THE GRAIN GUARDIAN

IN THE HILLS OF UTTARAKHAND, VIJAY JARDHARI IS KEEPING TRADITIONAL FARMING PRACTICES—AND BIODIVERSITY—ALIVE

- ANURADHA SENGUPTA

HIGH IN THE HILLS OF UTTARAKHAND, IN A PLACE called Jardhargaon in the Tehri Garhwal district, a man with wavy white hair lays out parcels of multicoloured seeds, grains, and jewel-like corn in various hues alongside bushy clusters of millets. Perched outside his home, which overlooks the verdant hills of the region, he wears a simple khadi kurta and counts the seeds as he arranges them. Nearby, his grandson plays.

“Where are the jhangora and naurangi?” he murmurs, a hint of urgency in his voice. “I must prepare for the students from Doon University. They are coming to learn about our traditional methods of farming and the art of seed preservation.”

Vijay Jardhari is speaking about an ancient farming practice known as barahnaja (where barah means 12 and anaj means crops). This intercropping method, involving cultivating 12 or more crops, is traditionally practised in the rain-fed regions of Tehri Garhwal.

Reviving the barahnaja method has not been easy. Once the cornerstone of agricultural success in the region, it began to decline in the 1980s. It took years of effort, a grassroots movement, and a lengthy padyatra (foot march) lasting over 50 days to restore this valuable practice.

ROOTS OF A MOVEMENT