Laxman and Gyansa
On the 4th of September 2021 a community consultation with Bharia and Gond villagers was held in Ghanakodia village in Ghalinga Panchayat, Tamia Block, Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh. The issues addressed included Traditional crops and agricultural practices, mixed cropping and kitchen gardens, wild food and forest rights. The program involved 25 participants comprising 13 men, 10 women and 2 children. The resource persons were Bhaddu, Dadulal, Premlal and Suknasi. There was a discussion on the benefits and need for Kitchen Gardens and 4 farmers came forward to set up Kitchen Gardens in their homestead plots.
The resource persons also facilitated a discussion on the traditional shifting cultivation based agricultural practice of Dahiya, the benefits of the practice and associated traditional crops like different millet varieties, the challenges faced by farmers and the need to revive the practice. The village Patel Bhaddulal had recently returned from an exposure visit to Baigachak in Dindori District, Madhya Pradesh and he shared his experiences especially with regards to the struggle of the Baiga people to receive Habitat Rights in their area. All participants resolved to come together as a community to apply for Community Forest Rights and Habitat Rights. The meeting was well received, and everyone felt that such meetings should be held once a month.
