Rajasthan’s tribals seek budgetary support for sustainable agriculture, nutrition

Ahead of the Budget 2024-25 to be presented in the state Assembly on July 10, tribal communities in southern Rajasthan are seeking budgetary allocations to support sustainable agriculture, nutrition and indigenous seed cultivation. Tribals say the budget plan should focus on water, forests, soil, livestock and seeds to ensure economic growth in tribal-dominated areas.

Tribal groups submitted proposals in response to a request from the Ministry of Finance, asserting that comprehensive programs focused on improving livelihoods and integrating traditional agricultural practices with technological development would strengthen rural economies. Tribals also proposed distributing small millet seeds in health and nutrition programs.

The memorandum submitted by the tribal organisations seeks the establishment of a Maize Excellence Centre in Banswara to promote traditional maize cultivation and distribute indigenous maize seeds instead of hybrid seeds through the Rajasthan State Seed Corporation.

“To support sustainable agriculture and improve nutrition, distribution of small millet seeds like ragi, kod, kutki, cheena and khan should be taken up and integrated into the public distribution system, integrated child development services and mid-day meal schemes,” the memorandum said.

Moreover, setting up of community seed management centres at panchayat level will enhance production of local varieties of seeds using traditional farming methods and make farmers self-reliant, the tribal people said. Fresh budgetary provisions for seed exchange programme and setting up seed storage facilities have also been requested.

Tribal groups also recommended cultivation of legumes such as moong as a third crop alongside rabi and kharkh crops to increase soil fertility.Furthermore, household-level composting to convert animal dung into fertiliser should be encouraged along with diversified cultivation practices and use of organic fertilisers, they said.

To promote sustainable energy practices, tribal groups are initiating programs on distributed renewable energy technologies to mitigate the effects of climate change and are calling for the establishment of an electric grid in tribal areas to transfer energy generated by solar power plants.

Jayesh Joshi, general secretary of Vargdhara, a Banswara-based voluntary organisation working on tribal livelihood issues, said on Saturday that these measures would not only increase local employment opportunities for tribals but also reduce migration, fight malnutrition among tribal children and promote sustainable development.

“These measures will also play an important role in addressing social polarisation within the tribal areas,” Joshi said. Special incentive programmes for revitalising local vegetation like mahua, timur and mango trees, implementation of village forest projects through MGNREGA, promotion of food forest initiatives and promotion of local products to improve livelihoods and protect cultural heritage will ensure progress for tribal communities and protect their identity, he said.