Productivity enhancement in traditional cultivars makes them more competitive than improved varieties, thus contributing to their on-farm conservation. The objective of on-farm management is the continuation of social and ecological processes within which farmers are key players. In the Kolli hills, the perception on issues related to minor millets reveals that women are concerned about the processing (manual processing), low productivity and pest and disease incidences whereas the men are concerned about shortage of farmyard manure, low productivity, pest and disease attack and market outlet for the surplus.
Productivity enhancement
The low productivity of the traditional minor millets is often considered to be the main reason for their disappearance in spite of their adaptation to biotic and non-biotic stresses. In the Kolli hills, participatory on-farm trials were carried out on seed density/method of sowing and seed hardening and on identifying alternate sources of nutrients, especially nitrogen. In the seed density/sowing method the line sowing gave a 25-60-percent higher yield with a 50-70-percent reduction in the seed rate over the traditional practice of broadcasting. The labour involved in the sowing operation, i.e. walking over 50-100 km to sow one hectare of land by both men and women, and the requirement of draught animal were constraints in adopting the technology.
Nutrient and soil fertility management is important to realize a good harvest. Intensive cultivation and lack of organic manure sources have resulted in declining productivity. Alternative sources were identified through participatory on-farm experiments in farmers’ fields. The experiment was monitored and evaluated. The yield increase was 25-35 percent for various land races over different periods of time. The availability of quality bio-fertilizer at the appropriate time was ensured by having the self-help groups take care of the supply.
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Box 9. Productivity enhancement In the Kolli hills, the low productivity of traditional cultivars of minor millets is one of the constraints for its continued cultivation. The traditional cultural practices were studied and analysed with the women and men farmers, and participatory on-farm experiments were initiated on sowing methods and soil fertility management, particularly nitrogen management. The experiments were monitored and evaluated by the participants (equal representation of women and men). In the sowing experiments, the technology was rejected because of the draught power and labour it requires, even though the yield increase was 25-60 percent and there was a substantial reduction in seed requirement. Identification of alternate sources of nutrients, particularly nitrogen, using bio-fertilizers along with other traditional sources was experimented. Bio-fertilized treatment with Azosprillum brasilense gave a yield increase of 25-35 percent in different land races. Finally, based on the yield, cost of production, input availability, technology, time, energy involved in adopting the technology, preference of men and women, impact on soil and use efficiency, the farmer participants (men and women) selected the use of Azosprillum lipoferense over farmyard manure, poultry manure and urea. Source: MSSRF, Kolli Hills |
Thus yield enhancement in traditional cultivars using low-cost, women-friendly technologies could be the best strategy to motivate farmers.
Drudgery reduction in the processing of minor millet
The drudgery involved in manual processing of millet, which is a woman’s job and time and energy consuming, tends to deter from the consumption of millet. This was the major complaint expressed by the women members. Institutions working on developing post-harvest machinery, such as the Nittur Technical Training Foundation of Andhra Pradesh, were approached to develop hand- or pedal-operated simple machinery at the household level to unhusk the millets. The developed technology did not meet the purpose for which it was designed. The machine powdered the grain along with the husk instead of unhusking it. As an alternate option, a diesel-powered minor millet unhusking machine was installed, involving the self-help groups as entrepreneurs.
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Box 10. Drudgery reduction for women of the Kolli hills A machine was identified for processing minor millets but it was found unsuitable at the household level. A mixed self-help group was chosen in a millet-producing area which was relatively isolated and without transportation facilities. The group was trained in entrepreneurial mores. A business plan was prepared by the members of the group, who assessed the suitability of purchasing a diesel-powered unhusking machine, negotiated, transported the machine to the Kolli hills and installed it. MSSRF provided technical support and training. The business plan also guided the group on the division of work involved in operating the unit. The men and women working in the unit had equal wages and an equal share of the profits. After a six-month period, the group had a net profit of Rs10 000, besides the fact that daily employment had been provided for four members of the group. Women’s access to technology and asset ownership is the other important aspect. Following this success, six months later another unit was installed by another self-help group in another region. Source: MSSRF, Kolli Hills |
The main constraint reported by women was the difficulty they had in separating the smaller stones before processing the grain. Establishing a cement or concrete thrashing floor could reduce the problem to some extent.
Agricultural production with predominantly traditional varieties in some regions is hardly sufficient to meet daily consumption in the villages. The seeds of traditional varieties are not available in the market. In such a situation, villagers resort to exchanging seeds within the village or from neighbouring villages. Thus, local seed exchange is an important instrument for seed supply and diffusion; it is usually based on kinship, traditional relationships and cultural practices. It helps the exchange of knowledge associated with its conservation and use. Seed exchange and diffusion is an important factor which decides the pattern of diversity (composition of traditional varieties). Lack of seed during the sowing season is reported to be one of the reasons for the decline of minor millet cultivation in the Kolli hills. In Jeypore, seed for the next crop is hard to come by as most households consume it in the dry season of March and April: they do not have any other source of food grain. Facilitating the access to seed, particularly for women, encourages the cultivation of traditional cultivars in many cases.
Seed exchange network through community seed banks is a strategy initiated to evolve institutional mechanisms for seed supply within a community to facilitate access to traditional varieties. Community seed banks pool the seed material, which is maintained and administered through the appropriate institutional arrangements to ensure the availability of planting material (relatively large samples of seed) at the appropriate time. They have forward and backward linkages with the community gene bank at Chennai, a backup storage facility which has an elaborative documentation about crops, uses, contributors’ details, etc, and follows the prior informed consent principle in dealing with the accessions.
The seed exchange system has adopted the traditional mode of transaction in which, if a person borrows one unit of seed before planting, he or she returns two units of the seed to the seed bank after the harvest. However, such an exchange takes place at the individual household level between two individuals. In Jeypore and the Kolli hills (Box 11), seed exchange was institutionalized through community seed banks as a common property resource managed by the self-help groups/palli samithi. (Palli samithi are public bodies which have the status of traditional hamlet-level institutions as well as formal links with the constitutionally elected panchayat.) The gender aspects were integrated in the activities of the community seed banks, such as planning, training and management. The strategies developed for community seed banks in seed exchange programmes understood the local seed systems in the aspects of location-specific varietal preferences, volume of seed requirement, and followed procedures to assess the impact through local institutions such as the self-help groups/palli samithi.
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Box 11. Revitalization of the traditional storage technology Jeypore: Interested households contribute a specific quantity of seed to the community seed bank. In the storage process, seeds are mixed with dried powder made up of Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Karanja (Pongamia pinnata) leaves to save them from storage pests. The palli samithi (village committee) forms the seed bank management committee, which consists of three men and women, who share the responsibility of managing the bank. The bank records the name and quantity of seed requirement of needy farm families and distributes the seed. The involvement of women as key players has strengthened the seed bank and the seed exchange system. The women do vital tasks such as periodic checking to monitor the quality of seed. About 200 farmers (both male and female) are actively involved in the programme. The seed bank stores primarily paddy seeds of 15 traditional cultivars. Seeds of millet, oil seeds and vegetable are also stored. The total quantity transacted was around 700 kg during the 2000 season. Kolli hills: Thombai, a traditional storage structure for grain built with mud, straw and wood, has been altered for storing a large quantity of seed to meet the requirements of the entire hamlet. The structure is 5" x 9" and has wooden racks inside with the capacity to store 500-900 kg of seed. Self-help groups manage the community seed bank and provide the land. Two women members selected by the group manage the activities, monitoring and lending. Willing farmers contribute seed to the bank. Norms and regulations are evolved by the self-help group members. Both men and women share the responsibilities. In the year 2000, through the community seed bank nearly 1 200 kg of minor millet seeds were transacted in and around the Kolli hills. Source: MSSRF, Kolli Hills and Jeypore |
Wild food management as coping mechanisms
Understanding the place of wild and semi domesticated crops in the diet and agricultural system of rural families and how the latter dynamically manage these plants is critical to support farmers for food and nutritional security. A diverse food basket comprised of cultivated and wild food species buffers the families/women from depending on a single or a few food items. The tribal families in the Wayand region, especially the Kurichyars, have recognized this. Although they produce their own rice and vegetables, they still prefer to collect seasonal, wild food species to supplement their food. Foraging groups like the Kattunayakans, the Betakurumbans and the Paniyars, who work as labourers, traditionally and extensively depend on wild food resources to meet their subsistence requirement.
Within the tribal populations, women traditionally have greater responsibility in the domestic arena, which drives them to interact more with the surroundings. This greater affinity results in a deeper understanding of the complex microenvironments and in an accumulation of dynamic gender-specific knowledge. Tribal people use some 15 leafy vegetables and 20 varieties of fruit. The nuts and seeds of plants are used for consumption. Tuber is the other major item collected from the wild environment; about 10 species are used as food. Fifteen varieties of mushrooms are collected for consumption.
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Box 12. Women’s knowledge, collection practices and norms - support sustainability Methods, frequencies and cultural norms of collection of wild edible food species are indicators of sustainable management of the resources with considerable in-built eco prudence by women. The top young leaves are harvested from plants that are used as leafy vegetables, thus allowing the plants to regenerate. Nuts and fruits are harvested when ripe and only when necessary to meet food requirements; this ensures that the seeds within the fruit mature with viable seed. In tubers, the portions adjacent to the climbing vines are left behind for regeneration. Similarly, areas where mushrooms usually occur are never disturbed; instead, they are made conducive by adding leaves and other forest litter to encourage better natural sporulation. Cultural norms discourage overexploitation; surplus food is shared with the neighbours. Source: MSSRF, Wayand |
The people of the Kolli hills recognize the use of a variety of plant species for food and primary health care. A number of tree species serve these purposes. Women know which wild tubers are edible and men are aware of the utility of these plant resources. Women are more familiar with plant species that are useful in primary health care, edible greens and tubers. Women and men go together for tuber collection.
The guiding principles of Swiss Development Cooperation - Natural Resource Management intervention (self reliance, equity, gender mainstreaming, ecological sustainability and economic viability) are applied by MSSRF. A consultative workshop was organized with the International Plant Genetic Research Institute on "enlarging the basis of food security: the role of underutilized crops". Case studies for mainstreaming gender and biodiversity in all development activities related to natural resource management and household food security were carried out in collaboration with FAO RAP. The Kehati Biodiversity Foundation of Indonesia is interested in collaborating with MSSRF to study the gender aspects of biodiversity management in Indonesia. The proposal is under study.
At the national level, MSSRF has contributed by hosting the joint parliamentary committee on the protection of plant varieties and the Farmer’s Rights bill and by facilitating the formulation of a national biodiversity bill. Institutional linkages in which women play very active roles were established with national and local marketing agencies and institutions to ensure premium prices, especially for underutilized crops, and to carve niche markets such as the organic cultivation of pineapple and minor millets.
Several local NGOs and local bodies formed horizontal "action networks" for joint operations on local biodiversity issues. Educational institutions were extensively involved in organizing awareness camps on environmental issues for leaders of local bodies, women groups, farmers, farm labourers, traditional medicine practitioners, youths, teachers and students. Plate and photo exhibitions were also organized focusing on ethno-botanical aspects, gender and biodiversity.
Tribal and rural farm women and men have been cultivating and managing the crop genetic resources at their personal expenses for the public good. These are the foundation for the modern plant breeding and biotechnological sectors. They have to be recognized, supported and rewarded in accordance with the provisions given in the legislations.
The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmer’s Rights Bill, 2000, approved by the Indian Parliament in August 2001, has an element of gender sensitivity. The act provides for the establishment of an effective system to protect plant varieties and the rights of farmers and plant breeders, to encourage the development of new varieties of plants with due consideration of the rights of farmers in respect of their contribution made at any time in conserving, improving and making available plant genetic resources for the development of new plant varieties. Gender justice is ensured by the provision on the representation of women in the bodies (under Chapter II, section V-b, clause xiii, as "one representation from a national- or state-level women’s organization associated with agricultural activities to be nominated by the central government") that will work on biodiversity issues for the effective implementation of the act. The act makes the representation of women in the authority committee compulsory, a unique feature which is unprecedented worldwide.
