Odisha’s ‘Dongar’ cultivation in danger

Dongar Cultivation

• Meaning: Dongar = traditional upland/mountain slope farming system of the Kondh tribes in Odisha.
• Method: Mixed cropping of millets, pulses, oilseeds, tubers → ensures food diversity, nutrition, and ecological balance.
• Parallels: Similar to bewar system in Madhya Pradesh’s Dindori district.
• Tools: No ploughing, only hand tools; fully organic; depends on seed exchange and community labour.
• Significance:
  • Climate-resilient system.
  • Ensures food sovereignty and cultural identity of Kondh tribes.
  • Maintains biodiversity and soil health.

Relevance:

• GS I (Geography – Traditional farming systems, Agro-ecology, Millets, Shifting cultivation parallels)
• GS III (Environment – Sustainable agriculture, Biodiversity conservation, Climate-resilient farming)
• GS I (Society – Tribal livelihoods, Culture, Food security, Nutrition)

Rise of Eucalyptus Monoculture in Rayagada

• Agents: Outsiders linked to paper mills (mainly from southern states).
• Strategy:
  • Leasing tribal lands for eucalyptus plantations.
  • Providing seedlings, fertilisers, and easy loans.
  • Buy-back arrangements ensure assured market.
• Spread: From lowlands → midlands → uplands (dongar areas).
• Economics: Farmers get only ₹1,500–₹3,000 per acre annually when leasing land, much below food/fodder value.
• Attractiveness: Eucalyptus is low-maintenance, grows in 5 years, requires little care compared to millet/pulse farming.

Problems of Eucalyptus Monoculture

1. Food Security & Nutrition Loss
   1. Reduces cultivation of millets, pulses, tubers.
   2. Forces dependence on PDS rice + tamarind, leading to loss of nutrition.
   3. Decline in tribal food diversity and seed heritage.
2. Ecological Impacts
   1. Soil Infertility: Eucalyptus depletes nutrients, reduces fertility.
   2. Water Stress: High water absorption → groundwater depletion.
   3. Biodiversity Decline: Birds, tubers, and natural foods vanish in eucalyptus areas.
   4. Monocultures worsen vulnerability to climate change.
3. Economic & Social Issues
   1. Meagre lease incomes compared to livelihood losses.
   2. Landowners prefer leasing to mills rather than to tribal farmers → tribals lose access to land.
   3. Tribal youth shifting away from dongar → cultural erosion.

Resistance & Revival Efforts

• Living Farms NGO:
  • Active in ~200 villages.
  • Working with Talia Kondhs & Kutia Kondhs.
  • Promoting awareness drives on climate-resilient dongar farming.
  • Reviving seed conservation and organic methods.
  • Encouraging rejection of chemicals, revival of labour exchange practices.
• Community Role:
  • Women and elders sharing traditional farming knowledge.
  • Farmers experimenting with millet revival (ragi, maize) against cotton and eucalyptus.

Broader Context

• Millets in Danger: Despite 2023 being International Year of Millets, upland millet cultivation is collapsing under eucalyptus + BT cotton pressure.
• Climate Change Lens: Studies show monoculture plantations (perennials) more vulnerable to climate change than mixed cropping.
• Policy Vacuum:
  • No strict restrictions on plantation companies leasing tribal land.
  • Easy credit for eucalyptus vs neglect of millet promotion.
  • Weak extension services for traditional crops.

Key Takeaways

• Eucalyptus monoculture = short-term commercial profit but long-term loss of food security, ecology, and tribal identity.
• Dongar = climate-smart, biodiversity-rich, nutrition-sustaining farming system → must be revived.
• Solution Pathways:
  • Strengthen millet promotion schemes (link with MSP, PDS).
  • Provide institutional credit for dongar farming.
  • Legal safeguards against exploitative land leasing.
  • Promote seed banks, community-based conservation, and youth involvement.
  • Recognise dongar as a model of climate-resilient tribal agroecology.