 |
| A bountiful of chilli cultivated on unfriendly lands |
Albeit a harsh and dry land hidden amid scrub forests, a few women have strived to grow chilly, chia, tomatoes, beans and pumpkins which jostle with another relating the tale of their success in small parcels of land. Thanks to dedicated help from a wildlife conservation organization, a group of tribal farmers at Sollepura have reaped the benefits of their hard work after many years of toil. Once living amid the jungles of Nagarhole, they were relocated outside by the government but it took them many years to adapt to a new life.
 |
| Daasi in front of her home allocated by the government |
As I make my way from Mysuru city and travel inward towards H D Kote, Lokesh and Govindappa from Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) pick me up from the bus stand and take me to the tribal settlement. Crossing Handpost and finally reaching Sollepura on the edge of forest, I have the privilege of meeting Daasi. She is an ebullient and stoic character who has achieved what others may not have strived for in the face of drought and adversity. Now living outside the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, she has gone on to experiment with various crops and tilled her land that had once had no water and was often visited by wildlife.
 |
| Govindappa poses with the incredible harvest |
The Samudaya Bhavan is a place where a group of 60 tribal farmers get help in all forms to lead an independent life. And interacting with a group of successful women farmers was itself an eye opener and exciting experience. This community centre has been a beacon for helping relocated people from Nagarhole national park. Govindappa of WCS is one who imparts them knowledge about farming and provides help on other farm related activities including selling their produce. In the last five years, he has helped them in every way and taken extraordinary interest to make their lives easier.
Daasi excitedly chattered about her family and her achievements. It has not been an easy task for this farmer who is past 60 and still wakes up early in the morning and works till dusk. She grows a variety of vegetables in her small farm of 3 acres and has the distinction of being called a super farmer in Mysuru district.
 |
| Prema, the champ in cultivating Chia seeds |
Going round their farms on the outskirts of the forest area, I get to see how Daasi and many other tribal farmers like Prema and Venkatesh have achieved record produces on their marginal farm holdings. They have learned to adopt a practice of mixed cropping and selling their crops in the nearby markets and even to other states. Prema who grows the super cereal from South America – Chia seeds too has achieved so much success that her produce is directly picked up by retail outlets in Bengaluru. She is voluble and drags me to her house to show the super cereal and relates how in the last two years she has earned lakhs of rupees.
For the last two years, Daasi has the record of being awarded as the district’ super farmer and she hopes other farmers also emulate her and do not lose heart in the face of adversity and marketing issues. Walking across the fields that are so remote and even have watch towers to sight any invading elephants, the tribals have made their home in these dry-lands after living inside forests all their lives.
Location map:
1 comment:
Inspiring woman
Post a Comment