Heeralal Sarote
On the 3rd of March 2021 a Baiga Mandi was held in the Baiga village of Thadpathra to celebrate the rich diversity of uncultivated and cultivated foods that the Baiga people use in their daily lives. The objective of the program was to promote the conservation of this rich diversity of wild and cultivated foods of the Baigas. The Baiga Mandi was organized by the Baiga Mahapanchayat (Dindori) and supported by Nirman (UD partner organization) and the Using Diversity Network.
In some of Madhya Pradesh’s Adivasi districts the Baiga people reside in forest areas and forest villages. Their livelihoods, way of life and culture are all integrally linked to their forests. The Baiga Mandi had on display some of the major food items of the Baiga people which comprised of a variety of different wild foods that grow naturally in the area like different tubers, leafy vegetables, fruits and mushrooms; as well as several crops and seeds that the Baiga cultivate through their traditional agricultural practices. It is said that these diverse traditional foods of the Baiga not only have nutritional importance but also have medicinal benefits and help the Baiga cope with the harsh conditions of life in the forest and protect them from succumbing to different illnesses that are prevalent in the region. In fact it can be said that in the face of changes in human society and the spread of the market economy the traditional food system of the Baiga people have preserved to this day is one of the most significant natural and organic food systems still in existence. However, despite this till now the government and allied bureaucratic establishments have not given this food system the attention it deserves, nor have they given it any recognition or support at any level.
The Baiga villagers brought a variety of wild foods that they collect from their forests along with several crops cultivated through their traditional practice of Bewar for display at the Baiga Mandi. Along with the Baiga’s favourite Kaniha Kanda a variety of other tuber and wild foods were exhibited. Seeds of over 50 different Bewar crops were on display and these include several crops that are become increasingly rare like Baigani Rahar (a variety of pigeon pea), Sikiya (a variety of crabgrass finger millet), Sawa, Salhar and Madia (finger millet).
The local MLA; Dev Singh Sisodia, the Registrar of Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University; Kumar Singh Netam representing the Agricultural Department (Jabalpur); Rajendra Kumar and Ganesh Pracharya from Krishi Prashikshan Kendra Varanasi and the staff of the Livelihood project were present at the Baiga Mandi.
It was extremely interesting to observe that when Dev Singh Sisodia, the Registrar of Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University, saw the panicles of Baigas Salhar crop he said that it was a variety of Bajra (Pearl millet) but when he saw the seeds he said that this is definitely not a variety of Pearl millet. The head of Nirman, Naresh Biswas who been working for several decades for the conservation of traditional Bewar seeds that are gradually disappearing, shared that Salhar is the pride of the Baiga people of Baigachak in Dindori District. Such a form of Bajra that the Baiga call Salhar is not to be found in any other part of India. Naresh Biswas, felt that the Government or the District Agriculture Department should make efforts to facilitate Geo tagging of the Baiga’s Salahar found in Dindori District. He also emphasized that if traditional Bewar seeds and the biodiversity of the areas forests are to be protected and conserved then it is essential to demand for Habitat Rights for the Baigas as per the Forest Rights Act (2005) for the entire Baigachak area, only then will the forests survive and the livelihoods of the Baigas be strengthened.
On the occasion of the Baiga Mandi packets of a variety of traditional Bewar seeds, that are disappearing from the region, were distributed to Baiga participants. The seeds distributed included Sawa, Salhar, Madia, Sikiya, Kang, Kodo, and Kutki. Over 500 Baiga men and women from Gaora, Dhaba, Shailatola, Ajgar, Tantar, Silpidi, Jilang, Tharpathra, Ladradadar, Birha, Domohni and other neighbouring villages participated in the Baiga Mandi.
