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AGROBIODIVERSITY HERITAGE SITE OF ZAHEERABAD, Medak District, Andhra Pradesh Soil/ land type Yerra garbu (red laterite) Nalla Ragadi (black soils) Chart: Farmer Sammama and Tukkappa’s farm area and crops sown Area 2 acres 1 acre Season Monsoon crop Monsoon crop Winter crop Primary crops Sorghum (Gundu and Attakodalla) Green gram Chick pea Allied crops Foxtail millet, Pearl millet, Desi maize, Dyrland paddy, Pigeon pea, Cow pea, Dolichos lab lab, Horsegram, Sesame, Sunflower and Hibiscus Black gram and Foxtail millet Lentils, Safflower, sunflower, Sorghum and Desi Mustard 19
AGROBIODIVERSITY HERITAGE SITE OF ZAHEERABAD, Medak District, Andhra Pradesh PANNENDU PANTALU & GORRU June is the month of sowing in the Zaheerabad region. Mirgam , the Mrigashira star arrives on June 8th and with it the monsoon rains.Within the next two weeks all the fields are sown with a range of millets, pulses and oilseeds. The most important crop combination on red soils in the Zaheerabad region is jowar-red gram- cowpea - hibiscus -sesame - niger. Very diverse in nature. Add to this crops like bajra, korra, saama etc. which many farmers continue to plant. Some farmers extend this diversity by planting a variety of cultivars. For eg. within jowar nearly seven varieties are grown while in red gram three. In effect, creative farmers plant nearly 18-20 crops. That is why the popular phrase Pannendu Pantalu [12 crops] to describe the agricultual diversity of this region. Gorru, the seed drill, used in the Deccan several hundreds of years, is a fascinating instrument that has stood the test of time for centuries. Described by Captain Holcott [the Agricultural Commissioner sent by the English colonial masters in 1796 to study Indian agriculture] as “an invention of the Hindoos; that of transplanting which has the same object in view, is equally useful and beautiful . It gives the field the regularity of a garden, and every vacant space is filled up” the Gorru, 200 years later is still used to the same effect and the same efficiency by the Deccan farmers. Gorru is characterized by a funnel shaped top with its three holes sending down the seeds to earth to form three regular lines of planting. The ease of its operation, the precision of its effect and the fact that it could be crafted by every rural carpenter makes it a marvel of an agricultural instrument. The domesticated and uncultivated biological diversity in use: the biological diversity in the Zaheerabad region over the centuries has become part and parcel of the village ecosystem. While the farmland cropping systems prevailing in red and black soils in winter and summer seasons demonstrate diversity; uniqueness is in the range of uncultivated greens and fruits on the farmlands and the range of trees and animal species gathered from the village surroundings. All of these species are of multiple uses either as high nutrition season food, or as medicinal herbs, fodder, fuel, and as raw material for local artisan items. The following table give the list of such species with their local name and scientific names. List of Traditional Food Species in the Zaheerabad Region It is of significance to know that there are more than 206 such crops and animals that form part of the diet of the community, while many of which may be unknown to even the botanists and agricultural scientists, the women in the community display a wealth of traditional knowledge in their ability to not only recognise these but if necessary to grow and prepare foods and use them as medicine. 20
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