Using Diversity Network National Partners Meeting Hasanur, Tamilnadu 14th-16th February 2019 Reporting and Planning

Sharing of Area Specific Progress in 2018-19, 14^th February 2019

Central India –

The Program Coordinator of Central India provided an overview of the progress in different project areas of Central India in 2018-19 since the last annual meeting in May 2018 in Bhopal. This was followed by fellows from each of the 8 project areas sharing their experiences and providing details of activities carried out and progress in their areas in the last year.

Some of the highlights of activities carried out in Central India across the different thematic areas were as follows:

1. Promotion of Traditional Agricultural Practices, Mixed Cropping and Kitchen Gardens –

• 8 Community seed banks have been established across Central India, one in each project area. Seeds of traditional crops that have disappeared from some areas were sourced from different project communities and other Networks across the region.
• Several varieties of millets, maize, pulses, highland rice, beans, and vegetables were distributed to 577 farmer families from the target groups across 74 villages of the 8 project areas of Central India. The farmer families carried out sowing in Bewar, Dahia, Kurwa plots, mixed cropping badi plots and in kitchen gardens from June to August 2018.
• Baigachak, Dindori, MP – Seeds were distributed to 84 farmers across 10 Baiga villages. Sawa, Kodo, Dongar Kutki, Sitahi Kutki, Salhar, Katki Kang, Safed Katki Kang, Lal and Kala Katki Kang, Bhursa Kang, Sikia, Dadra, Baiga Rahar, Jhunjru, Rawas, Bedra and Chawal Madia were distributed. Failed crops – Bedra, Jhunjru, Sawa; Poor – Rawas. Other crops have done well.
• Anupur, MP – Seeds distributed to 64 farmers – Lal Madia, Jowar, Dongar Kutki, Katki Kang, Chawal Madia, Sawa, Jhunjru, Bedra, Baiga Rahar, Kodo, Rawas, Salhar. Good Crop – Jowar, Rahar, Dongar Kutki. Poor crops – Jhunjru (good crop but no seeds), Bedra (no seed/fruit, excess rain). Failed crops – Sawa and Salhar.
• Patalkot, Chhindwara, MP – Seeds distributed to 50 farmers – Bewri, Kangna, Kangni, Madia, Kusmusi, Balhar, Chawla, Sawa, Tuwar, Kodo, Bajra, Lal Jhunga, Safed Jhunga, Kurti. Good Performance – Lal Jhunga, Bajra, Kangna, Kusmusi, Sawa, Tuar and Madia. Poor and Failed crops – Kodo and Kurti.
• Raigarh, Chhattisgarh – Seeds distributed to 60 farmers – Sutru, Sikyajyoti Madia, Chawal Madia, Lal Jhunga, Safed Jhunga, Bewra Rahar, Kala Bede, Safed Bede, Hirwa, Sokda, Kawadi Kang, Bhursa Kang. Good crops – Safed and Lal Jhunga, Bewara Rahar, Madia. Poor and Failed crops – Kang, Sokda, Sutru (flower but no fruit)
• Gariyaband, Chhattisgarh – 19 Varieties of Vegetable seeds along with Kutki, Kodo and Til (small quantities) distributed to 50 farmers. 25 reported good performance of vegetable seeds. Other crops failed due to poor rain.
• Korba, Chhattisgarh – 19 Varieties of Vegetable seeds along with Kutki, Kodo and Rahar were distributed to 50 farmers. 20 farmers reported average productivity of vegetable seeds. The other crops failed due to poor rains.
• Jharkhand – In Sundar Pahari seeds were distributed to 96 farmers across 13 villages. 50 have reported good crops. Best – Bajra, Kursa, Muto; Medium – Kodme, Lal Kodme, Batwa, Patge, Gundli, Poor – Kodme (plant formed but not fruits/seeds) for most but a few had a good crop. Gardi (due to monkey), Dhan failed due to rain and soil (failed even in Kurwa).

Due to poor rainfall and untimely death of UD fellow for Littipara Kalidasji the farmers of Littipara did not report good performance of crops from seeds received.

2. Forest Gardens were established in Kurva fallows, Sundar Pahari, Jharkhand – These gardens are aimed at promotion of a mix of UF and shade tolerant crops in a pilot plot at Chamdade village. The objective is to help farmers gain benefits from their shifting cultivation fallows so that they can be motivated to increase the fallow period.
3. Uncultivated Food –

• Participatory research and documentation of the different kinds of UF collected and consumed by target communities and their current status. In the process of developing Ecological Calendars for the different project areas and carrying out participatory monitoring of impacts of Climate Change on Uncultivated Food.
• Detailed research of uncultivated foods and their use by Baigas has been carried out by Nirman in Dindori District, MP.
• In Mainpur District of Chhattisgarh over 2000 saplings of fruit bearing trees were distributed to villagers.
• Planting of Uncultivated Food plants in Silpidi village, Baigachak – On 9^th Aug 2018 around 500 women, men, youth and children from Silpidi and its neighbouring villages came together and planted around 2000 plants which included a variety of wild tubers and leafy vegetables.

4. Forest Rights Act – UD partners and fellows are supporting the target groups for improved implementation of FRA through awareness programs and support in filling and following up of IFR and CFR claims.
5. Community Programs and Events – Over 20 small and large events, exhibitions, training programs, demonstrations and community meetings have been held across Central India on a variety of issues that have included Traditional Agricultural practices, natural and ecological farming, uncultivated and wild food, increasing awareness among school children of UF and traditional crops, Forest Rights with a focus on habitat rights and CFR.

Western Ghats –

The Program Coordinator for Western Ghats, G. Ramachandran, provided an overview of activities, achievements and progress in the Western and Eastern Ghats project areas. In this region the network is working in 6 different areas and the communities covered include the Erula, Kattunaicken, Cholanaicken, Pania, Jenukuruba, Siddhi, Kaathkari and Murwa. The core themes that they have focused on have been – Traditional Agricultural practices, Uncultivated Food and Forest Rights Act. The fellows from the different project areas then shared their experiences and progress in the last year.

1. Puvi, Jenukuruba project area –

• They have formed a women’s group through which traditional seeds have been collected and distributed. Due to excess rainfall in the last year they faced problems with the crops being cultivated.
• While there is a lot of uncultivated food around them, the community is not allowed to enter the forests.
• They celebrated Beej mela and did Rashi Puja before the Mela using different seeds.
• The government has joined hands with the community and given them a place to open a seed bank in Periyapatna where over 100 varieties of seeds are being stored. The women collected monetary contributions which were used to purchase the different seeds.
• The women’s group participated in Joida Mela and sold lots of tubers and uncultivated food.
• They have carried out seed mapping spanning 60 years which has revealed that lots of seeds have been lost.
• They have conducted school program on Uncultivated Food with High School children.
• They participated in a Tuber mela in Mysore District which attracted over 1000 visitors. Their tubers were received very well and all their produce was sold out half way through on the second day.
• They have made tuber nursery and visited Kerela for training on growing UF as part of an exchange program.
• They have started value addition by making papad.
• They have received CFR but are still struggling to receive IFR and need to get Forest Department to allow them access to their forests.

2. Chandran, Erula project area in Pillur –

• Documentation of wild tubers has been carried out through village elders and details of 5 varieties have been gathered which includes extraction methods and practices, consumption and preparation methods.
• Identified and working with 2 Erula women who have dedicated their lives to the protection and revival of traditional seeds. Rajamani is a community woman aged around 50 years living in Keelpillur village in the Pillur area. She found her interests in agriculture from her childhood onwards. At present, she grows Kathiri (Brinjal), Milagai (Chilly), Tomoto, Peerkai (Ridge gourd), and Vendai (ladies finger) in her garden. She is willing to give seeds to those who want the seeds. She has shared seeds of Peerkai to many young women in her village. Kannamal is the other widow farmer in her late fifties. She cultivates mixed varieties of vegetables in her own land. We can see a wide mix of vegetables like Pulicha keerai (a local variety of greens), Sorakkai (bottle gourd), Poosani (Ash gourd), Kumbalakkai (pumpkin) and Pudalai (snake gourd) in her garden. Apart from sharing the vegetables, she keeps the seeds for the coming years. This time, she has shared five different seed varieties with twelve young women in the community.
• On 15^th December 2018 a Seed and Uncultivated Food festival was organised at Pillur. Traditional food was also prepared and children especially found the different traditional food preparations very interesting and were keen on their revival.
• Community seed banks are being established in Pillur and a lot of work has already been carried out.
• FRA – in 2 Panchayats they are trying for forest rights and some of the villagers have already received IFR which others are yet to receive.

3. Sunil, Nilambur –

• FRA – In 9 villages that he is working all IFR titles have been received. 15 CFR claims have been submitted and they have been putting pressure on the District Collector for processing the claims and he has been assuring them that they will receive the titles soon. 5 villages have come together to make Gram Sabhas and Forest Rights Committees (FRCs) have also been reconstituted. Trainings of 16 FRCs has been carried out.

• Nursery of over 50 varieties of Uncultivated Food plants and trees was established but lost in the flood.
• Fish diversity of Kattunaicken community has been documented. It has been found that 6 varieties of fish are not found locally any more. Some of the reasons for this include use of chemicals in fishing and overfishing largely by outsiders.
• Nutrition training was organised and over 500 people attended the training.

4. Uday, Kaathkari project area, Sindudurgh District, Maharashtra –

• Awareness programs on human rights have been carried out.
• They promoted the formation of a Sangathan and helped free the Kaathkari from bonded labour. They also put a request before the Collector in 2015-16 for land for houses for the Kaatkari and now this land is being received.
• They have carried out research on the Uncultivated Food used by the Kaathkari. In September they held a large program displaying the rich variety of UF collected by the Kaathkari and preparation and cooking methods. The District Collector, Tehsildar and other government official attended the program.
• They have documented and created detailed monthly calendar of UF and also documented fish and crabs eaten by the Kaatkari.
• They are promoting mixed Kitchen Gardens but are facing a major challenge of crop depredation by monkeys.
• Forest Rights – the Kaatkari are yet to receive rights to their forest and they are working for CFR and habitat rights for the Kaathkari.

National Level Planning Discussion, 16^th February 2019

Publications

• Rohan shared plans of Jharkhand partner Soumik to publish books on Uncultivated Foods of the Paharias; Traditional Agricultural Practices of the Paharias; Educational and Pictorial guide to Trees UF plants for Paharia children. He is in process of designing and printing a series of posters on Uncultivated Food of the Paharias, a background and history of the Paharias, and issues relating to traditional agricultural practices of the region.
• Krishna Prasad expressed interest to bring out a Tuber and Root Calendar. He asked all partners to contribute photos and material. The calendar would initially be in English and Hindi. Subsequently support could be sought from interested agencies or institutions to facilitate translation into other regional languages as well as subsequent printing of these translated calendars.
• Krishna Prasad also pointed out that we should focus on facilitating Press Coverage and Reviews of different aspects of the Using Diversity Network’s activities and work.
• Book or Document of Shifting Cultivation practices of our target communities – Naresh Biswas pointed out that while shifting cultivation in the North East and Nagaland in particular is increasingly being viewed in a positive light, the same is not true for shifting cultivation practices by indigenous communities in Peninsular India. In order to promote greater understanding of these practices and their benefits he recommended the development and publication of a book or document on different shifting cultivation practices of the communities the UD network is working with highlighting their importance and benefits.
• Mahua Book – The possibility of a developing a book on Mahua focussing on the different Mahua recipes of different indigenous communities as well and the cultural and other benefits of Mahua was broached. This book could build on a proposed National Level event on Mahua.
• Videos and Articles on Mixed Cropping success stories – Naresh Biswas suggested that video documentaries, photo essays and articles could be prepared on success stories of indigenous farmers with mixed cropping and traditional agriculture.

National Level and Large Scale Programs and Events

• National Workshops – Naresh Biswas and Krishna Prasad felt that the Network needs to review its strategy with respect to National Level workshops. Krishna Prasad pointed out that National Level workshops like the Living Farms workshop that a number of UD partners attended tend to be very resource intensive and do not deliver any tangible returns with regards to the issues the Network wishes to be addressed at a National policy level. Naresh pointed out that we are not sure of what we wish to achieve through such National Level workshops. Krishna Prasad felt that if the objective is policy advocacy then focussed interactions and deliberations with concerned stakeholders is more beneficial, with partners take the lead to reach out to appropriate Government agencies or representatives with regards to addressing particular issues.
• Exposure Visits – Krishna Prasad suggested having inter-region exposure visits of partners, fellows and other concerned stakeholders. He felt that the Central India stakeholders could learn a lot from South India with regards to marketing and the South India partners could explore the diversity of uncultivated food and traditional agricultural practices in Central India.
• Tuber Mela in Bangalore– Krishna Prasad pointed out that 5-7 years ago Millets were not popular but now there is a great demand for them. Along these lines there is a growing interest in tubers. He suggested the possibility of a Tuber Mela in Bangalore to build awareness about Tubers as well and promote their marketing. In this regard Madhu suggested that the tuber varieties to be promoted on a large scale should be restricted to cultivated tuber as several uncultivated tubers, which are largely used for subsistence, are seriously endangered and increased commercial pressures on them could threaten their very survival.
• National Level Mahua Sharing event – Naresh Biswas recommended the organisation of a national level event on Mahua where representatives of different indigenous communities could participate to share and exchange their different recipes for Mahua based food items. This knowledge could also be developed into a book. Such an event could help create awareness of the rich food diversity of indigenous communities and could be extended and expanded to include other uncultivated food items.

Lobbying and Advocacy

• Planting Policies and Strategies – The plantation policies of the Forest Department and other Government agencies and departments are developed and implemented without any consultation of the local communities who live in these areas and depend on the forests and trees. Madhu pointed out that the Forest Department’s plantation policies have largely focussed on alien species. There had been no systematic examination of planting policy and even in the NGO sector there have been no concerted efforts to include the views of local communities in determining tree species to be planted. On an average only 3-10 species are planted and there is no focus on native tree species that local communities depend on. Madhu raised a question as to whether the network and its partners could focus on influencing planting programs at the Panchayat level in order to get local voices heard and promote planting of important native species chosen by them.

Madhu pointed out that there has been a sharp decline in forest quality and tree diversity across India. The average tree diversity is only around 20-40 tree species while the ideal is 300 to 300. There has also been a decline in the availability of seeds of tree species. The Network can explore advocacy on Forest and Environmental policy with a focus on forest quality and diversity, planting programs, greater decision making roles for local communities in developing and implementing planting programs with a focus on promoting a variety of native species that are vital for these communities. In the context of the UD project the network could focus on promoting exchange of seeds of tree species in addition to agricultural seeds.

Along these lines Naresh Biswas pointed out that tree planting along road sides involves a handful of species that are not beneficial to local communities. The network could explore advocacy with all concerned departments and policy makers on involving local communities in planning all forms of planting activities in their areas.

• Advocacy Platform for Adivasi Community Leaders – Ramgulam pointed out that he had been approached by several Adivasi leaders of the different communities that we work with, like Bansingh Sori from the Kamar community and Lamtu Baiga from the Baiga community. They feel that while there are a plethora of schemes and policies for their communities they are never consulted with regards to developing and implementing these schemes and policies. They would like support in creating a platform where leaders of different communities could meet in order to formulate a joint strategy to place before the government in order to ensure a greater role in decision making with regards to the formulation and implantation of policies and schemes targeted at their respective communities.
• Conservation Cum Community Development (CCD) program for PVTG communities – Naresh Biswas pointed that all states have a CCD fund for the development of PVTG communities but the utilisation and implementation has been far from satisfactory. The programs and schemes promoted through CCD are not in tune with the needs and requirements of the concerned communities. The UD Network should explore policy advocacy on utilisation of CCD and provide inputs on development of CCD utilisation plans with respect to the communities the Network works with.
• Forest Rights Act with a focus on Habitat Rights and CFR – the Network should explore its strategy and state and national levels with regards to effective and improved implementation of FRA with a focus on Habitat Rights and CFR.

Area Specific Planning for Central India and Western Ghats – 15^th and 16^th February 2019

Central India –

The Central India Program Coordinator along with the partners worked with the fellows from the 8 different project areas across Central India to develop detailed annual activity plans for their areas for 2019-20. In addition to area specific plans the fellows will be deciding areas in which they require capacity building and training for themselves and based on this training programs for fellows will be organised.

The fellows of each project area presented their plans on the 16^th of February. The core elements of these plans are as follows –

1. Cultivation of different traditional varieties of crops on the fields of small and marginal farming families –
   • Community Seed Banks – The existing 8 community seed banks will be strengthened and 4-5 new community seed banks will be established (2 in MP, 2 in Chhattisgarh and 1 in Jharkhand) in order to make available a variety of traditional seeds to marginal farmer families for mixed cropping and kitchen gardens.
   • Formation of Community Seed Bank committees for the management of community seed banks and their training and capacity building.
   • Seed Collection – seeds of a variety of traditional crops and vegetables will be collected for the community seed bank. Inter community seed exchanges will also be promoted.
   • Discussion meetings and training programs with community mobilisers and farmers on protection and revival of traditional agricultural practices and crops, mixed cropping methods, Kitchen gardens, and ecological farming practices.
   • Supporting to 400 to 700 farmer families to cultivated a variety of seeds through mixed cropping, traditional agricultural practices and kitchen gardens.
2. Facilitating planting of uncultivated food plants and trees –
   • Collection of seeds of fruit, vegetable and other uncultivated food trees and plants for planting in and around habitation, homestead gardens and degraded forest areas.
   • Supporting families and communities to plant a variety of around 3000 uncultivated food plants and trees through both individual planting and planting in community areas.
   • Nutrition gardens of uncultivated food will be established in schools and villages in different project areas. Nutrition Gardens are planned to be set up in Dindori and Anupur Districts of MP and Raigarh District of Chhattisgarh.
   • Forest Gardens will be established in some areas like Sundar Pahari, Jharkhand in order to promote longer fallow periods.
3. Promoting improved understanding and implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006
   • Area level Training programs and Community Consultations on FRA with a focus on Habitat Rights and CFR, involving community leaders from project villages will be carried out. Training programs and community consultations with community leaders of the 12 villagers of Patalkot on Habitat rights is are already in progress and similar programs are planned for the villages of Chui Pahar in Raigarh District of Chhattisgarh.
   • Villages level awareness programs, trainings and community discussions on FRA and its implementation will be facilitated in different project areas.
4. Promoting awareness of importance of Uncultivated Food and traditional crops –
   • Awareness programs for school children and teachers on traditional crops and uncultivated food/ wild food, their importance for nutrition purposes and other benefits.
   • Village level awareness programs on uncultivated food. Village level awareness programs on Wild Greens are planned for Sundar Pahari, Jharkhand.
   • Celebration of Uncultivated Food – Area wide melas and events on uncultivated and wild food will be organised in all project areas.
5. Publicity material – Pamphlets, posters and other publicity material on thematic areas will be developed, printed and distributed in different project areas.

Western Ghats –

Seed banks and seed exchanges & increasing the areas under cultivation

1. In Nilambur the community have taken a decision to extend their kitchen garden upto 300 in Number. This initiative may help them to set up a new community seed bank at Nilambur in the coming year.
2. In Pillur the new seed bank is expected to cater more than 50 farmers for the first year
3. In Periyapatna, the seed bank is working as a bank based on the demand, This seed bank will cater approximately about 400 tribal farmers in the area
4. Seed bank developments – indigenous seeds
5. Value addition of tubers training to Jenukuruba group periyapatna
6. Sirsi – Extending Tuber cultivation is one of the primary plans by the community members
7. Joida – Seeds/tuber exchange melas in two villages
8. Kaathkari – kitchen garden to 120 families/10 villages
9. Food Festival – Kaathkari

FRA, CFR and Habitat Rights

1. The community group in Periyapatna is already engaged in fighting for their individual forest rights. They need support – demonstration and engaging in discussion with government officers and elected representative – Sustainable Harvest of NTFP
2. Nilambur – the work with cholanaicken community for their habitat rights is be in progress. We need to discuss with district administration on the efforts. Kattunaicken community groups are engaged in regional discussions to claim their CFR (that shall include habitat rights) and in the local forum we aim to discuss this
3. Pillur – The community leaders are being supported for engaging in discussion with both concerned line department officers
4. Kaathkari – Nomadic community forest rights and
5. Kaathkari land issues – Sabari yojana implementations
6. Kunbi – OTFD rights workshop on FRA

Small conservation projects for rare/endangered uncultivated foods/ fishes

1. Sirsi – Siddi community in Sirsi area have shown interest in preserving the uncultivated food in their area – Small conservation plots in two villages
2. Joida community have plant genome saviour award already in preserving their traditional tubers
3. Periyapatna – more works have to be done to document their uncultivated food sources – community members had brought to display uncultivated food items in the seed fest organized in their area. Conserving special conservation plots has to be included in their community forest management plan – plots have to identified in their traditional forest boundaries
4. Pillur – Traditional farming trial plots
5. Nilambur – conservation plots were already identified for greens, fishes and tubers

Documentation and publication ideas

• Fresh water fishes of Karimpuzha – Nilambur
• Uncultivated food – the greens – Nilambur
• Traditional farming of Erula and recent changes with respect to Pillur area
• Jenukuruba of Periya Patna– Traditional knowledge
• Katkari –
• Seasonal calendar – in Marathi and Konkani for Kaathkari and Kunbi
• Kaathkaari – freshwater fishes
• The Roots and Tubers Calendar 2020 – Sahaja Samrudha- Mysore- Jenukruba