Kadavakurichi is a small mountain close to our organization CIRHEP. Kadavakurichi means Tiger mountain in Tamil. It’s hard to grasp that the mountain was once inhabited by monkeys, tigers, panthers and even elephants! My first question when I came here was: what happened? And how? Well, due to population increase around Kadavakurichi, the area became more exploited by traditional and then later chemical agriculture. More and more trees were consumed as firewood or by goats and other livestock. It is hard to visualize how it once was when I stood on top of the mountain looking down.

It’s important to understand that the vegetation that once covered Kadavakurichi absorbed the rainfall and provided not only support for plants and animals in and around the mountain, but also provided small water streams year round. The dense vegetation also prevented soil erosion and water run-off during the two monsoon seasons. Today it’s a completely different story. Agriculture with chemical pesticides and fertilizers poisons the ground water. Water that accumulate in the wells is quickly decreased due to large scale use of bore-wells that quickly pump up the water.

There is hope…
Today CIRHEP is taking an active roll in both water and soil conservation. Watershed development is a major project run by CIRHEP and sponsored by Nabard, an Indian governmental organization. Watershed development is a system of check dams and farmers ponds to conserve water and prevent soil erosion.

Awareness projects held at the training centre inform farmers about the benefits of organic and bio-dynamic farming methods. CIRHEPs long experience, facilities and help, demonstrates the benefits to alternative farming. Many farmers have become indebted when they purchase chemical pesticides with loans. Organic farming is cheaper, does not disturb the eco system or soil nutrients. Thanks to watershed development and awareness projects through the training centre hundreds of farmers can now survive in this arid land with humane living conditions.  I have sean and heard 1st hand how farmers tell interesting stories how their children’s health has improved from respiratory problems and immune system deficiency.

But this is NOT enough. CIRHEP thinks it is also very important to empower people in their daily life, work they do sponsored by Future Earth, a Swedish NGO. Without activities like Nature School children will not learn how to conserve water or understand their roll in the eco-system. Women also play an important roll. With Self-Help Groups women are involved in micro loans, flower garnishing, honey processing and other activities. They are now able to increase their self esteem and have there own income. This means in short that parents for example let their children go to school and buy much needed medicine and food supplies. Another important target group that CIRHEP is now starting to work with are adolescent girls. In groups they talk about gender, reproductive health, future plans etc.

So making the mountain green again is not only about agriculture and conservation, but about empowerment, education and standing up for peoples rights. Everybody should be able to have adequate living conditions.

So until the mountain is green again, it is important to stand on top of Kadavakurichi and look at the big picture. Then maybe one day the tigers will return. It doesn’t take one but several projects to sustain a viable future. Self-Help Groups, watershed development, training centre, children’s education (Evening School, Nature School, ECO-club), adolescent groups is all needed to keep this dream alive, now and in the future.

Eric Maltegard
CIRHEP Volunteer