Presentation
The farm of Tuttipakkam (TTK), started on 1968, is located near the village of Tuttipeth at 20km from Pondicherry; most of it belongs to the Territory of Pondicherry. It was our contribution to the national scheme of “Green Revolution” whose aim was, for developing countries like India, to be self-sufficient for food production and avoid the food weapon used by developed countries to impose their policy.
Today the crops cover a large part of the Volontariat needs for its social activities (nutrition programmes). TTK is also a Seminar centre, welcome children (from KG; during the summer holidays; Nila Illam programme, etc). For these activities, please refer to the website in the specific headings.
In 2006, on a total area of 47 acres (23 ha), 15 ha are under cultivation, remaining area is dry land or used for farm and Nila Illam buildings or playground. Deep wells (150 to 200 m) were bored and equipped with pumps, through our Committees or a European co-financing (1985). We worked hard to reclaim the alkaline soil, very poor.
In the late 90, in order to control the quality of the chicken meat given to the children, we started a poultry unit of 3000 animals (plus around 50 turkeys in 2006), the surplus is sold at the shop Tripti. Today the productions, used by Volontariat or sold outside, give a real autonomy to the farm.
TTK is certainly a cultivation place where grains, vegetable and fruit are cropped, with cattle and poultry breeding, but, on top of this, it is a place where an important social work of rehabilitation is made with children (abandoned, street children, gypsies) and adults (the foster parents) with difficulties in life.
