Scientists of the soil


Debal Deb and an intrepid band of traditional farmers grow heirloom varieties of grains and cereals, thousands of which are on the brink of extinction 

It is late afternoon when we arrive at Debal Deb’s farm, only to find him napping on a hammock next to his mud house. The sound of a gurgling stream punctuates our deliberations: Should we wake him? The thick forest around us glistens like green gold in the rays of the sun. Hills in different shades of green frame this landscape in Kerandiguda, Odisha. We had driven for 45 minutes, parked our car at a railway crossing and walked through hillsides and forest paths to get here. The nearest train station is Muniguda, a small town in Odisha’s mining belt near Lanjigarh, known for Vedanta’s bauxite mines. Deb’s home is close to the Niyamgiri hills, which Vedanta has been trying to mine. The company’s efforts have so far been thwarted by an active campaign led by tribals living on these hills...................Read more

 

Source: Business Line 


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