How emergence of agriculture af fected life of tribal people
Answers
The predominant attitude of agriculture officials towards tribal communities is to try to convince them to give up their ‘backward’ agriculture and adopt more ‘modern’ and ‘high productivity’ agricultural practices. Often no attempt at all is made to try to understand the traditional agricultural systems and practices of tribal communities. It is taken for granted that this is bound to be ‘backward’ and hence in need of replacement by the readymade ‘modern’ solutions available with officials.
However this is not at all the reality that one sees in many tribal villages. Instead what we see in these villages is an agriculture system in harmony with nature as well as the food and nutrition needs of people. Further careful observation reveals this to be a risk minimising system which can provide at least some food even in adverse weather conditions. Hence the relevance of this eco-friendly, zero fossil fuel system has increased further in times of climate change and erratic weather.
In Dharaav village of Hoshangabad district (Madhya Pradesh) tribal farmers practice ‘utera’ system of cultivation. Under this mixed farming system seeds of several cereals, millets and legumes are sown together at the same time in or around June. 60 year old farmer Ganpat says that absolutely no cash expenditure is incurred in this farming. These farmers save seeds from the previous year’s crops. Farm animals fertilise the fields with manure while the crop residues of this organic mixed farming system, completely free from chemical poisons, provides nutritious food for bullocks, cows and other farm animals. Mixed farming of grains and legumes ensures that soil fertility is maintained. If one crop fails due to some reason, other crops of the mixed farming system enable farmers to survive despite some loss.
In Dindori district (Madhya Pradesh) Baiga tribals practice ‘Benvar’ agriculture system. Gothiya, a farmer of Kandabani village explains that during early summer small bushes and branches, fallen leaves are lit up in a fire. In this thin layer of ash mixed seeds are scattered. After about 3 years the site of farming changes. However after resting the land soil for some time, the tribal farmers again return to this land after 9 years.
About 16 crops are routinely grown in this mixed farming system. These further have about 56 varieties. Various crops support each other in this mixed system. The bigger plant growth of maize protects Kulthi from strong winds. Legume crops make up for the nitrogen taken up by cereals.