This article sheds light on the Kondh Tribal Life, Culture, and Agriculture. 

About Kondh tribe

• Khonds are an Adivasi community in India, traditionally hunter-gatherers.
• Cultural Division: Divided into hill-dwelling and plain-dwelling groups but identify by clans.
• Language: Speak Kui and write using the Odia script.
• Khonds have Scheduled Tribe (ST) status in eight states Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal
  • These tribal groups do buffalo sacrifice ritual,  called “Kedu” to worship their Earth Goddess”.
• Tribal Migration and Settlement
  • Migration History: The Kondh tribe migrated from the Araku Valley to settle near the Sileru river on the Andhra Pradesh-Orissa border. 
    • Many of these settlements grew after the 1970s due to work opportunities in hydroelectric projects.
  • Current Situation: The area is affected by Left-Wing Extremism, and the cultivation of illegal crops like ganja is prevalent.

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• Agriculture Practices
  • They Practise slash-and-burn agriculture, hunting, and gathering,  and maintain a strong link to the forests.
    • Turmeric Cultivation: Kondhs specialise in organic turmeric farming for income.
      • Self-Reliance: These groups sell turmeric for income to meet medical and other needs.
  • Sustainable Farming Practices
    • Self-Sufficiency: Kondh families grow paddy for their own consumption and also cultivate millets and vegetables without fertilisers or pesticides.
    • Seed Sharing: Seeds are shared among Kondh families and preserved using traditional methods.
  • Step Farming
    • Water Management: Step farming with stone embankments to control rainwater flow and prevent erosion.
    • Water Supply: Fields are irrigated by streams and waterfalls; maize is grown in dry seasons.
• Role of Women
  • Cooperation: Kondh women work together to guard multiple land holdings and help neighbors during emergencies.
    • Women oversee water distribution and irrigation channels.

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