Traditional farm wisdom and its community-level application make this Muthuvan hamlet, Thayannankudy, Idukki different from other tribal settlements.
The settlement, deep inside the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, has a population of 103, in 38 families, mostly clustered on a hillock near the Chinnar river, a tributary of the Pampar.
The settlement is surrounded by lemon trees, traditionally know to be a bio-fence which deters wild animals. The officials of the Forest Department too say that the bio-fence is a success. It primary prevents wild elephant invasions, they say.
The villagers grow almost all vegetables and follow the shift pattern of cultivation. “After a crop of ‘keppa’ (ragi), beans or other vegetables will be sown in the next round. The ‘keppa’ is entirely for domestic consumption,” says Chandran, the Orrumooppan (tribal chieftain).
The present crop of beans will be ready for harvest by the end of next month. “After harvesting ragi, we leave the fodder on the ground to decay. This makes the land more fertile for the next round of cultivation,” says Maruthamuthu, a member of the community.
All members of the community engage in farming together though the plots are owned by different families. No fertilizers or chemicals are used.
The vegetables are sold at the main market at Udumalpet or Marayur. Chandran says the shift pattern keeps away pests. The Forest Department is planning to market the produce through a network to ensure remunerative prices.
“It may be either clubbed with the exclusive tribal market at Marayur or separately. Discussions are on,” Forest officials say.
The hamlet also rears livestock. There are over 500 goats. The tribespeople take turns to graze the goat and safeguard them from wild animal attacks.