Natural Resources form the ‘core’ source of adivasi livelihood. The ecological management of natural resources has been the underlying factor contributing towards a dignified, locally appropriate and ecologically sustainable lifestyle among adivasi communities. Natural resources with favourable conditions can generate required abilities and assets for outcome of desired livelihood security options at the household, community and village levels. In the recent past, a series of changes (at local, regional, national and global levels) in socio-economic and environmental conditions have increasingly affected the nature, status and conditions of the natural resources – the ‘core’ source of adivasi livelihood. These have significantly affected the fabric of sustainability of livelihood security in adivasi areas.

Our main objective in improving sustainable productivity of natural resources is to ensure that adivasi communities of the HATZ value and equip themselves with sustainable technologies in natural resource management to be ‘food secure’ and have basic livelihood security.

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE INITIATIVES

SRI (System of Rice Intensification)

This was initiated in demonstrative plots in the last rabi season (December 2004) to increase the yield of paddy with low investment and less water consumption. The results were very encouraging in as much as there appeared to be a significant 40% increase in the yield.

Value added mixed cropping

Alternative crops were introduced instead of commercial crops like cotton, which were unreliable and had negative effects on the soil when cultivated indiscriminately. The alternative crops introduced in Dalipadu were ginger and turmeric. Also extension of cultivation was promoted comprising maize, ragi; pulses like black gram, green gram, red gram; tubers like chemma, Pedapendalum in both the panchayats resulting in reduced dependence on cotton, increased income and availability of vegetables, pulses and tubers for direct consumption during the season.

Organic fertilizers

Vermi-compost is the main focus: The purpose is mainly to encourage farmers to use organic compost rather than rely on chemical fertilizers.

Kitchen gardens

These were introduced with 9 varieties of seed material mainly for vegetables and greens. The objective is to create opportunities for nutritive diet. Vegetable seeds were especially supplied to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families apart from encouraging kitchen gardens.

Horticulture

Horticulture included coconut plants, mango, pineapple, custard apple, guava, chickoo, and orange being grown on adivasi farmers’ lands. On an average the survival rate was as much as 70%. So far there have been no returns in terms of fruit. The plants are still at a growing stage. We expect returns from 2008 onwards for species like guava, custard apple, cashew and mango.

Community grain banks

These have been functioning successfully in the last two years. The major grains stored were paddy , ragi and sama. The adivasi field assistants are maintaining records of transactions in every village. Grain banks are especially useful in lean times when the farmer is forced to depend on external support.

Rainwater harvesting

By digging pits in about 5% of the land results in the increase in crop yield of about 30%. This technology has been tested in East Godavari district and found to be effective. The major obstacle to the replication of this technique is that it is labour intensive and the adivasi farmer is not yet willing to bear the cost.

Regeneration of Endemic species: seed dibbling

Paddy, Seed dibbling in 11 types of economically important species was undertaken covering 600 hectares of degraded forestlands within a cluster of 20 villages in Peddakodapalli. Out of the 11 species, large quantities of Pongamia pinnate (poonga oil), paddy and Caryota urens (elephant palm), soapnut, broom grass and shikakai seeds were dibbled. The germination and survival of these species (except soapnut) is about 60%. Apart from the above five species, small quantities of Rauvolfia (sarpagandha), Sterculia, jafra, jackfruit, wild mango and sampenga seeds were also dibbled. The major outcome of this activity was that we can see a lot of roots stock of Pongamia, Caryota, shikakai, broom grass, wild mangoes, and other species. This intervention could be replicated in other degraded forest/podu lands.