| Wayanad |
| |
| The Community Agro-biodiversity
Centre (CAbC) at Kalpetta has as its focus agrobiodiversity
and associated components like medicinal plants, and
documentation of traditional knowledge of tribal communities.
The activities have been more in the area of Policy
Advocacy at the local and regional levels, awareness,
education, networking and capacity building, which have
provided a distinct edge for CAbC. This year the Barwale
Chair was shifted to this centre. Policy research and
advocacy in the area of biodiversity and legislation
related to it, training and creating of awareness on
the implications of such legislation will be coordinated
by the Chair. |
| |
| Policy advocacy at the regional
and State level |
| |
| MSSRF took the initiative to form
a pressure group, consisting of elected members of local
bodies, political leaders, government officials, farmers,
NGO representatives and social workers, to invite the
attention of regional policy makers to implement the
recommendations suggested in the two reports submitted
to the Government of Kerala. As a result, the Government
of Kerala declared a special agriculture package for
Wayanad district. Wayand has been selected for implementing
the Rashtreeya Sam Vikas Yojna Programme (RSVY) worth
Rs 45 crores. This programme is intended to address
the issue of low productivity in agriculture. MSSRF
also motivated experts to constitute a permanent body
to prepare various developmental programmes related
to agriculture. The Committee which has a legal standing,
is known as the Wayanad Agriculture and Rural Development
Association (WARDA). |
| |
| Project proposals have been prepared
in line with the objectives of the RSVY programme, focusing
on conservation and commercialization of special rice
varieties of Wayanad, establishment of a community herbal
processing unit, chronicling and documentation of traditional
knowledge and bio-resource based micro enterprises.
These programmes are designed to carry forward the initiatives
already being implemented in the area. |
| |
| Natural Resource Management Programme |
| |
| The focus was on water conservation
activities against the background of the severe drought
faced last year. A special effort was made to renovate
damaged water bodies, conserve a natural stream and
develop it as a perennial source of water for the tribal
communities, who depend exclusively on it for all their
water needs. The local community was mobilized to renovate
two ponds situated at ecologically strategic locations
close to the settlements. They also helped to build
a series of six check dams to develop the stream as
a perennial source, retarding the process of drying
up of the stream. In the last two years, the stream
dried up by the end of February, causing a shortage
of drinking water for three months. This year, though
there was no rain in summer, water was available until
the end of April. This prompted the Paniya and Kattunaikka
tribal communities to offer labour free of cost for
building the check dams. |
| |
| The construction of check dams also
resulted in the collaboration of the Centre for Water
Resource Development and Management (CWRDM), Government
of Kerala, for intervention at the Panthippoyil biovillage
project site. The experts of the CWRDM suggested some
measures that would improve water supply. |
| |
| Capacity building efforts in the
areas of organic farming and soil conservation continued
during the year. A soil testing camp was organized in
Panthippoyil biovillage, based on the results of which,
farmers made changes in soil conservation methods. With
the support of the Spices Board, 25 vermicomposting
units were established. Training was conducted on effective
application of Trichoderma, Pseudomonas, and neem products |
| |
| Biodiversity Conservation |
| |
| The thrust was on in-situ conservation
of native varieties of food and cash crops. Native pepper
varieties were multiplied and distributed in the village.
Banana plants were also distributed; two farmers are
conserving 12 varieties each in their farms. Eight varieties
of tuber crops were distributed among 100 families.
Cardamom seedlings were distributed to 365 farmers as
a part of promoting crop diversification. |
| |
| Organic pepper cultivation has been
extended to another 250 ha by the District Agriculture
Department. Cultivation of cover crops and NFPs like
Daincha, Sesbania rostrata, Sun hemp and various leguminous
crops was encouraged in the village. Fodder grass seedlings
were also distributed. A vegetable seed exchange programme
was conducted for promoting vegetable cultivation. |
| |
| Income generating activities |
| |
| In order to alleviate poverty among
the landless, various income-generating activities were
promoted through self-help groups. The SHG activities
are concentrated in the three villages of Chooralmala,
Puthoorvayal and Panthippoyil. The activities include
bookbinding, bakery units, floriculture, goat rearing,
cattle rearing, catering unit, poultry, handicraft and
market outlets. A two-day residential programme was
conducted on income generating activities with the support
of the State Planning Board. SHGs were linked with commercial
banks for starting income generating activities. |
| |
| Capacity Building |
| |
| Training was given in organic farming
and sustainable utilization of bio resources. As a part
of strengthening the Knowledge Centre established at
Panthippoyil village, an exposure visit was organized
to the Information Villages in Pondicherry. Training
programmes on composting methods, herbal medicine preparation,
fruit preservation and value addition, organic cultivation
of spices and coffee, and water and soil conservation
were conducted. |
| |
| Education of Tribal and Rural Youth
in Biodiversity Conservation, inventorisation and sustainable
utilization |
| |
| Under the Every Child a Scientist
Programme, about one hundred children, belonging to
tribal and rural communities of the district, were introduced
to conservation and sustainable management of key bio-resources
like medicinal plants, wild food plants and beneficial
insects in agriculture. |
| |
| The tribal children have improved
in reading, writing and computer skills and gained confidence
and self-respect. A consolidated report highlighting
the process, results and impact was prepared. To celebrate
the Year of Scientific Awareness 2004, the students
and teachers of M K Ananthasivan Knowledge Centre organized
a two-day Science Meet on 26 and 27 December, which
focused on Conservation of Environment and Biodiversity
and provided a forum to discuss skills, knowledge and
policies used for conservation in hilly area ecosystems
like Wayanad. |
| |
| The highlights of the meet were
a contest for the Young Child Scientist Award and an
exhibition on the importance and value of the biodiversity
of the Western Ghats. It was decided to select five
schools from the district for follow-up action in the
area of environment protection and biodiversity conservation. |
| |
| The major indication was that CAbC
should emerge as a Knowledge Centre for different stakeholders,
with a conservation garden as the focal point. |
| |
| Training, Meetings and Workshops |
| |
| The biodiversity team participated
in planning and organizing the Science Society Interface
on Tribals and Biodiversity Related Legislation in collaboration
with the Kerala Institute for Research, Training and
Development Studies (KIRTADS), Calicut, in April 2005 |
