Abstract
The proposed study is about the livelihood condition of the tribal people living in the kollihillswhich is more deplorable. Nearly 90% percent of them are living below poverty line and their quality of living that is housing, access to sanitation and safe drinking water, basic and tertiary education and health care delivery system are in gloomy. They eke out their livelihood by performing multiple activities, such as agriculture which is the primary occupation of Malayali tribe and agricultural labour, causal labour, hunting, forest food gathering etc. A single activity is insufficient to provide survivable &sustainable livelihood for them. A colossal percentage of them are the land owners and land holding is insufficient to provide sustainable livelihood.According to 2011 census, the total population of kollihills was 40479. Malayali tribes follow the farming system using their indigenous knowledge and the topography of the hills (up to 1300 m asl), Precipitation: 1‟400mm. Average area used per farmer: 0.25 – 0.5 acre. Cent percentage of land is Rainfed, no irrigated land. The most important crop was Finger Millet (Ragi). Finger Millet is primarily produced under Rainfed conditions. Intercropping partners cultivated with other millets are like (Italian millet, proso millet, and little millet), pulses, mustard, Pigeon pea, lablab. Traditional seed conservation was still practiced by the tribes. Malayali tribes are very much religious. This paper will examine the livelihood challenges, agricultural practices and suitability of Malayali tribes.
Keywords: Malayalitribal‟s,Livelihoods,challenge, Agriculture practices and migration
References
1) Chambers, R. and Gordon Conway. 1991. Sustainable Livelihoods: Practical Concept for the 21stCentury, IDS Discussion paper 296.
2) Fernandes, Walter, GeetaMenon and Philip Viegas 1984. „Forests, Environment and Forest Dweller Economy in Orissa‟, Indian Social Institute, New Delhi, mimeo, pp 129-33.
3) Fernandes, Walter and GeetaMenon (eds) 1987. „Tribal Women and Forest Economy‟, Indian Social Institute, New Delhi.
4) Gadgil, M. and F.Berkes. 1991. Traditional resource management system, Resource management and optimisation, 8 (3-4): 127- 141.
5) Thurston, Edgar, 1909: Castes and Tribes of South India Vol. IV.Madras.