Federation at Madurai.
DHAN Foundation began its operations in Virudhunagar in 2000 with the theme of water and development (DHAN Vayalagam Tank Foundation), focusing primarily on the Gundar river basin boundary. Over the past 24 years, DHAN worked across four blocks: Thiruchuli, Narikudi, Kariyapatti, and Aruppukottai. 16,786 families are part of these people institutions through 236 Vayalagam (Water bodies user Associations) and 324 Agricultural Finance Groups. It was made possible with the support of HUF, HUL Foundation, SBI Foundation, NABARD and NAFED with Rs.12 crores since 2003. In Gundar region of Virudhunagar district have three registered vayalagam federation, one FPO and one mutual federation. RBI backed Centre for Financial literacy also reached about 22,576 members so far in this district.