Agro-Forestry Models for Food, Nutrition, Economic and Environment Security in Tribal Areas

Introduction

In the past, tribal people had several ways of earning their livelihood. They farmed, fished, raised poultry, worked on basketry and also used forest resources to meet their needs. Conservation was an inherent part of their lifestyle and the ecosystem was protected through a variety of traditional rules and regulations.

Much of the farming in tribal areas is for subsistence; any surplus produce is sold to traders at the local shandies. Other goods sold for cash are medicinal plants collected from the wild, usually after some primary processing. The food basket of tribal communities consists of millets, pulses, cereals, as well as fish and wild edible produce procured from the forest; their dependency on the market was limited.

 

 

 

Changing scenario

Many factors contributed to the changes of the old scenario. For instance, the youth, exposed to newer foods and habits, now prefer rice to millet. In addition, the natural resources too are dwindling at a faster rate than they can regenerate. All this has resulted in food shortages and an overall food insecurity. Some external factors too have contributed to this state of affairs. Both the industry and the government are encouraging monoculture plantation crops – casuarina, cashew, eucalyptus, cotton – that can satisfy the needs of the industry, not those of the local tribal communities. These initiatives have further pushed the tribal populations down the path to food & nutrition insecurity.

Most of the marginal, small and land less tribal families who depend on the forest for their livelihoods are forced to migrate  in search of work and employment. The peoples’ dependency on scarce forest resources has also led to the shrinking of forests; many landless and marginal farmers have become vulnerable to chronic food & nutrition security.

Unlike earlier days much land has been put to use due to various government schemes; now farmers have cultivable land that can be used for integrated farming systems, such as Agro Forestry. Another change in recent times is that many farmers have resorted to chemical inputs in farming, especially those close to the road, making their returns from cultivation much lower.

Kovel Foundation’s strategy to address the issue

Kovel Foundation, is an organization working in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, has been trying different models of agro-forestry over the last 5-6 years to address the concerns of food, nutrition, economic development and environment tribal zones. The models were geared to reduce pressure on forest resources and in the optimum utilization of land and local resources.

After many attempts Kovel has zeroed in on Agro Forestry Models (AFMs) for sustainable livelihoods of forest-dependent families. The basic elements in AFMs are trees, shrubs, herbs, ground and underground crops, all of   which should be cultivated organically, mostly with locally available inputs. In these models, certain measures like Soil Moisture Conservation (SMC) and Water Resource Development (WRD) have also been factored in to conserve water and improve soil fertility.  Some of the models are discussed below.

Agro-Forestry Models (AFMs)

Maathota (Our Garden)

This model is meant for a one-acre plot and has a mix of both horticulture and NTFP species for core and border plantation. Mango and Amla were chosen for core plantation and Gum Karaya and Teak for the  borders. Various combinations of inter crops like vegetables, pulses, cereals, oil seeds, etc., have also been promoted. A total of 1000 acres have been planted by a 1000 families in 60 villages of Visakhapatnam district. The other measures – organic practices, soil moisture and fertility conservation, etc., – have been a part of this process.

This model has been implemented for 5 years and the farmers are excited about the yields as  incomes have begun to trickle in.  The issues of food, nutrition and economic security have also been effectively addressed. The 1000 farmers have been organized into a Mutually Aided Cooperative Society and plans are on  for processing, value addition and the marketing of the crops in future. There is a great demand for such models in tribal areas where a farmer is able to earn between Rs 8000 and Rs 10,000 per annum.

Annapoorna (Food  Security)

The Annapoorna model is an intensive, integrated, adoptable organic farming model developed over  half an acre of land for improvement in food and nutritional security.  This is a tested model of agriculture development suitable for tribal areas and tribal households. It allots 75% of the area to food production and the remaining 25% to income generation.

After the farmer has chosen half an acre land in which he/she wants to cultivate the land should be fenced on all sides. Trenching should also be done within the field boundary, of 1.5×1.5 ft.  Then a bed 7 feet broad should be laid in an east-west direction besides the trench; other beds may be laid similarly spaced 2 ft from each other, in the form of trenches. The width of the trench is 2 ft at the surface and tapers to 0.5 ft at a depth of 1.5 ft; the numbers of beds vary from one field to other because of their shapes.

This model aims at providing food and nutrition security by  cultivating horticultural crops, vegetables, pulses, cereals so that  a farmer   has enough food through the year and don’t  depend on cycle of mass production, selling and investments. . A total of 242 models have been developed so far in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana States.

developed so far in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana States.

Giri Lakshmi Thota

This model is also on a  half acre land, with  75% of the area  used  generate income and the  rest  25% for food. A combination of fruit and NTFP crops are selected based on the farmers preference and the market demand. The cultivation is organic. Along with horticulture crops, medicinal plants are given importance in these models. SMC and WRD activities are taken up according to the landscape. Medicinal plants like Premna integrifolia, Oroxylon indicum, Aegle marmelos, Decalepis sp., as well as Alfa Alfa, have been promoted.  A total of 511 such models have been developed in  areas where Kovel Foundation works. Palemkota Ramachandraiah, a farmer of the Yanadi tribe from Melachur village in Chittoor district, earned  Rs.28980/-   from 30 cents of land by cultivating Premna plants; many more  farmers are interested to try this kind of  cultivation.

A few field testimonies 

Korra Yerakanna Dora

·   Village : Bangarammapeta, Visakhapatnam

·   No. of members in the household : 5

·   Established Annapoorna in : 2014

·   Total Income realized : 74000/-

Resu Bhadramma

·   Village : Cherupalli, Khammam

·   No. of members in the household : 15

·   Established Annapoorna in : 2015 Oct

·   Total Income realized : 11010/-