Surja Paharia
On 16th December 2024 a Krishi Mela was organized in the Paharia village of Salgama in Bada Paktari Panchayat, Sundar Pahari Block, Godda District, Jharkhand. The Mela celebrated the rich diversity of cultivated, uncultivated and wild foods and traditional agricultural practices of the Paharia people bringing together around 220 people (150 women and 70 men) from 5 villages – Salgama, Pertare, Bada Chamer, Nadopara, Chota Chamer.
There were a series of talks and discussions on various issues –
- the importance and benefits of traditional agricultural practices – , wild and uncultivated food,
- Government schemes like provision of chemical fertilisers and hybrid seeds through government which are not in tune with their traditional agricultural practices which only use natural inputs.
- Challenges posed by child marriages among the Paharia people and how to prevent them.
- Increasing dependence on PDS instead of the healthy and nutritious traditional foods of the Paharia and strategies to revive consumption of traditional foods.
Chandi Paharin from Salgama – “We need to revive, conserve and promote traditional seeds that are disappearing from our Kurwa fields by taking responsibility ourselves and sowing these seeds in a timely manner. These seeds include Kodme
Mehndi Paharin from Salgama – “We need to protect our forests, water sources and other natural resources. We need to protect our forests from fire and plant trees to improve the quality of our forests”.
The Mela also involved different games like Blind Man’s Bluff and Archery which were thoroughly enjoyed by the participants.
