Background
In Mainpur block of Gariyaband district of Chhatisgarh the Using Diversity project is working with the Kamar community living in 12 villages in forest areas of the Block. The Kamars have historically been dependent on their surrounding forests for sustenance and livelihood security. They also practice traditional forms of shifting cultivation. However, in the face of current challenges and modern circumstances the Kamar’s are facing major threats to their traditional ways of life and sources of livelihood. The UD project aims to document the traditional agricultural practices and forest use by the Kamars and work towards strengthening and reviving their farming and forest produce based practices which were vital in helping them maintain nutritional and food security. The project also aims to facilitate an improved understanding of the original forest habitat of the Kamars of the area and work towards empowering the community to secure habitat rights over their traditional forests as per the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
The UD activities in Mainpur are being overseen by PRERAK with one facilitator – Bhola Ram Nagesh from Mainpur, and one community fellow – Dhansay Sory from Kulhadighat village responsible for grass root implementation.
Findings
I travelled with Bhola Ram Nagesh to community fellow Dhansay Sory’s village Kulhadighat which is the most centrally located of the 12 Kamar villages of the area. Dhansay had not been able to attend the orientation program for UD fellows at Raipur on 10th and 11th January 2018 so was provided a brief overview of issues covered. He was briefed on the UD concept and the objectives of the program. With regards to data collection on issues relating to traditional agriculture, uncultivated food, community forests and forest rights Dhansay was provided the data collection templates and briefed in how to gather the requisite information.
Discussions on traditional agricultural practices of the Kamars revealed the following details:
1. Dahi cultivation – Dhan (Rice), Madhiya (a form of millet) and Urad (a lentil) are the major crops. Dahi is carried out on flat land and its ecological calendar is as follows:
March – Shrubs and trees are cut and left on the land.
June – The cut shrubs and trees are spread across the land and are burnt.
July – the ash is spread and the land is ploughed after which the seeds are sown.
November – the crops begin to ripen and are harvested in November and December.
Year 1 – Madhiya is cultivated.
Year 2 – Urad is cultivated.
Year 3 – the area is left fallow for re-growth of natural vegetation.
Earlier the fallow period was much longer but has now been reduced to just one year after which cultivation is commenced once again.
Dahi plots attract bears and wild boar. Wild boar cause considerable damage which is one of the main reasons why the farmers stay near their plots so that they can chase away the wild boars. They do not receive any compensation for crop depredation by wild animals.
2. Penda cultivation – Penda is carried out on hill slopes and river banks. The primary crops are Jhunga and Kang. The land is not ploughed in Penda cultivation.
The ecological calendar is as follows:
March – Cutting of trees and shrubs which are then left on the land.
June – the cut trees and shrubs are burnt.
July – The seeds are sown.
October to November – ripening and harvesting of the crops.
The land is cultivated for one year and then left fallow for re-growth of natural vegetation for three years. After a 3 year fallow period the land is cultivated once again.
Kitchen gardens – Most village households in Kuladhighat had kitchen/back yard vegetable gardens which they had set up themselves without any external support, where they were growing vegetables. Dhansay Sory himself had a backyard vegetable garden where he was growing Palak, Methi, Brinjal and chilli.
Forest Rights Act – Dhansay reported that a large number of households had received IFR titles and the village had also applied for CFR. However, he stated that the application of CFR title had been made by the panchayat and not the FRC.
With regard to IFR titles the local administration has been gathering details of IFR titles and the Patwari was in Kuladhighat on the day of the field visit to collect photo copies of villagers IFR titles.
Kuladhighat has an FRC in place and the Gram Sabha discussed issues pertaining to forests and forest rights. More detailed information on FRA and its implementation will be gathered by the fellows.
Future Action
The fellows would commence base line data collection from the 12 project villages and start holding village level meeting to explain the concept of the project and garner support for proposed activities. In the first quarter of 2018 the fellows would focus on gathering information on Traditional Agricultural practices and traditional crops; uncultivated food and the status of FRA implementation in the region covering both IFR and CFR related issues. They would also start the ground work for establishing a community seed bank to promote the revival of traditional seed that have reduced or disappeared from the region through their cultivation by farmers from project villages.
