Ragi plate Korangatti There is for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It will be accompanied by a curry made from seasonal vegetables or a non-vegetarian dish. Beans, pumpkin and collard greens are some of the vegetables we usually cook with. Anchovies, crab curry and meat are also served as sides,” explains M Chandran, a member of the Muduvan tribe of Thayyanankudi township under Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Idukki.
Chandran was explaining how millets, especially ragi, have been a constant in their diet along with other millets. Now they grow 34 varieties of ragi like millet Chama (little millet), theena (foxtail millet) and vargu (Kodo millet) and many varieties of beans, amaranths, maize and pumpkins. This has been made possible by the Punarjeevanam project of the Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department.
“Corangatti is a sticky dish, slightly larger than an idli, made from ragi flour that is cooked in boiling water to a pudding-like consistency. This is poured over a banana leaf and left to set. No sugar or salt is added,” he says.
Punarjeevanam (revival or revival) was launched in 2016 to revive the cultivation of millets and endemic crops in tribal settlements under the Chinar Wildlife Sanctuary under the Munnar Wildlife Division. The project, which also involves the Benami Forest Development Agency, has completed its seventh phase.
There are 11 tribal settlements of the Muduvan and Pahari Pulaya communities under the Wildlife Division. “Farming is mainly in the Thayanankudi township and is now being extended to a few more hamlets. We have also started outreach programmes,” says Vinod SV, Chief Wildlife Warden, Munnar Wildlife Division.
One such initiative is at the Institute of Human Resource Development’s (IHRD) College of Applied Sciences in Kanthalur, Idukki, where millets are grown at 75 cents apiece, along with varieties of ragi. Chama, theena And vargu,
Millet saplings being planted in the Thannankudi tribal settlement Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The genesis of Punarjeevanam was the emphasis on participatory forest management in the National Forest Policy 1988. Medical camps organized by the Forest Department for tribals under the division found that children were malnourished and anaemic, while adults suffered from various lifestyle diseases. especially diabetes. After interacting with the chiefs of various tribal settlements, the officials concluded that the change in food habits of the tribals was the root cause of their undernourishment and lifestyle health issues.
A view of the seed storage center in Chinnar | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“They used to grow and eat ragi and other millets, which are rich in nutrients. These crops were once the staple of the Anchunadu region, which includes Marayoor, Kanthallur, Karayur, Keezanthur and Chinar. But once the government introduced rationed rice, they shifted away from cultivating these crops. Punarjeevanam was not just about reviving varieties. Tribes play an important role in forest management and this was a way of participating in them. Conservation of nature begins with them,” says Pramukh Prabhu, the then assistant wildlife warden of the division and currently chief wildlife warden, Peechi Wildlife Division.
top honors
Apart from winning the state government’s award for tribal settlements engaged in reviving tribal agriculture, Thayannakudi was selected for the Plant Genome Savior Community Award instituted by the central government for the conservation of rare ethnic seed varieties and promotion of traditional farming.
Chandran, 66, says Punarjeevanam has been an eye-opener for the tribal community. “When we ate the food we grew, we all lived healthy. But we could not preserve the seeds due to many reasons like lack of rainfall and destruction of crops by wild animals. Farming came to a standstill over time And our eating habits changed. But we did not know that it would lead to diseases and lifestyle diseases like diabetes, changes in blood pressure etc.’
At present, tribal communities can easily get more than 100 kg of food grains for 20-25 cents. The yield depends on soil fertility and climatic conditions, says Dhanesh PK, a social worker with the wildlife division. He says that millet consumption increased during the pandemic.
The next phase of cultivation will start in late May or early June. Meanwhile, members of the tribal community are guiding the students of IHRD College to plant and take care of millets.
seed preservation
Assistant wildlife warden/range officer Nitin Lal says the seed storage center is another highlight of the project. In the center seeds of all varieties are kept in pots. “The IHRD college will hand over the seeds of the provided varieties to our storage centre. Meanwhile, seeds are being exchanged between tribal settlements and inquiries are also being made for seeds from various organizations and institutions. We are also being invited to be a part of exhibitions to showcase the varieties.” Other tribal settlements where farming has been introduced are Iruttalakudi, Ethampetty and Chambakkad.
Punarjeevanam started with the planting of eight varieties of ragi available with the tribals. Once they sprouted, officials asked for help Kani (head of the settlement) to identify the varieties. “There are clear differences in the color of the corms or stems or leaves/leaf sheaths etc. Tribes name these plants based on these characteristics. Otherwise all the grains look the same. There is not much difference in taste,” says Dhanesh.
What is in a name
For example, Neelkanni has a blue shade on its stem and leaves; The knots in the stem of Meenkanni are like the shape of a fish’s eye; keying There is a smaller inflorescence below the main one; Changalirgi has a chain-like design on its inflorescence; Eastern variety looks the same Poovu (Flower); Pachmutti is so called because it is green in color from top to bottom; Thongal ragi has pendulous inflorescence. Some other varieties of ragi are Karimutti, Cholakkambili, Arakkanachi, Aruvi, Undapoovan, Roti, Sirukoran, Karikanni. Karimutti can be harvested from Adi in three to four months, says Chandran.
A view of seed beds of different millet varieties at Thayyanankudi tribal settlement | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Moong varieties have been included in the second phase of the project. They currently grow Avakodi, Kadampara, Kodi Bean, Paal Butter, Karutha Bean, Manja Muriga, Keeravani, Pithwara Etcetera. Apparently, these beans find a good market across the border in Tamil Nadu.
Students of IHRD College of Applied Science, Kanthalur in their millet garden | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
In addition to the commonly seen green and red varieties of Amaranthus, they grow Thoppi Keera And pori kira, the seeds of pori kira When roasted, they puff up like corn and can be eaten with honey,” adds Dhanush. Pumpkin ( Poosani in tribal language) varieties are Chinna Poosani, Periya Poosani, Vella Poosani And pattanacke,
If they over-harvest any produce, they are sold at the weekly open market, Chilla, says Nitin. The department is promoting the manufacture and sale of ragi based delicacies like laddoos, doodh. calculus And pakkawara,