Profile of Gajapati district Tribal and their livelihood through farming systems adoption

Abstract

Odisha is one of the most tribal-dominated states having 9.59 million tribal populations out of out of 41.97 million population of Odisha and more than 47% of tribal people live in rural areas depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. A study was done in Gajapati district to identify different tribal communities live in the district and their lively hoods through adoption of different farming systems. In Gajapati district, there are nine tribal communities (Saora, Tharua, Jatapu, Kandha, Lodha, shabar lodha, Kondadora, Bhuyan, and Sounti) live in seven blocks. These tribes produce paddy (padadhan), ragi, janna (a millet), sugarcane, turmeric, ginger, maize, minor millets like kosla and kangu, and pulses like red gram, bodhei, kulthi (horse gram), biri (black gram), kandul (redgram), and dangarani, and maintains a variety of livestock, including cows, bullocks, buffaloes, goats, sheep, and poultry. They grow variety of vegetables in kitchen garden and occasionally practice fishing. Goats and chickens, in particular, are raised for consumption and ceremonial sacrifices to the deities. The land less tribal earns their lively hood through working as labor.