Small animals and the Household
Tribal communities have for long held themselves to be part of the nature they live with, not a competitor to it. They have practices in which scarcely harms the environment in detrimental ways. In the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve live numerable tribal groups, many of which are still living in the pristine state as one would have found them before the advent of the British. Most of theses groups fall in the primitive category and have hardly much material advancement. Usually, few items of physical capital adorn their homes, most have a permanent katti or knife hanging by their sides and little else. Their traditional source of livelihood such as hunting are now banned, many find subsistence agriculture to be highly punishing as income is negligible and the comparative effort is tremendous.
Though many have now started opting for much more remunerative form of occupation such as growing tea which is a permanent crop with an assured income or wage labour tea gardens or construction activities that progress nearby. It is a complex cycle which sucks in the person into a long standing trap of debt and destitution.
However, in the midst of food insecurity, and while roaming around in these and other hill areas, I observed that their daily consumption need is usually met. It was only when we consciously approached some people living in a remote village on some slopes that we realized the tremendous importance of small animals in providing the much needed food security for the people.
Hamlet after hamlet which we visited with a purpose to get details on the role of small animals showered us with a plethora of options of small animals, ranging from chicken for meat and eggs, to goats for milk and meat.
Since agriculture using draught cattle is hardly possible, cows were kept for physical purposes only. Bees are another group of animals that are inextricably linked with the cultural, economic and social lives of the people. Bess pollinate tree species and provide much desired honey which in turn is highly nutritional.
One major advantage of these animals was that compared to larger animals or crops, they required no care as such. As entire villages could be empty on certain days, they could be seen peacefully browsing upon trees or lazing around. They consumed most of the waste produced in homes .
From my field notes example -
Hens and chickens - sold at 75-125 rs/kg, upto 200 rs per year in a good year. There are usually 5-7 chicken per family. Eggs are seldom eaten and usually hatched to be reared. They eat chicken occasionally, mostly during dome festivals. Some used their cocks for cock fights also in nearby places. The chicken raising thing is mostly a side business. If business is good, then they can sell upto 15 of them in 6 months and upto 30 in a year. Chicken waste is buried, its dung is of not much use.
Goat milk - 1 litre at 8 Rs/litre, they give milk for about 3 months, sold a piece at 1000-1500-2000-upto 3000 rupees per goat, not on basis of weight but appearance. Used as manure. Income is less, usually kept outside as during the rains, if they are kept inside then they bring in mosquitoes.
Cows - Usually 2-4 cows per family. Gives milk for 6 months a year, usually .5 to 2 litres per day. They do not eat cow, not allowed, sold at 2000-4000-8000 rupees. Dead and decaying cows sent to Kerala for slaughter and leather. They worship cows during festivals such as pongal. If somebody kills cows, then he has to pay reimbursement. Used as manure - as flooring, compost sold at 5-20 rupees per basket upto 2 times a year. They collect manure and sell it. Per load of basket, they sell at around 5000 rupees and they can sell upto 2 bulks in a year.
Though many have now started opting for much more remunerative form of occupation such as growing tea which is a permanent crop with an assured income or wage labour tea gardens or construction activities that progress nearby. It is a complex cycle which sucks in the person into a long standing trap of debt and destitution.
However, in the midst of food insecurity, and while roaming around in these and other hill areas, I observed that their daily consumption need is usually met. It was only when we consciously approached some people living in a remote village on some slopes that we realized the tremendous importance of small animals in providing the much needed food security for the people.
Hamlet after hamlet which we visited with a purpose to get details on the role of small animals showered us with a plethora of options of small animals, ranging from chicken for meat and eggs, to goats for milk and meat.
Since agriculture using draught cattle is hardly possible, cows were kept for physical purposes only. Bees are another group of animals that are inextricably linked with the cultural, economic and social lives of the people. Bess pollinate tree species and provide much desired honey which in turn is highly nutritional.
One major advantage of these animals was that compared to larger animals or crops, they required no care as such. As entire villages could be empty on certain days, they could be seen peacefully browsing upon trees or lazing around. They consumed most of the waste produced in homes .
From my field notes example -
Hens and chickens - sold at 75-125 rs/kg, upto 200 rs per year in a good year. There are usually 5-7 chicken per family. Eggs are seldom eaten and usually hatched to be reared. They eat chicken occasionally, mostly during dome festivals. Some used their cocks for cock fights also in nearby places. The chicken raising thing is mostly a side business. If business is good, then they can sell upto 15 of them in 6 months and upto 30 in a year. Chicken waste is buried, its dung is of not much use.
Goat milk - 1 litre at 8 Rs/litre, they give milk for about 3 months, sold a piece at 1000-1500-2000-upto 3000 rupees per goat, not on basis of weight but appearance. Used as manure. Income is less, usually kept outside as during the rains, if they are kept inside then they bring in mosquitoes.
Cows - Usually 2-4 cows per family. Gives milk for 6 months a year, usually .5 to 2 litres per day. They do not eat cow, not allowed, sold at 2000-4000-8000 rupees. Dead and decaying cows sent to Kerala for slaughter and leather. They worship cows during festivals such as pongal. If somebody kills cows, then he has to pay reimbursement. Used as manure - as flooring, compost sold at 5-20 rupees per basket upto 2 times a year. They collect manure and sell it. Per load of basket, they sell at around 5000 rupees and they can sell upto 2 bulks in a year.
