3. Tribes and their settlement pattern
Kurumbas
Constitute less than five percent of the total population, lie in the interior of the
northern area of Attappady. They were the first group of Adivasis to settle in
the place.
Mudugas
Believed to have immigrated from the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. They
had lived in the northeastern part of Attappady under the leadership of Kovai
(Coimbatore) Moopen.
Irulas
Dravidian tribe spread over the three states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and
Kerala, who are also known as Eruvalla, Iruliga,
Illiga,Kasova,Urali,Kadupujari and Velliga
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4. VALUES, CULTURE AND PRACTISES
● Forest and nature are motherlike
● Originators and contributors of a unique
system of nature and indigenous medicine.
● Their life is need-based and not greed-based
● Property rights are equal for men and
women.
● Tribal Folk lack their own written
language,They each have their own dialect.
● Dance and songs accompany funeral
ceremonies.
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5. SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Position Role
Moopan (Chieftain) One who is vested with the authority when it comes to important
decisions regarding the hamlet
Vandari (Treasurer) Treasurer who takes responsibility regarding financial matters and
decisions
Kuruthala
(Chief Attendent)
Entrusted with the duties of health and wellness of the population
Mannukaaran
(Land Affairs)
Engages in agriculture and is responsible for ensuring the food security
of the hamlet.
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6. WHAT HAPPENED TO ATTAPPADY?
● First tribal block of kerala.
● Passage of Kerala Private Forest (Vesting and Assignment) Act, 1967.
● Absolute shutdown of Toddy shops in April 1995
● Illicit brewing and Ganja cultivation
● Govt. promoting Rice through PDS at subsidised rate
● Crop loss due to wild animals attack
● Decline in demand of Millet in maket resulting in trasition of their foof culture
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7. Adverse effect of transition in food culture
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03 04
02
Malnutrition Infant Mortality
Financial
instability
Migration due
to loss of
livelihood
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8. ASSO
● Established in the year 1988
● Located in the tribal area Attappady in Palakkad
district of Kerala .
● It works for the welfare of the people with due focus on
their integrated development.
● The main objective is to plan and execute integral
development projects to improve the general welfare of
the poor, women, children, and backward societies.
● Other areas of focus also include tribal development,
watershed development, Jalanidhi project, Skill training
programmes etc.
● Joining hands with People Service Society Palakkad
and Kerala Social Service Forum, ASSO have
implemented a Food Security project for farmers at
Attappady.
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9. Cost of cultivation of Ragi/acre
Components Cost (Rs)
Land preparation 1500
Seed 250
Labor 3000
Harvesting and threshing 1000
Miscellaneous expense 2000
Expected loss due to wild animals 2500
Total cost of cultivation 10250
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10. 10
Average yield - 4 quintals/acre
Procurement price - 3500/quintal
Gross returns - Rs.14000
Net returns - Rs.3750/Acre
11. Fencing
Solar fencing : The electrically powered fence
with alternating current restrains the animal
intrusion to the field by giving electric shocks
to the animals who touch it.Since it uses solar
power it can be a one time investment and a
permanent solution to wild animal intrusion.
Beehives as live fences : Honey bee hives can
be used as live fences along the boundaries of
the fields where they act as deterrents for wild
animals and this can also provide additional
income to farmers from honey yield.
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14. Challenges
● Large gaps between millet producers, manufacturers, suppliers, consumers
● Need to raise consumer awareness about using millets as a substitute for staple foods like rice, wheat.
● The popularity of millets among the general public is being challenged by geographical disparities and different millet
varieties
● Challenges like production support incentives or Minimum Support Price (MSP),
● A lack of proper postharvest technologies, improved production and technology methods
● A lack of public procurement and marketing support
● Crop loss due to wild animal attacks
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15. Benefits
● Millets are highly adaptable to the undulating topography and climatic and water stress which is unique to
Attappady providing resilient agricultural conditions.
● Millet cultivation will address the hidden hunger prevailing in the tribal community which has resulted in severe
malnutrition resulting from their transformation of food culture.
● Food security can be ensured within the Ooru with nutrient fortified food as staple food.
● Millets are hardy crops which require minimum inputs and maintenance.
● Millets are highly nutritious for pregnant women and newborns & thereby reduce infant mortality rate,maternal
mortality rate and mortality rate of tribal communities by addressing the nutritional deficiencies.
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