Indigenous Knowledge Protection of Indian Pastoral Communities

P. Vivekanandan, SEVA, India

Indian Pastoralists

Raikas in Rajasthan – CamelsRabaris in Gujarat – Gir ,Kankrej cattleVan Gujars in Himalayas – BuffaloGaddis in Shiwalik Hills – Sheep / goatLadak Pastoralists - YakDhangar Gowli in Karnataka – cattleKonar & Others in Tamil Nadu –

Malaimadu / Pulikulam CattleTodas of Nilgiris – Toda Buffalo

Maintaining Animals –A Sacred Duty Prescribed for Certain Communities

• Raikas Caste was Created by Lord Shiva to look after Camels

• Yadhavas, Gujjars – Descendants of Lord Krishna to care of Cattle

• Todas – Day-to-day Rituals are Associated with Buffaloes

How Pastoralists Benefit Society

Local Livestock Breeds are Known for :• Disease Resistance• Thrive Well in Local Harsh Environment• Supply Organic Manure• Draught Animals• Play Role in Village Festivals – e.g. Jallikattu• Low Input Management System

Problems Faced by Pastoralists• Grazing Permit is Denied in Traditional Grazing

Sites due to Joint Forest Management Program / Sanctuaries / National Parks

• Original Pasture Land were Converted into Plantations (Eucalyptus, Jatropha)

• Human Rights Violation once the Pastoralists are put Under Custody

• Heavy Penalties Imposed if Cattle Spotted in Traditional Grazing Area – Cattle Pastoralists Pay Rs.5000-10,000 (US $110-225) Annually

• Exclusion of Pastoralists in Forestry Programs• Bribing is Common. False Cases Booked for

Implicating Them in Hunting, Cutting Trees etc

Recommendations for Protecting Indigenous Knowledge of Indian Pastoralists

1. Restore Traditional Grazing Rights in Forest/Sanctuary Areas

2. Formalizing Customary Rights3. Whenever Forests are Closed Alternatives are to be Worked

Out by Discussing with Local Pastoralists. Example: Rotational Grazing System

4. Recognition of Pastoralists for the Tradition of In-Situ conservation of Animal Genetic Resources

5. Forest Dependents including Pastoralists as Custodians of Natural Resources / Biodiversity Whenever Conservation Program is Implemented

6. Government/Forest Department Should be Facilitator of Conservation of Project rather than Actual ImplementorRole

Strategies for Protecting Pastoralists Rights

• Indian Pastoralists Network initiated with NGOs, Volunteers, Institutions

• Community Prayer for Restoring Traditional Grazing Rights

• Memorandum to Prime Minister, Parliamentarians• Lobbying for Bringing Amendments in the Proposed

Bill for Tribals (2005) for Including Pastoralists Forestry Grazing Rights Under Chapter II, 3rd Point

• Recognition of Pastoralists as they are Involved in In-Situ Conservation of Breeds under Biological Diversity Act (2002) (Section 36-41)

Community Prayer for Restoring Grazing Rights

Chanted Bajans in 24 Places of our CountryOn 15 November 2005;

1250 Pastrolists Participated

Conservation Work of SEVA in India

Tamil Nadu

Factors threatening Pastoralism &Domestic Animal Biodiversity

Bilateral Funding ProgrammeRole of Govt. Actors and PolicyAlienation of Pastoralists in Conservation Planning Existing Breeding Policy Present Education system

Present Trend of Pastoralism

1. Raika Pastoralists dispose 10,000 camels annually

2. Pulikulam Cattle Owners sell 300 Animals monthly in Srivilliputhur

3. Tigers and Panthers kill 150 – 200 Buffaloes annually in Nilgiris

4. VanGujjaris and Gaddis are harassed 5. Yak Pastoralists in Ladak face competition of

Grazing Land due to over population of Wild Animals

Domestic Animals versus Wild LifeI. Camels Vs.

Kumbhalgar Reserve Forests

II. Toda Buffalo Vs. Mudhumalai Wild Life Sanctuary

III. Malaimadu Cattle Vs. Srivilliputhur Squirrel Sanctuary Toda Buffalo

Umbalacherry Cattle Breed

• Umbalachery Cattle Breed spread over in Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur& Thanjavur Districts of Tamil Nadu State.

• Estimated population is 20,000

It has four distinct bio-types viz. AttukarimaduGanapathyanmaduVennamaduSuriyankattumadu

Characteristics and Uses• Drought resistant, disease resistant and hardy

animals• Bullocks mainly used for Wet land Ploughing and

Transport of materials using Bullock cart • Suitable for Marshy rice field of Cauvery River delta

region• Requires least maintenance and it thrives well with

paddy straw• The udder is not well develop in Cows• It yields up to 3 liters of milk per time with lactation

period of 6 to 10 months

• Problems in access to drinking water & grazing lands (Cattle ponds existed for the purpose of drinking water are uncared and encroached)

• Grazing land earmarked under Revenue prombokehas been encroached( about 40 ha.land encroached in Umbalacherry Village).

• Tractorisation and maintenance cost of bullocks and high wages pose threat to existence of UmbalacherryCattle Breed.

• Cattle are being sent to slaughter house in an alarming rate (sold for cheap meat).

Factors Affecting the Population of Cattle

• SEVA Promoted “Umbalacherry Cattle Breeders Association” in Nagapattinam District during 2001

• 234 members from 21 Villages in Nagapattinam District• Selected 9 ponds for desilting for the purpose of providing

drinking water for cattle and Proposal submitted to District Rural Development Agency.

• Renovated Uthirikuttai Pond in Umbalacherry village with peoples contribution (Total cost is Rs.55,000/-. Peoples contribution is Rs.15,000/-).

• Retrieval of 107 acres of Pasture Land Encroached in Umbalacherry village

• Introduced Participatory Calf Rearing SchemeFemale calves and bulls are supplied to SHG members and breeders with 18% interest (6% of Interest goes to SHG and 12 % of Interest goes to Umbalacherry Indigenous Cattle Breeders Association).

Steps for Conservation of Breed

Toda Buffalo BreedToda Buffalo Breed• This breed is found in Nilgiris

district, Tamil Nadu State.• There are about 1,000 Toda

families living in small settlements called “Mandu”; at present 60 Mandus are existing

• In each Mandu the population of buffaloes various from 5 to 50 or more

• The estimated Toda Buffalo population is 1,800

A Case of Toda Buffaloes in Mukurthi National Park

96810122002

26509481975

21866121960

16195971930

Buffalo Population

TodaPopulation

Year

Source : SEVA 2002

Characteristics of Toda Buffalo• Brown medium sized animal with fairly long

body and broad chest • Legs are short and sturdy• Tail is long touching the hooves• Long horns set wide apart in a circular

fashion• Buffaloes fully depend up on grazing on the

pasture land

Role of Buffaloes in Toda Culture• For Prayer Buffalo

presence is important; the milk is sprinkled in divine power entry place; butter oil (Ghee) is used for lighting the Lamp.

• Buffalo is given as gift, it is wealth, health of the community, even after death of Toda individual they believe their connection with buffalo..

The Grass land is Sacred for the Community. And Grass is Holy Plant for the Toda people because it is main food for the Buffalo

Factors Affecting the Buffalo Population

• Shrinking of pasture land / Savannah grazing land (the original pasture land has been reduced due to afforestation programme by Forest Department by planting eucalyptus and wattle trees)

• Decrease in full time pastoralism among Toda tribals

• The Toda buffaloes are being preyed upon by panthers, tigers and red dogs

Status of Vegetation in Nilgiris

Source : CPR Publication (2002)5,150 ha0 haEucalyptus9,775 ha0 haWattle

11,475 ha0 haTea12,400 ha10,875 haCultivation4,700 ha29,875 haGrasslands4,225 ha8,600 haSholas

Current map ( 1992 )

Onchterlony’s map ( 1849 )

Total Area

Role of SEVA in Conservation of Toda Buffalo

• Panchapandavar Buffalo keepers Association promoted (Registered).

• De-worming training organized for members• Micro credit for building calf shed • Awareness raising on conservation of Toda

Buffalo • Forest Department is being contacted for removal

of Eucalyptus ,Pine, Wattle and restoring original pasture land.

Malaimadu (Hill Cattle) BreedThis breed is found in 20 villages of adjoiningWestern-ghats spread over Madurai,Theni, Virudhunagar Districts, Tamil Nadu State. The present population of Malaimadu breed has been reduced to mere 30,000.

Rotational Grazing System Adopted for Malaimadu / Hill Cattle

Hill GrazingApril – JuneOct - December

Plain land GrazingJuly – SeptJan - March

Characteristics & Uses

• They are short and sturdy and they are resistant to many diseases.

• This breed provides good draught bullocks for farmers. The bullocks are useful for ploughingin the wet lands.

• A collective of 300 – 400 animals called “Herd” used for penning during night times for providing manure to the field.

Grazing permit stopped (due to Join Forest Management funded with Japanese ODA).

Decleration of Giant Squirrel Sanctuary prohibits Cattle to enter traditional grazing sites.

Heavy penalties / Fines collected from Graziers arbitrarily by forest officials

Factors Affecting the Population

Role of SEVA for Conservation of Breed

• Promoted district level “Malaimadu” Cattle Herders Association as well as village level association.

• Negotiation with Forest Department for restoring traditional grazing rights.

Pulikulam Cattle Breed

• Found in Manangathan, Pulikulam,Vallarai,Vilakanur,Kilathiri,Kattikulamvillages of Sivagangai District

• It is also prevalent in Virudhunagar, RamnadDistricts of Tamil Nadu

• Maintained by Thevar, Konar Communities• Approximate population is 7,500.

Characteristics Features of Pulikulam Breed

• Head – face of moderate length,• Horns - narrow • Neck – Short and stout• Hump – Short in Female and well developed in

Male• Dewlap - Narrow & thin• Body – Compact• Legs – Strong, Short• Tail- Long with tuft of black Hair• Colour – Usually Grey & White

Uses of Pulikulam Breed

• Income through penning the Cattle for providing manure to the agricultural lands.( Herd Size : 250 – 300 heads of cattle used for penning during night time in agricultural lands. Penning charge Rs.1 / cattle / day.)

• It reduces 50 % of inorganic fertilizer cost for farmers.

• The calves sold for the purpose of draught / ploughing bullocks and for Jallikattu / bull riding.

Factors Affecting the Population

• Animal drinking Water Ponds in Manangathan & Pulikulam are to be desilted

• Animal Halting Place has to be provided at Koomapatti village.

• Grazing permit from Forest Department for Passing over the Sanctuary area under the Foothills of Western Ghats has to be restored.

• No herder representation in Village Forest Committee.

This Breed is found inKatchakatty, Kutladampattivillage, Vadipatti Block, MaduraiDistrict.

Kachakatty Black Sheep Breed

1324 – 62 Sheep5387003,000

Number of HerdsHerd sizePopulation (2003)Population (2001)Population (1970s)

The sheep are black in colour. It has vestigious ears (not well developed).

The male bucks are known for sheep fighting.

The sheep are taken to Vaguthumalai / Sirumalai Hills for grazing

The reason for reduction in sheep population due to preventing the herders entering traditional grazing areas in Sirumalai hills.

Income for Herders

1. Through penning for providing manure (100 sheep / acre / day – Rs.50)

2. Sale of Male lambs for Sheep fighting (Rs.1000 for 3 Months old lamb )

3. Sale of female lambs for farmers (Rs.400 for 3 Months old lamb)

Steps taken by SEVA for Conservation of Breed

• Regular De-worming

• Negotiation with Forest Department for restoring traditional grazing rights

• Sheep shed loan through Herders Association Promoted by SEVA

Vembur Sheep BreedThis breed found in 22villages around VemburIn V.Pudur Block,Ettayapuram Taluka,Thoothukudi District.

The total Population is 3,000

CharacteristicsSheep is identified by black or brick red patches on its coat.Ears are medium sized and drooping with short and thin tail.Males having prominent twisted horn and females are polled.It has short hairs all over the body.Adult males weigh up to 50 Kgs. Adult females weigh up to 45 Kgs.It is quick growing hardy sheep in dry land zone.They survive even on dry grass, shrubs found in the semi arid zone of Thoothukudi District.

Steps taken by SEVA

Promoted Herders Association in Vembur, Metalpatti, Melakarandai, Iankarisalkulam & Mavilipatti villages.Drinking water facilities with peoples participation

Installation of Hand pumpRenovation of supply channel of tanks / ponds

Construction of Sheep shed loan through Herders Association in 5 villagesRegular Animal Health camps

Conservation of Camels by Raikas

Grazing access is denied in KumbalgarReserve Forest in Rajasthan

Camel population has decreased by 50 % in Pali District of Rajasthan

Due to lack of grazing access about 10,000 Camels are leaving Rajasthan for export to slaughter houses outside

Neeli Ravi Buffalo Breed

-VanGujjars are nomadic pastoralists in Uttaranchal state

-There are 1400 Vangujjar families

-They maintain “Neeli Ravi”breed.

- The present population of Breed is 11,000

Transhumance practice by Vangujjars

Their transhumance practice is a sustainable way of life .

They use lower forest for grazing during winter month and they go to higher mountain during summer

They use their indigenous knowledge in the management of forests while using the resources for using them as fodder for their animals.

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Problems faced by VangujjarsTraditional pasture land area has been notified as protected forest (Rajaji national park).

They are forced to settle outside the forest zone.

Traditional Grazing rights are denied by forest officials

Thank You !