In Defence Of Traditional Farming Methods Adivasi Woman Agriculturist's Call At Global Farmer Meet
Kamala, as a representative of Jai Jangubai Mahila Sangam, spoke at an international meeting held on ‘Agroecology and Climate Justice’ in Cambodia: Reports
ADILABAD: Adivasi woman Marsakola Kamala of interior Navgad village in Tiryani mandal has emerged as a ray of hope in promoting millets and preserving traditional agricultural knowledge systems, in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district in particular and Telangana in general.
Kamala, as a representative of Jai Jangubai Mahila Sangam, spoke at an international meeting held on ‘Agroecology and Climate Justice’ in Cambodia from September 21-26. Her stress was on preserving the traditional farming systems, which is hailed also as a defence against climate change.
She explained how Adivasis have been preserving and cultivating their traditional crops Korralu (foxtail), Samalu (little millet), Jowar and pulses (pesarlu, minumulu, anumulu) in the villages of Kheraguda, Pangidi Madara, Magurmodi Kannepalli, and Mangi in Tiryani mandal.
The event was organised by Global South and other organizations. Kamala got an invitation for the event as she is working with the NGO called ‘Food Sovereignty Alliance’.
Kamala said, "The NGO is spreading awareness among the local Adivasi communities about El Nino effects and the importance of traditional food grains in self-reliance. They are getting a good response from the farmers who are experiencing the ill effects of climate change in recent years, though many farmers have shifted to commercial crops like cotton and soya."
Notably, Kamala has been promoting cultivation and consumption of millets in her area and encouraging the farmers to cultivate millets for their own consumption instead of depending on the market for food grains.
Marsakola Kamala observed, “Earlier, the Adivasis used to be self-reliant in food grains and seeds by cultivating millets for their own consumption. Now, this is being affected by climate change in the Adivasi areas and impacting the rural and Adivasi societies.”
She said the Adivasis used to preserve the seeds of all crops after the harvest and used the same for the next crop, but the tradition has disappeared gradually.
Kamala told Deccan Chronicle that she shared her experiences and spoke on agricultural methods to be adopted to cultivate traditional crops in the wake of climate change. She also explained how to carry forward their traditional knowledge systems to their future generations and strengthen local sustainable food systems so as to gain strength to face climate change.
Representatives from the Philippines, Cambodia, and India participated in the meeting. They spoke on their traditional knowledge systems in preserving traditional crops, especially millets, and the importance of presenting them in view of climate change (El Nino effects) and how to build sustainable food systems in the future and address climate change impact on traditional crops.
She said representatives shared their experiences in preserving the traditional crops and how to protect the farmers’ and local communities’ rights to the local traditional seeds.