Kulthi (Horsegram) needs a relook and special attention for
Paschimanchal. In my visit to Matha Jungle in Baghmundi last year I traveled a
large route in the hilly, sloppy, and undulating parts of Purulia. The year was a
drought one. The whole area I was moving
did not receive rain for more than two & half months. It was probably the
last week of October. I saw parched
lands, dry fields were crowded with herds,
there was little paddy crops anywhere. The entire situation was showing a drought situation. However, I
took a bit halt at Dhanudi adjacent to Matha forest range and near to Pakhi Hillock- a place of tourism. As I
approached to the hillock, I was surmised to see a greenery patches at the bottom
of the hills. I got down & went to the field. A stout figure stood there.
“ hey.. what are you doing”?
-“ i ‘am managing my Kurtis”.
“ Kurtis?”
-“ yea.. some one calls it Kulthi”/
“ Where do you get water for farming”
“ you will not get any water-sources here. Kurti does not
require water. This is a God gifted crop. “
I was fallen in love with the guy. I came to know they are farming Kulthi traditionally
under rainfed condition. It requires no fertilizer or chemicals. They sow it
after rain ceases in September. In Bengali month Bhadra is the ideal time for
seeding. Tar lands-the most uplands are covered with this crop. Some of the
cultivators who harvest short duration paddy also follow kulthi as a second
crop. Kulthi is used as a green fodder.
It is also used as dry fodder after the harvest as like straw. They use
it as dal or other forms of recipe.
“How many acres you have planted? How much would you get? “
-“ five bighas..at least 10 mnds i will get.. There is local
market for the produce.”
My acquaintance with Kulthi in a most disadvantaged part of
Paschmanchal opened a series of questions and options on it. I tried to know
more areas under this crop. I had a dialogue with Raghunath Dhan of Baghmundi.
He is a young and serving the
agricultural department. He said “ Kulthi is basically favoured by the Mundas
and other tribal of the hilly area. This is their alternative livelihood
option, especially during drought period. Its production could be improved if
high-yielding cultivars are introduced. “.
In reality this crop is not prioritized in the crop-basket
of Government programs. Rain-water Harvest, Integrated Water Management programs
and others may be tagged for extension
of this crop. Screening of local HYV cultivars
may be identified, conserved and propagated. Extension as well as researches on this crop requires a goal for food security and
nutritional safeguards of rural people of Paschimanchal. We are advocating different kinds of fodder
leaving this crop in isolation. We are giving attachment to Maize in hilly
areas. Kulthi could be a mixed crop or second crop after maize. In low lying
areas, in Bahal or kanali it could be tried as a Pyra crop.
Kulthi could be a good cover crop checking soil erosion. It
will also add fertility to the soil.
I met a tribal woman in Sindurpur, Purulia-11. She fervently
asked seed of Kulthi. She learnt about it from others in Ajodhya Hills. I assured but do not know how far I would be
successful.
How do tribal honor
this crop I knew from Bipin Munda of
Arsha.
In his words “Kulthi is interwoven with the culture of
tribal of hilly tracts. Mothers after
delivery are given Kulthi-drink. This is done in a strictly religious
manner. Parents of the mothers bring
Kulthi to her in-laws house, no matter how far they live. “
Let Kulthi lives in the heart of tribal and in the lands of
Paschimanchal.
