Kondh Women in Andhra Pradesh: Guardians of Tradition and Agriculture
Carrying her five-month-old baby on her waist, 35-year-old Kilo Rasmu of the Kondh tribe vigilantly guards her small plot of land on the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border. Despite frequent rains, she protects the paddy seeds sown on her family’s field from birds. In Mettagudem village, Y. Ramavaram mandal, Kondh women share the responsibility of safeguarding these seeds until they germinate. The paddy is grown via a direct sowing method, unlike the sapling-based cultivation common in plains.
Ms. Rasmu has faced personal tragedy, losing her only son a few years ago. Now, she raises two daughters while managing three small landholdings. Each day, she shuttles between these plots, making noise to fend off birds. Her diligence continues until the paddy seeds sprout, a process that takes about a month. The women also care for the saplings for an additional two weeks. Kilo Anu, 17, and her mother Kilo Birma share a similar task of guarding their fields.
Mettagudem village, home to 24 families, including 20 Kondh and four Porja, practices step farming to manage rainwater for irrigation due to the lack of robust infrastructure. Their small land parcels, nestled between dense forest and hills, are shielded by stone embankments to prevent soil erosion. Rainwater flows through small drain channels to irrigate the fields. The Kondhs do not store rainwater but rely on perennial streams, diverting them through the fields.
Kondh women also play a crucial role in managing irrigation and sharing rainwater, spending time discussing village issues and family matters. Known for their distinctive nose rings, Kondh women also take part in the organic cultivation of turmeric in the Godavari Valley, trading it for cash to meet financial needs. Unlike other tribes, the Kondhs rely less on local markets for food, emphasizing self-sustaining agricultural practices.
Kondh women are the backbone, preserving not only their crops but also their rich cultural traditions, making them pivotal in the community’s agricultural and social structure.
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/women-the-heart-of-kondh-agriculture-on-andhra-pradesh-odisha-border/article68529249.ece
Category : Andhra Pradesh
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