Abstract
Wayanad district of Kerala State of India, situated in the Western Ghat region has a tribal population of about twenty percent. Kurichyas, Mullukurumas, Paniyas, Kattunaikas, etc. are the most important tribes inhabiting the area. Rice is their staple source of carbohydrate and they cultivate several native rice cultivars from ancient days. Kurichyas and Mullukurumas are traditional rice farmers. The rice cultivars grown by them are phenotypically and genotypically diverse and can be categorized according to ecological and geographical variations. Rice is grown both under wetland and upland conditions by them. Some of the rice cultivars are adapted to upland conditions and others to wetland conditions. However, no efforts have been made in the area to scientifically evaluate the adaptability of the rice cultivars to these conditions. Upland rice farming is very important in peasantry agriculture including tribal farming since this method demands lesser inputs. Moreover, upland rice farming can be carried out in non-conventional areas thus making the crop to spread to new agricultural areas. The present study validates the usability of twelve native rice cultivars cultivated by the tribal farmers of Wayanad both under wetland and upland conditions. These cultivars form an integral part of the native rice germplasm of the area and their conservation and use are the only valid steps that can be adapted to prevent the loss of the unique genes associated with them. The rice cultivars screened successfully for efficient performance both under wetland and upland conditions in the present experiment are Adukkan, Chennelthondi, Jeerakasala, Karimbalan, Kaima, Kothandan, Mahamaya, Marathondi, Thavalakkannan, Thondi, Urunikaima and Vellimuthu. Recently a devastating flood occurred in Kerala State of India including the Wayanad area in the month of August 2018 and the entire rice crop has been devastated. More curiously, after the flood, the surface water level has receded tremendously leaving the entire rice farms dry, which is completely unusual in the area. The only alternative for rice farming in the area in the second crop season is irrigated upland cultivation and invariably the farmers have to resort to it since at least a small crop to keep the seeds viable until the next year’s crop season is to be raised.
Keywords
Rice, Wayanad, Upland condition, Wetland condition