Van Kaleva village elder program on traditional food systems of Patalkot

Jhiran village, Harrakachar Panchayat, Tamiya Block Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh

Laxman Ahkey and Gyansa Bharti

On the 6^th of November 2022 through the Using Diversity project an awareness program on traditional seeds, traditional agricultural practices and wild and uncultivated food was organised in Jhiran village, Harrakachar Panchayat, Tamiya Block Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh.

The program involved 34 participants comprising 7 women, 11 men and 16 children. The program was chaired by village elder Mehrsi Patel from Khamarpur village. Mehrsi is an experienced Bhariya farmer who is currently reviving the cultivation of traditional crops like Madia (finger millet) and Kangi (a variety of foxtail millet) in his land. Mehrsi spoke to the participants about the benefits of traditional crops and the urgent need to revive and safeguard traditional agricultural practices. He also shared his wealth of knowledge about the wild and uncultivated food of the region. The foods he talked about included wild tubers like Kadu Kanda, Bechandi Kanda, Shahad Kanda, Donchi Kanda, Ratedh Kanda, and Ram Kanda; wild greens and fruits like Dobai Bhaji, Bhodki Bhaji, Amla, and Mahol Phal. Mehrsi then took the men, women and children for a forest trail in the course of which he helped them identify a variety of uncultivated food trees and plants and also provided details of how to use and consume these different wild foods.

The program was well received by the villagers and felt that such programs should be held in the future as well. They lauded the efforts to bring the village children together to share traditional knowledge with them and felt that this should be done on a regular basis.  Bhanulal the Patel from Jhiran village appreciated the efforts of the Using Diversity team. Forest Department Beat officer Mahendra Uike also attended the program and shared that this was the first time he was attending such an event in an interior location like Jhiran. He really enjoyed the event and shared photos and details with the local Forest Department Ranger who was excited to hear about such efforts and expressed getting involved with such initiatives in the future.