In the lush forests of Kali river valley in North Karnataka, the Kunbi community has been cultivating tubers in Joida taluk for generations, with approximately 300 households growing about 40 varieties. The climate-resilient crop has been a staple food for several forest-dependent communities and is largely grown and sold by women. For the women, tuber cultivation is not just a livelihood, but a way of life deeply rooted in their culture and heritage.
Namrata Derekar, a farmer from the Kunbi community, explained how her family has been growing tubers for as long as she can remember. “My grandmother and great-grandmother used to grow tubers, and it has been passed down for generations. It’s not just a crop for us; it’s a part of our identity,” she said.
Nestled within the buffer zone of the Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve and the Karwar Territorial Forest Division, the community cultivates a wide range of tubers, including indigenous varieties such as Kunbi mudli and kone. Their dedication to preserving the biodiversity of tubers has earned them recognition in the past, including the prestigious Plant Genome Saviour Community Awards given by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
