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The knowledge of tribal people in traditional agriculture is invaluable.
Their farming practices are truly sustainable in many ways. Tribal communities
namely Irulas, Malayalis and Muthuvasinhabiting
Tamil Nadu have been cultivating the traditional cultivars viz. paddy,
millets, pulses and vegetable crops. Their subsistence life style, local diet
habits and dependence on rain fed irrigation have influenced them to cultivate
and conserve the traditional cultivars or land races. Many crops such as Panicum
miliaceum, Echinocloa colona, Paspalum scrobiculatum andSetaria
italica are now cultivated and conserved only by the tribal people in
many parts of southern India. By selecting and conserving the seeds from one
season to the next, they have been able to sustain and continue to be
self-reliant. For
e.g. healthy cobs are left in the field so as to allow it to dry to the
maximum days to make sure that no moisture is left in the seeds. The selection
of large and healthy seeds and also the selection based on the color of the
seeds (e.g. in case of Castor seeds) have also helped them select more viable
seeds. The tribal communities prefer to continue the cultivation of traditional
cultivars, as these are ecologically suitable and economically viable and
valuable. The traditional cultivars and land races cultivated by tribes are
also drought and pest tolerant and disease resistant. The tribes also have
practical reason for cultivating these cultivars, which satisfy their high
calorie requirements that are required for their hard life. Pesticides and
fertilizers are not required.
The tribal communities practice a unique method of farming namely mixed
cropping system (MCS). The MCS enables them to cultivate cereals, leafy
vegetables, pulses and oil crops together in limited area depending on monsoon
rain. The practice is such that the seeds of common millet, finger millet,
grain and leaf amaranth, pulses and castor are mixed together and broadcasted.
Initially the common millet is harvested followed by finger millet. Edible
leaves of Amaranth and seeds and pods of pulses are used for daily consumption.
Edible grains of amaranth are harvested and stored for future use. Castor seeds
are harvested and used both for domestic consumption and for selling in the
market.
The MCS not only helps in utilizing the seasonal rainfall but also in
keeping the soil unexposed thereby preventing topsoil erosion. The combination
of crops with legumes helps in nitrogen fixation, thus maintaining the soil
fertility. This not alone helps them derive maximum benefits from their small
land holdings but also takes care of their food and economic requirements
throughout the year. Hence, this concept of MCS can be adopted and
introduced in places where rain fed agriculture is in practice.
Community co-operation and participation prevailing particularly
in Malayali tribal community has helped them in conserving the
traditional land races. The practice is such that every family in the community
will contribute a stipulated amount of their harvest to the community granary
maintained and managed by the chieftain of the hamlet. During important
occasions like marriages, social events and festivals and also as and when some
one needs for regular consumption, grains can be borrowed on loan and paid
back. This system has enabled the tribals to conserve the seed material even if
the produce in a particular season is less or if the grains stored for domestic
consumption are exhausted.
