Korangadu System, since Sangam Age - Indigenous landuse management system

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.