The tribal hamlet of Thayanankudi in the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) in Idukki has bagged the maiden award instituted by the government for tribal hamlets engaged in reviving tribal agriculture.
The award carrying a cash prize of ₹3 lakh, medal, and citation was presented to Chandran Kani, chieftain of the hamlet, by Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunil Kumar in Thiruvananthapuram on August 16.
Assistant Wildlife Warden of the CWS P.M. Prabhu, who initiated the farming programme in the hamlet, said the amount would be credited to the eco-development committee account of the hamlet and utilised for enhancing tribal farming at Thayanankudy.
Mr. Prabhu said in the past Thayanankudy, where the Muthuvan tribe resides, was home to rich ragi (millet) farms in the rain shadow regions there. But later on the interest in farming waned owing to losses incurred in cultivation.
Each millet variety was known by a local name. Senior members of the community could recollect those names though they had not seen these for years. The Forest Department collected these varieties from locations across the State under a scheme Punarjeevanam and farming operations began in June last year.
Apart from millet, the tribespeople also cultivated varieties of beans and pumpkins. The crops were ready for harvest in October. Mr. Prabhu said 100 grams of millet sowed gave a yield of over 8 kg.
Following the success of Thayanankudy, the project was replicated in the tribal hamlets of Marayur, Kanthalur, Kizhanthur, Karayur and Kottakudi, Mr. Prabhu said adding that crops there would be harvested soon.
Boost for community
The award had come as a boost for the Muthuvan community at Thayanankudy, who had decided to continue farming, Mr. Prabhu said.
“It also reflects how positively the Forest Department can intervene to promote farming activity at tribal hamlets deep in the forests,” he said.
