By Ramachandran K.G., Programme Coordinator, Community Wellbeing
Promotion and conservation of agriculture diversities is one of the primary objectives of Using Diversity project interventions. The project supports the expansion of crop diversities with local tribal farming communities across all intervention areas. 4 such sample diversity plots are being developed in Thirunelly Grama Panchayat, with 2 plots in Nethaji and 1 each in the Mannundi and Narangakunnu hamlets, within the project areas of Wayanad. One of these plots are group-run tuber diversity plot. Three other plots are maintained by individual farmers belonging to two different tribal communities namely Adiya and Kattunaicken.
Leela, belonging to the Adiya community, maintains the sample plot in Nethaji ooru, and has been engaging in farming since her childhood. Both Santha and Vijayan are from the Kattunaickan community, respectively from Narangakunnu and Mannundi hamlets, belong to Kattunaicken community, maintain these model-diversity plots in their hamlets. At present, Leela and Santha grow 16 different varieties of vegetable crops and a few varieties of banana plants in their land. Vijayan has more than 22 different varieties of crops on his land that include coffee, banana, areca and jack-fruit trees etc.
The project provides support for seeds, seedlings, plants and fencing to each of these selected farmers who are willing to diversify their agriculture. This kind of support would benefit both farmers and ecology and hence, can also be a model for many other farmers too. In future, the concept of agroecological diversity plots will be extended to more farmers who wish to conserve the diversities and willing to exchange their seeds, knowledge traditions to other farmers across and beyond these landscapes.
