Tribal Women Preserve 180 Tuber Varieties

The tribal women’s collective, “Noorangu,” hailing from the Vettakuruma tribal hamlet in Wayanad, is passionately engaged in safeguarding 180 indigenous tuber varieties, including endangered ones, to ensure the continuation of their culinary heritage for future generations. Tubers, a staple of tribal diets for centuries, were gradually disappearing due to changing food habits.

Initiated in 2022 under the Thirunelly Comprehensive Tribal Development program of the National Rural Livelihood Mission, Noorangu’s endeavor aims to educate their community about the historical significance of these tubers. This effort originated during an interaction with children from the hamlet, who were unfamiliar with their traditional food. About 10 determined women from the collective took on the responsibility of cultivating awareness among their children and the wider public about tuber preservation.

Gathering around 120 tuber varieties, they cultivated them on a 70-cent plot provided by a group member. P.J. Manuel Pallikkamalil, a seasoned farmer and tuber conservator, contributed around 60% of these varieties. They also established a farm school to spread knowledge about diverse tuber types, including yam, cassava, taro, and dioscorea.

This year, the women expanded their collection by adding 40 more tuber varieties. Facing a shift from traditional activities to MGNREGS employment for sustenance, the collective now plans to identify commercially valuable tubers for sale within the farming community. Additionally, they are envisioning a processing center to create value-added products from these tubers.

Their efforts have earned recognition, with the State government designating their hamlet as the finest in conserving and promoting traditional farming by safeguarding diverse tuber species.
Re-reported from the article originally published in The Hindu