Cropping systems of tribes of Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala

In the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, the mixed farming with the crop dominanc e of finger millet (Eleusine corocana) and monocropping of lemongrass (Cymb opogon flexuosus) are the two sub-systems of the land-use by the forest dwe lling tribal groups namely Muthuvas and Hill Pulayas. The size of the farm holding per family was not more than 3 ha in any given settlement. The stud y revealed that there is a wealth of traditional knowledge and practices us eful to make the mixed crop cultivation an ecologically sustainable one and to conserve a large number of crop varieties. The diffusion of lemongrass to the farming system of these communities reveals the farmers' willingness to innovate and experiment. Lemongrass based cropping systems also led to use of lands that were too dry and too infertile for indigenous crops. The strategies such-as soil fertility management and development of suitable ag roforestry models in tune with the local requirements and conditions need t o be adopted in order to make the sub-system ecologically sustainable one.