Mohamed .Afzal Khan
A. and Mohan Bharathi S.
Korangadu
In Tamil,
“Kurai” means waste and “Kaadu” means forest for the natives of Kongu regions.
It means the marginal cultivable land grown in rainfed, which remains as fallow
for most of the month in a year. Marabala puranam mentions
these Korangadu as "புற்குறை"(Purkkurai) and says that the lack of these Korangadu
leads to lack of wealth, as the cattle wealth will diminish without Korangadu (Mahavidwan
Kandhasamy Kavirayar, 1907).
Landscape of Western Tamil nadu
The
landscape of western Tamil nadu (called locally as Kongu region) can be
traditionally classified under “Mullai” i.e. forests with undulated topography.
It covers the modern Amaravathi, Noyyal, Bhavani, Manimutharu and Cauvery river
basins of modern Coimbatore, Erode, Namakkal, Thiruppur, Karur, Dindigul and
Salem districts. The lower regions of this landscape with seasonal and
perennial rivers running from the surrounded hill (starting from Kodaikkanal,
Western ghats, Yercaud and Kolli hills) have irrigated crops. The highlands of
the undulated topography have dry thorny and deciduous forests acting as the
catchment for the low lying rivers. (Tamilnaducattle.blogspot.in)
Korangadu – Gold from marginal Soil
The highlands of western Tamil
nadu with marginal soil profile and being rain shadow region, the forest
highlands are converted in to agro-sylvi-pastoral lands to generate wealth. The
thorny forests consists of tree species like of Acacia luecophloea, Albizia
amara, Albizia lebbeck, Azadirachta indica inside and also in the fence.
Many of the grasses especially Cenchrus ciliaris and legumes are present
inside the forest tree shade and bounded by live fence shrubs Commiphora berryii. Its Advantages are,
1.
It increases the
growth and health rate, maintain fertility in livestock wealth.
2.
The regions acts
as the catchment area and increases the ground water table.
3.
Konga cattle
comprising of different indigenous variants like Kangeyam Palayakottai cattle,
breed, Tiruchengode cattle, Thenkarai cattle and many undocumented variants are
grown in this region traditionally and acted as the great source of income to
the farmers and generated wealth from ancient time and its cattle wealth is
noted as “ஆ கெழு கொங்கர்” , “கொங்கர் ஆ பரந்தன்ன" in sangam
literatures.
Conclusion
The Korangadu is a very good landuse
management system created by the first settlers in this region during Sangam
age. So, it is our indigenous agricultural heritage system. In the recent
decades due to the commercial cropping systems, irrigation canal projects and
industrialization the value of this Korangadu and Konga cattle has lost its
value and has disappeared in many parts of the Kongu region. Only in the tracts
of Kangeyam, Dharapuram and Karur the Korangadu is still intact. Recently, these Korangadu system is
documented by local NGOs and got recognition as Globally Important Agricultural
Heritage System (GIAHS) by Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).
References:
Mahavidwan
Kandhasamy Kavirayar, 1907; Marabala
puranam, Nithyakalayana sundaram press, Erode.
Tamilnaducattle.blogspot.in,
Kongadesa charithra Kalachara
Kendram, Erode
SEVA,
2005; Indigenous coping mechanism by
farmers and livestock keepers against mortality of cattle, fodder development
and making animal husbandry as profitable activity.
