Koraput Traditional Agricultural System

The Koraput Traditional Agricultural System (KTAS) represents one of India’s most distinctive indigenous farming systems, located in the Koraput district of southern Odisha. Known for its rich biodiversity, traditional knowledge, and sustainable land-use practices, the region’s agricultural heritage reflects centuries of harmonious coexistence between tribal communities and their natural environment. Recognised by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS), the Koraput system stands as a living example of ecological balance and cultural resilience.

Geographical and Ecological Context

Koraput lies in the Eastern Ghats region of Odisha, characterised by undulating terrain, forested hills, and river valleys. The altitude ranges between 500 and 1600 metres, creating diverse microclimatic zones that support a wide array of crops and wild species. The area receives an average annual rainfall of around 1,300–1,500 millimetres, primarily during the southwest monsoon, which sustains rainfed agriculture as the dominant practice.
The soils of Koraput are generally lateritic, rich in iron and aluminium, with moderate fertility. Despite the absence of large-scale irrigation systems, the local communities have developed intricate water management practices, including terracing, contour bunding, and traditional tanks known as pani bandh, which help conserve soil moisture and prevent erosion.

Historical Background and Cultural Significance

The agricultural heritage of Koraput dates back several centuries, sustained by indigenous tribal groups such as the Paraja, Kondh, Gadaba, and Bhumia. These communities have maintained a self-reliant subsistence economy rooted in ecological ethics and spiritual relationships with the land. Agriculture in Koraput is not merely an economic activity but a cultural identity, intertwined with local rituals, festivals, and social customs.
The traditional system embodies a profound understanding of the environment, where crop diversity acts as a buffer against climatic fluctuations and pest outbreaks. Rituals such as Nua Khai (harvest festival) and Pus Parab celebrate agricultural cycles, reinforcing collective stewardship of resources and intergenerational transmission of farming knowledge.

Crop Diversity and Farming Practices

One of the defining features of the Koraput Traditional Agricultural System is its extraordinary agrobiodiversity. The region is a recognised centre of origin and diversity for several crop species, particularly paddy (rice). Over 200 varieties of indigenous rice have been documented, each adapted to specific soil types, altitudes, and microclimates. Local farmers select and preserve seeds based on traits such as drought tolerance, early maturity, pest resistance, and grain quality.
In addition to rice, farmers cultivate a range of millets (such as finger millet, little millet, and foxtail millet), pulses (like black gram and pigeon pea), oilseeds, and root crops. The mixed cropping system—locally known as barabandha—involves cultivating multiple crops on the same plot to maximise resource utilisation and reduce risk. Shifting cultivation (podu chasa), though declining, remains a component of the traditional system in hilly areas, with fallow cycles allowing natural regeneration of soil fertility.
Home gardens, known as badi, provide vegetables, fruits, and medicinal plants for household use, while forests supply non-timber forest products such as mushrooms, honey, and wild tubers. Livestock and poultry complement crop production, supplying manure and serving as an additional livelihood source.

Traditional Knowledge and Resource Management

The Koraput system relies heavily on indigenous technical knowledge that has evolved through generations of experimentation and observation. Farmers exhibit deep ecological literacy, demonstrated in their seed selection, soil management, and pest control methods. Organic manures, compost, and green leaf fertilisers maintain soil fertility, while natural pest deterrents derived from neem, chillies, or cow urine replace chemical pesticides.
Seed exchange and community seed banks play a critical role in conserving local genetic resources. These informal institutions ensure the continuation of diverse landraces and facilitate knowledge sharing among farmers. The community’s reliance on traditional forecasting methods—such as observing bird movements, wind patterns, and flowering times—guides agricultural decisions and planting schedules.

Socio-Economic and Environmental Importance

The Koraput Traditional Agricultural System sustains thousands of smallholder and tribal farmers who depend primarily on subsistence agriculture. The system provides food security, nutritional diversity, and ecological stability, even in the absence of modern inputs. The reliance on indigenous crops adapted to local conditions reduces vulnerability to droughts and pests.
Environmentally, the system promotes biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and watershed protection. The traditional mixed cropping and agroforestry models enhance soil health and maintain ecological equilibrium. In recognition of these sustainable practices, the FAO in 2012 designated the region as a GIAHS site—acknowledging its contribution to global agroecological knowledge and in situ conservation of crop diversity.

Challenges and Modern Pressures

Despite its ecological and cultural significance, the Koraput Traditional Agricultural System faces mounting pressures from socioeconomic change and environmental degradation. The introduction of high-yielding varieties (HYVs), synthetic fertilisers, and chemical pesticides under modern agricultural programmes threatens the genetic diversity of traditional crops. Land fragmentation, deforestation, and erratic rainfall due to climate change have disrupted traditional patterns of cultivation.
Migration of rural youth to urban areas has resulted in declining interest in farming and erosion of traditional knowledge. In addition, the lack of proper market linkages and price incentives discourages the continuation of indigenous agricultural practices. These challenges risk undermining both biodiversity and the cultural integrity of tribal communities.

Conservation and Revitalisation Efforts

Efforts to conserve the Koraput Traditional Agricultural System are being undertaken through collaborative initiatives involving government agencies, research institutions, and non-governmental organisations. The M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) has played a pivotal role in documenting rice diversity, promoting community seed banks, and revitalising traditional cropping systems.
Participatory approaches have empowered local farmers to become custodians of biodiversity, with women playing a particularly vital role in seed conservation and decision-making. The integration of value addition, eco-labelling, and organic certification is being explored to enhance market access for traditional crops such as millets and aromatic rice varieties.