Tribals determined to bring back green cover in vast brown wasteland

Chitrangi Tehsil of Singrauli District of Madhya Pradesh is characterized by rugged undulating landscape with clumps of stunted trees and scrubs. Although some of these areas are delineated as forest lands, especially the hillocks, they are devoid of any vegetation, including grasses. High rate of soil erosion and surface water run-off during monsoons have completely destroyed the top-soil of the area and exposed rocks and stones. One can only see vast brown land till the horizon in all direction. Some old and large trees are found, which provide some soothing effect to the otherwise harsh landscape and also prove that the flora of the area was very different than the present.

The area is habitat for many primitive tribes (Officially known as Particularly Vulnerable Tribe Groups), such as Baiga, Agaria and Kol. Although traditionally these tribal groups were hunters and gatherers, due to loss of forest cover and natural vegetations, they were forced to shift to agriculture. Presently they are solely dependent on the agriculture based livelihood practices. They practice subsistence agriculture. These people were found to practice traditional method of agriculture with minimum use of fertilizers, bad quality seeds and complete dependency on rain. The tribal population had no knowledge about good agricultural practices and no inputs in terms of material or technical support was provided from the government agencies. It is totally cut-off from the development of the outside world and accounts for one of the poorest segments of the district with lack of livelihood opportunities, high illiteracy, poor educational infrastructure and poor health care access.

It was further found that the locals did not have concepts of planting fruit-bearing trees or vegetables in the vicinity of their houses. The very idea of consumption of vegetables and fruits were non-existent in the area. During initial interaction with the villagers, it was felt that they had never even thought of plantations. Whatever vegetation existed were naturally grown and there was no initiative on the part of the villagers to develop plantations or green areas. People survived mainly on cereals such as rice, kodo (a minor millet), maize, etc, thus reducing their nutritional status and increasing the incidence of malnutrition among children and anemia among women.

The Intervention

This situation existed till the time people were motivated to plant commercially and nutritionally viable trees and vegetables near their homestead plots. It was thought that even if the villagers did not sell the produce in the market, they would at least consume it themselves, thus at least will have a nutritionally balanced diet. The process of motivation for planting trees took almost a year to bear fruit (pun intended!). After the motivation stage, however, 350 families showed their willingness to take up the challenge. They were provided with fruit bearing trees such as Papaya, Guava, Jamun, Amla (Indian Gooseberry), Jack-fruits, Mahua and Mulberry. Over a period of two years, about 2450 trees have been planted across 7 villages. The care of these trees was a joint responsibility of the local SHGs and the owner of the plot. Other than this, bamboos have been planted in about 300 plots during the last two years. Each plot has about 10 trees. The survival rate of the trees has been over 90%! This is a sure reflection of the fact that the local people have taken ownership of these trees and have taken care of them, even during extreme climatic conditions.

Due to continuous pressure created by the villagers as well as SGH members on the Forest Department, they have initiated the process of afforestation on barren hillocks since last year. About 2000 trees were planted on a barren hillock demarcated as forest land. Although the survival rate was about 60% in these hillocks, in the first year, the process of plantation has been at least initiated.

Along with the tree plantations, people have been encouraged to develop vegetable gardens. Nurseries have been developed in all the project villages which is being cared by the villagers under supervision of the SHGs. These plants are then distributed to individual beneficiaries, who plant them in their homestead plots. Waste-water pits have been made near to all hand-pumps so that the stored waste-water is used for the nurseries and tree saplings. This has also demonstrated to the villagers how to recycle water in an already water scarce area.

Change

As the initiative of tree plantation is a recent event, it is difficult to ascertain the quantitative impact of the initiative. However a major change was observed in the attitude of people for tree plantation. In many villages, people were found to plant trees on their own and said they wanted to get attached to the programme.

The vegetable plantation was a big success from two other aspects. Firstly, some families were found to sell vegetables in the market and were able to get additional income. Secondly, the families who did not, saved the money that would have spent in buying vegetables. And this is only the monetary benefit. The fact the families consumed much more green vegetables than they would have usually had, in this highly malnutrition affected areas, may not be quantified as a benefit at this point but there is enough research material that shows the immense health benefits of doing so. Many families mentioned during the interactions that this was the first time that they had so much vegetable as part of their diet. They also say that they never thought that vegetables can grow in this scale in such barren areas. The success of this venture led to many groups replicating the nursery model. In the first year there were about 6 village nurseries which increased to 13 in the second year.

Encouraging plantation of trees and vegetables in this area has changed the mindset of the people. Afforestation of the area, even at the rate of 2000 trees per year, will lead to gradual regeneration of the soil and increase moisture level and biomass in soil.

Although it is early to say that this intervention is great success, it can be safely concluded that there has been a positive trend towards increase in awareness regarding importance of trees in strengthening their livelihood and quality of life.   

The modest beginning that started from a dilapidated school building situated at a far flung village, on World Environment Day three years ago has reached to barren hillocks in the horizon, when local tribal villagers could show the Forest Department the way to bring back forest in this brown land.