Nurture Traditional Farming and Indigenous Seeds
Our tribe thrives by practicing traditional, zero-irrigation farming and conserving indigenous seeds, deeply connected to our nature-worshipping culture.
By Sukhdas Mandavi, Farmer · MOHLA
Responds to — water scarcity and food security
Here in our community, we've always practiced traditional farming, relying on what the land gives us. We don't need irrigation for many of our crops; they thrive naturally. We grow diverse grains like Kodo, Kutki, Madia, Jowar, Bajra, along with horse gram, ragi, and black gram, all without extra water.
This way of farming is deeply tied to who we are. We are nature worshipers, and our culture, language, and rituals — from birth to marriage — are distinct. This connection helps us understand the land and conserve our indigenous seeds annually, ensuring we always have food that fits our environment.
It's a practice passed down through generations, a method we know well. By farming this way and preserving our seeds, we maintain our livelihood and our unique identity, showing that abundance is possible when you work with nature.
The Recipe
You'll need
- Indigenous seeds (Kodo, Kutki, Madia, Jowar, Bajra, horse gram, ragi, black gram)
- Land suitable for dry farming
- Knowledge of traditional farming methods
- Community involvement
- Connection to nature and culture
Method
- 1
Identify local indigenous seeds suitable for zero-irrigation farming.
- 2
Cultivate diverse crops like Kodo, Kutki, Madia, Jowar, Bajra, horse gram, ragi, and black gram using traditional methods.
- 3
Farm without reliance on external irrigation, letting crops thrive naturally.
Traditional farmingSeed conservationZero irrigationIndigenous cultureNature worship
