Natural Resources Development Project-NARDEP

Praise for our publications

Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam :

...I liked particularly 'Recycling Organic Wastes' as in pages 241-244 and also for the back page quotation from Bhagavad Gita 3.14 'Living beings are born of good. Food is born of rain; Rain is born of Yajna (Punya); and Yajna (Punya) is born of action'. My greetings to you.

Dr.M.S.Swaminathan:
...This publication provides valuable information on Azolla as a bio-feed for livestock and bio-fertilizer for paddy. Practical guidelines are given on how to grow and use Azolla for different purposes. The data on the use of Azolla for improving milk production are impressive....The authors have also brought out the potential value of Azolla for astronauts in order to provide them with the necessary nutrition while in space. Thus the blessings of Azolla are many and varied.



Akshaya Vikas
This book is widely acclaimed as a milestone in defining the concept of sustainable development with a compendium of data as well as basic concept papers. Sharp and creative cartoons with a thematic thread unites the varied facets of sustainable development. A holistic vision of sustainable development unites the diverse yet connected dimensions of the sustainable development hitherto little explored.

Samagra Vikas
Samagra Vikas This book is a sequel to the much acclaimed Akshaya Vikas.This book deals with the concept and implementation of the vision of 'Development with human face'. The book takes up such varied issued like solid waste management to water harvesting and poverty elimination. The book also explores the various impacts of the cartesian/newtonian as well as post-einsteinian paradigms on the environment and development models and explores how paradigm shift, traditional values and sustainable technologies can usher us in a new era.


These beautifully illustrated books present the display panels of the famous Gramodaya-for right living exhibition at the Vivekananda Kendra campus, in English, Tamil and Hindi. The philosophy and technologies behind the art and science of sustainable living is brought out through the themes of cost-effective construction, water management, holistic health and sustainable agriculture.
Azolla Biogas Livestock Health
Agriculture Healing Herbs Vermicompost Azolla Download our catalogue here

This book in Malayalam, authored by Dr.Kamalasanan Pillai - research scientist who heads the R&D team of VK-NARDEP, explores the dimensions of Azolla as a bio-feed for cattle, livestock, poultry and fishery. Dr. Pillai invented the backyard Azolla cultivation technology in silpauline sheet which has revolutionized dairy industry by empowering marginal dairy farmers. The book is well illustrated with colour plates..

 Title: Biogas : A Manual on repair and maintenance [Tamil] This book is a guide for biogas users, masons and engineers. It helps the reader in identifying the problems that come up during biogas installation and usage. It helps in effective maintenance and repairs of the plant.The book has technical diagrams which are presented in a way even layman can understand. This is a must for every biogas user and constructor: for both layman and professional.

Title: Green Health care for Livestock. [English] This book deals with herbal health management of cattle. It provides a well documented account of how local flora can be used to prevent diseases of the livestock and also how to boost the health of the livestock. 

Title: Nallam Tharum Mooligaikal(Herbs for health). [Tamil] This book deals with the medicinal properties of household herbs.Each herbal plant its botanical and vernacular names as well as the medicinally important part of the plant and also the ailment for which the plant is used are all documented in a nice way with color photo of each plant is also given. Totally 50 plants have been given.

Title: Nallam Tharum Mooligaikal(Herbs for health). [Tamil] This book deals with production and use of vermi compost.This also explains the cost effective nature of Vermi compost.The book is in Tamil and in lucid style for any person to understand. It is a good introduction to the technology.

he value of Azolla as animal and poultry feed is brought out very clearly. Azolla in combination with Anabaena is an excellent source of nitrogen fixation in Paddy fields. Azolla has also medicinal properties and is used in Israel as a bioremediation agent since it sequesters heavy metals from groundwater. The blessings of Azolla are many and varied. Tamil Nadu is a national leader in poultry production. Over 50% of the cost of an egg goes to feed grains. The use of Azolla will help to minimize the cost of production and maximize quality.