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Mapping of the Seasonal Migration Routes of
Cattle Pastoralists of the Deccan Plateau Region
of India Using Ethnographic Geographic
Information System Technique
Kanna K. Siripurapu*1, Faisal Moola2, Sravya Sakkuri3,
Shivaram Reddy Dareddy4, Sabyasachi Das5
1School of Arts and Design, Woxsen University, Sangareddy District, Hyderabad, India
Email: kanna.siripurapu@gmail.com | ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1244-4373
2Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Guelph, Guelph,
Canada. Email: fmoola@uoguelph.ca | ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9803-8514
3Watershed Support Services and Activities Network, Hyderabad, India
E-mail: sakkurisravya@gmail.com | ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5105-8240
4School of Arts and Design, Woxsen University, Sangareddy District, Hyderabad, India
Email: shivaram.reddy@woxsen.edu.in | ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5326-9914
5Watershed Support Services and Activities Network, Hyderabad, India
Email: sabyasachidasindia@gmail.com | ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9005-8547
*Corresponding author
Abstract
Annual seasonal migration is one of the main characteristics of
pastoralism. However, large-scale studies focusing on mapping seasonal
migration patterns using advanced spatial analysis tools like the
geographic information system (GIS), hitherto remain meager in India.
The lack of such studies has many implications for holistically
understanding pastoralism in India. The few spatial analysis studies
conducted in the Himalayan region of India found a lack of amenities and
conflict with large-scale state-promoted plantations under climate
change-related projects. Similar studies have been absent in the
country's Deccan Plateau region, which is home to a significant number
of pastoralist communities and livestock populations. In this
background, an exploratory study was conducted to map the seasonal
migration routes of pastoralist communities in the Deccan Plateau
region adopting the Ethnographic Geographic Information System
Technique (EGIST). The objective of the present study is to digitally map
the seasonal migration routes of the pastoralists and document the
issues and challenges (if any), along the seasonal migration routes in the
study area. Seasonal migration routes of seven villages from Andhra
Pradesh and Telangana states were mapped using EGIST and f ound that
pastoralists of the study area practice both short and long-seasonal
migration
in sync
with the monsoon and local cropping season.
Pastoralists of Telangana were found to migrate to the neighboring state
of Andhra Pradesh (AP) during long-distance migration. However,
pastoralists of AP predominantly move within the state. A few major
challenges faced by pastoralists during their seasonal migration in the
study area includes – labour shortages, disease outbreaks and conflict
with the forest department personnel for accessing the traditional
grazing lands located inside the Amarabad and Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam
Tiger Reserves of Nallamala forest of AP and Telangana states of India.
Keywords
Ethnographic Geographic Information System; Spatial analysis; Seasonal
migration; Pastoralism; Deccan plateau; Foot-and-Mouth Disease
How to cite this paper: Siripurapu, K. K.,
Moola, F., Sakkuri, S., Dareddy, S. R., & Das,
S. (2024). Mapping of the Seasonal
Migration Routes of Cattle Pastoralists of
the Deccan Plateau Region of India Using
Ethnographic Geographic Information
System Technique.
Pastures & Pastoralism
,
02
, 101-131. Doi:
https://doi.org/10.33002/pp0206
Received: 26 May 2024
Reviewed: 08 July 2024
Revised: 10 July 2024
Accepted: 15 July 2024
Published: 25 July 2024
Copyright © 2024 by author(s)
Publisher’s Note: We stay neutral with
regard to jurisdictional claims in published
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This work is licensed under the Creative
Commons Attribution International
License (CC BY 4.0).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Executive Chief Editor
Dr. Hasrat Arjjumend
Associate Editors
Dr. Arushi Malhotra
Dr. Hongxi Du
This article is edited by
Dr. Hasrat Arjjumend
ISSN 2817-3457 | 02(2024)
Pas tures & Pastorali sm
Published by The Grassroots Institute
Website: https://grassr ootsjournals.org/pp
M – 00385 | Research Article | Open Access
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Kanna K. Siripurapu, Faisal Moola, Sravya Sakkuri, Shivaram Reddy Dareddy, Sabyasachi Das
1. Introduction
Dating back to 9000 – 6000 B.P., pastoralism is one of the oldest, resilient, and
sustainable livestock production systems in the world (Dong, 2016; Paddayya,
1974; Paddayya, 1992). Seasonal migration is one of the main characteristics
of pastoralism (Sharma
et al
., 2003; Siripurapu
et al
., 2020). Similar to other
parts of the world, pastoralists in India also practice seasonal migration
(Sharma
et al
., 2003). The biogeographical diversity of the sub-continent
presents the conditions necessary for the evolution of two major forms of
pastoralist migration patterns: horizontal (predominantly found in plains) and
vertical (popularly known as transhumant, the up and down movement over
mountains) (Sharma
et al
., 2003). Although there is no official data available
on the total number of pastoralists in India, but existing studies peg their
number at 13 million (accounting to 1 percent of the population of India),
traversing across the country for millennia (Kukreti, 2020; Kishore and Kohler-
Rollefson, 2020; Bhatti and Ramaswamy, 2023; Siripurapu, 2023). However,
large-scale (Pan-India) level and longitudinal research studies on mapping and
documentation of the seasonal migration routes of pastoralists especially in
the Indian context were hitherto meagre and insufficient to understand the
dynamics of this age old livestock production system holistically. For instance,
there is no official data on the exact number of people actively involved in
pastoralism in India. Furthermore, mapping of the seasonal migration routes
and patterns of pastoralists using advanced spatial analysis tools like the
geographic information system (GIS), hitherto remain meager in India,
including the Deccan Plateau region, also the study area (Sharma
et al
., 2003).
The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA),
Oregon State University, USA, and the Central Arid Zone Research Institute
(CAZRI), India have conducted a multi-disciplinary study on seasonal
migration patterns of the
Raikas,
a mobile pastoral community of Rajasthan
state, India (ICARDA, 2014). The study focuses on the socio-economics and
mapping the seasonal migration movements of the
Raikas,
using the Global
Positioning System (GPS) collars mounted on the livestock of the
Raikas
.
Besides, the ICARDA (2014) study, there were hardly any other studies
available when this article was first drafted in 2018. However, few noteworthy
recent studies on mapping the seasonal migration routes of pastoralists in
India include Janastu Team (2022), which focuses on mapping the migratory
routes of pastoralists across India. Khanyari
et al
. (2022) focus on
understanding the changing practices of traditional pastoralists and their
implications for parasite transmission between livestock and wildlife in the
high Himalayan region of India. Meena
et al
. (2021) studied the migration
pattern of
Raika
pastoralists of the Marwar region of Rajasthan, India. Kirmani
et al
. (2020) studied the routes adopted by Bakarwals during livestock
migration and their constraints in the Anantnag and Ganderbal districts of the
Jammu and Kashmir regions. A crucial study “Plantations and Pastoralists” by
Ramprasad
et al
. (2020) on the impacts of afforestation activities on
pastoralists in the Indian Himalayas. The study involves mapping the seasonal
migration routes of the local pastoralists to identify the overlap between the
traditional seasonal migration routes of the local pastoralists and the state-
promoted climate change and other related plantation projects in the region.
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Kanna K. Siripurapu, Faisal Moola, Sravya Sakkuri, Shivaram Reddy Dareddy, Sabyasachi Das
Mapping of the seasonal migration routes of pastoralists has many positive
implications. For instance, the ICARDA (2014) study helps the team of
scientists consisting of rangeland experts, socio-economists, veterinarians, and
Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysts in mapping the exact
seasonal migration routes of the pastoralists, total distance of the migration
routes, time spent for grazing at different locations, preferred fodder by the
livestock, extant and location of watering points, etc. Results of the ICARDA
(2014) study are now guiding policy-makers and government officials of India
to take necessary measures in improving the condition of commons and the
grazing lands, creating watering points, setting up forage resources, arranging
mobile veterinary services along the route and access to near real-time
information over cell-phones on the condition of forage resources, etc. along
the migration routes of
Raikas
. The study was envisioned to improve the
livelihoods of the
Raikas
by creating access to local markets to sell livestock
and their products along the seasonal migration routes (Louhaichi, 2014).
Studies like Ramprasad
et al
. (2020) helps also in the identification of conflicts
of interest between the vulnerable traditional local livelihoods and the global
interests like the large-scale plantations for climate change and carbon
markets. Studies have been increasingly criticizing the global policies for
mitigation of climate change and biodiversity conservation on heavily
incentivizing large-scale plantations and establishment of large-scale solar
power plants, threatening fragile natural ecosystems like grasslands and
deserts, undermining the well-being of local livelihoods, and interfering and
disrupting the traditional seasonal migration routes of pastoralists across
landscapes (Narwade
et al
., 2013; Paul and Vanak, 2020; Ramprasad
et al
.,
2020; Gupta, 2023).
Similar to the study of ICARDA (2014) on seasonal migration routes of
Raikas
of Rajasthan, India, many studies have been conducted across the globe,
especially in Africa (Kitchell
et al
.,
2014; Alido, 2016; Bonnet, and Hérault,
2011; Ellis and Swift, 1988). The project on mapping the pastoralist-livestock
corridors the eastern Senegal of Africa (Kitchell
et al
., 2014), includes local
perceptions of:
1) the benefits and costs of corridors,
2) the effect of the recognition of corridors on competing land uses
(particularly farming),
3) the need for and means to recognize and protect corridors, and
4) the appropriate level of authority to recognize and protect corridors.
Kitchell
et al
. (2014) observes that pastoralist corridors are perceived as a
means of protecting local farms from livestock passing through and are critical
for facilitating access to pastures.
In this background of inadequate studies on mapping of the pastoralist
seasonal migration routes, escalating conflicts along their migration routes,
and the need for establishment of amenities along the migration routes to
improve pastoralist economy (Nori and Scoones, 2019; Siripurapu, 2021a;
Siripurapu, 2021b), an exploratory study (Kurt
et al
., 2011) was commissioned
in the year 2018 by Sahjeevan Centre for Pastoralism, an NGO based in Bhuj,
Kutch, Gujarat state, India. The present study aims to map the seasonal
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Kanna K. Siripurapu, Faisal Moola, Sravya Sakkuri, Shivaram Reddy Dareddy, Sabyasachi Das
migration routes of the pastoralists across the Deccan Plateau region of India.
The objective was to gain a better understanding of the seasonal migration
patterns and challenges faced by the pastoralists in the Deccan Plateau region
of India. The Watershed Support Services and Activities Network (WASSAN), a
non-profit organization based in Hyderabad, Telangana state, India, conducted
the research and extended the field support to this study.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Area
The Deccan plateau region (15°N 77°E / 15°N 77°E) of India known for its
historical and anthropological significance in pastoralism (Paddayya, 1974;
Paddayya, 1992) was designated as the study site. The hot arid eco-region
exhibits a highly undulating and hilly topography covered in tall grasses,
savannah and dry mixed deciduous forests. Four districts of Nagarkurnool,
Kamareddy, Rajanna Sircilla of Telangana state, and Kurnool district of the
neighbouring Andhra Pradesh state were selected for study sites of the present
study. The choice was based on the ongoing projects of WASSAN for the
identification of yet to be descript populations of endogenous cattle breeds
which are predominantly bred and maintained by pastoralist communities in
the study area (Siripurapu
et al
., 2019a; Siripurapu
et al
., 2019b; Siripurapu
et
al
., 2024).
Nagarkurnool district is geographically located at 16.4833°N 78.3333°E at an
elevation of 458 m in the state of Telangana. It is spread over an area of 6,924
km² comprising 358 villages (Govt. of Telangana, 2020a). Kamareddy district
is geographically located at (18.3167° N and 78.3500° E) in Telangana state.
The geographical area of the district is 3,652 km2 (Govt. of Telangana, 2020b).
Similarly, Nizamabad and Rajanna Sircilla districts are also located in
Telangana state. Nizamabad district is located at (18.6725° N, and 78.0941° E),
(Govt. of Telangana, 2020c), and Rajanna Sircilla district is geographically
located at (18.3889° N, and 78.8092° E) (Govt. of Telangana, 2020d). All four
study sites in Telangana state experience a hot savannah-type climate with an
average summer temperature of 42°C (Govt. of Telangana, 2019). Kurnool
district is located at 15.6443° N, 78.1108° E at an elevation of 273 m in the
Andhra Pradesh state of India. It has an area of 17,658 km². It experiences a
hot savannah weather, with summer temperatures ranging from 26°C – 46°C
(Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, 2019).
The entire study area falls under the scarce rainfall zones of India and receives
an average annual rainfall of 500-750 mm. Agro-ecologically, the Deccan
Plateau is a hot arid eco-region (Venkateswarlu
et al.
, 2011). All the six districts
selected for the present study have significant livestock populations
predominantly managed under different mobile pastoralist systems (Soy
et al.
,
2023; GOI, 2021; Siripurapu
et al
., 2020).
2.2. Sampling
A total of seven villages were randomly selected from a pool of 320 villages
collected during the rapid survey and reconnaissance study (Holtzman, 1986)
conducted by WASSAN for the identification of yet-to-descript populations of
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Kanna K. Siripurapu, Faisal Moola, Sravya Sakkuri, Shivaram Reddy Dareddy, Sabyasachi Das
Indigenous cattle breeds in the study area. Details of the seven sample villages
of the present study are presented in table 1.
Table 1: Details of the Sample Villages Selected for Ethnographic GIS Mapping
of Pastoralist Seasonal Migration Routes in the Study Area
Sl.
No.
State
District
Mandal
Name of the
Village
Endogenous
Cattle Breed
bred by the
Pastoralists
1.
Telangana
Nagarkurnool
Amarabad
Lakshampur
tanda (BK)
Poda Thurpu
Amarabad
Kalamalonipalli
Kamareddy
Ramareddy
School tanda
Vandhera
Nizamabad
Sirkonda
Sarpanch tanda
Rajanna
Sircilla
Rudrangi
Rudrangi
2.
Andhra
Pradesh
Kurnool
Atmakur
Kottalacheruvu
Nallamala-Pasa/
Kamma
Atmakur
Krishapuram
2.3. Data Collection and Analysis
The study adopts an Ethnographic Geographic Information Systems Technique
(EGIST) for data collection and analysis (Oskarsson, 2012). It includes coupling
geographic information system (GIS) technologies with ethnographic data
(Matthews
et al
., 2005). Data on the seasonal migration routes of the
pastoralists was collected through focus group discussions (FGDs). FGDs were
predominantly focused on the reasons for seasonal migration, migration
routes, and opportunities and challenges along the migration routes. Data
emerging from the FGDs was predominantly qualitative (reasons for
migration, names of the major destinations along the seasonal migration
routes, and opportunities and challenges). Names of the major destinations
along the migration routes were then used to generate coordinates using
Google Earth (GEO, 2024). Coordinates thus generated were used to determine
the geographic location of such destinations along the pastoralist migration
routes in the study area.
The coordinates thus generated were fed into the ArcGIS Location Platform
(ArcGISLP) to generate digital maps featuring the seasonal migration routes of
pastoralists of the study area. ArcGISLP is a Platform as a Service that provides
access to locations, data services, and spatial analysis services to build mapping
applications (Esri, 2024). In a preliminary attempt, digital maps of the seasonal
migration routes of only three study villages of Lakshmapur Tanda (BK)
(Figure 1), Kalamalonipalli (Figure 2) and School Tanda (Figure 3) of
Telangana state were developed and discussed in this article. Data pertaining
to seasonal migration routes, resource management practices, and issues and
challenges associated with mobile pastoralism in the study area were
transcribed and triangulated and presented in this article (Morgan, 1997;
Vaughn
et al
., 1996).
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Kanna K. Siripurapu, Faisal Moola, Sravya Sakkuri, Shivaram Reddy Dareddy, Sabyasachi Das
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. The Seasonal Migration Pattern of Mobile Pastoralists in the Study Area
The annual seasonal migration of pastoralists of Lakshmapur Tanda (BK),
Amarabad Mandal, Nagarkurnool district, of Telangana state comprises of two
phases across two different ecosystems (forest and farmlands). One includes a
short-distance local movement in and around the Nallmala forest (which
includes the Amarabad Tiger Reserve (ATR)), while the other is a long-distance
inter-state migration across the agro-ecological systems of the adjacent state
of Andhra Pradesh (Siripurapu
et al
.,
2020).
Figure 1: Map showing the seasonal migration route of cattle pastoralists of
Lakshmapur tanda (BK)
The short-distance local movement starts during July and continues till January
(7 months) when herds return home with the onset of monsoon season when
fodder and water are aplenty. The herds spend this period of the year inside
the Nallamala forest area grazing in the customarily used pasture lands called
locally “
penta
”. There are at least 26–27 pentas inside the Nallamala
forest
area. The herds move among these pentas
spending a month or so at each penta
or as long as resources exist before moving on to another penta. Herds usually
travel 5–10 km every day grazing on pentas inside the Nallamala forest area. The
names of a few customarily used pentas
accessed by the cattle pastoralists of
Lakshmapur tanda (BK) inside the Nallamala forest are provided in table (2).
Table: 2. Names of the Customarily used Pentas used by Pastoralists of
Lakshmapur Tanda (BK), Amarabad Mandal, located inside the Nallamala
Forest in Telangana State
Alatam penta
Tammagarugu
Narsingbai
Garasa penta
Erjan
Bandamachilaka
Gunivani penta
Ghandaral
Gundalarevu
Chinchelona
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Kanna K. Siripurapu, Faisal Moola, Sravya Sakkuri, Shivaram Reddy Dareddy, Sabyasachi Das
Siripurapu
et al
. (2020) found that cattle pastoralists in Nagarkurnool district
usually spend a month at each penta or as long as the fodder and water lasts.
Many herds may graze at the same penta;
however, local pastoralists follow
certain protocols in order to avoid conflicts over shared resources as well as
preventing over grazing of the pentas
.
Siripurapu
et al
. (2020) observe that
eight cattle pastoralist families inhabiting the Uma Maheswar Tanda,
Amarabad Mandal, Nagarkurnool district, of Telangana state split themselves
into three groups. A group may have 2-3 cattle herds grazed together, but
corralled separately. Each group herds their cattle herd to a specific penta for
grazing. On an average, about 3-4 people herd each cattle herd.
Usually, pentas
are located 7–10 km distance apart and herders maintain 5–7 km distance
between them. Cattle are never grazed continuously at one site, instead they
are moved among the different pentas in a rotation as presented in figure 2, to
avoid conflicts and prevent overgrazing.
Figure 2: Resource Management Practice of Pastoralists of Umamaheshwar
Tanda, Amarabad Mandal, Nagarkurnool district, of Telangana State (
Source:
Siripurapu
et al
., 2020)
Pastoralists have a very strong mental map of location of the pentas
,
along their
seasonal migration route, as they are used for generations. Local pastoralists
use their traditional knowledge and animal behavior to predict the
availability/scarcity of resources at a penta
(Shahane
et al
., 2024). When they
find signs of resource exhaustion at a penta
,
one of the team members goes out
in search of pentas
with enough fodder and water. Simultaneously, they
communicate and coordinate with other pastoralists in the vicinity updating
each other about resource health and availability. Once the herder finds a
promising location, he sends out the message to his team and the herd is moved
to the newly found location. However, they make sure that the new penta was
not claimed by any other pastoralists in advance in which case they abandon that
place and simply move on to find some other penta
,
thereby, avoiding a conflict
.
It was observed that local pastoralists usually have a good knowledge of the
fodder species preferred by their cattle. For instance, pastoralists of Poda
Thurpu cattle reports that the cattle feed on a wide variety of vegetation, which
•7-10 Km away from
the adjacent pentas;
•Herds may move
here in the future for
grazing.
•5-7 Km away from
the adjacent pentas;
•3 herds stay here for
a month, for grazing.
•5-7 Km away
from the adjacent
pentas;
•2 herds stay here
for a month, for
grazing.
•7-10 Km away
from the adjacent
pentas;
•3 herds stay here
for a month, for
grazing. Paruti
Penta Rola
Penta
Other
Penta
Rangeleti
Penta
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Kanna K. Siripurapu, Faisal Moola, Sravya Sakkuri, Shivaram Reddy Dareddy, Sabyasachi Das
includes
Nandara gaddi, Erra gaddi, Allam gaddi, Kamachi
(aromatic herb)
,
Pattadi aaku
, etc. Although it was not the main focus of the present study, but
when an opportunity arises, an activity was conducted with pastoralists at few
study villages to map the ‘fodder basket’ / ‘fodder platter’ of Poda Thurpu cattle
breed in the study area. The findings of the participatory fodder basket
mapping exercises are presented in table 3. Collection and preparation of the
herbarium and consultation with botanists for scientific identification of the
fodder species mentioned by the pastoralists in the study area shall be
conducted in the subsequent studies.
Table 3: Local Names and Other Details of the Fodder Species Preferred by
Poda Thurpu Cattle Breed Found in Nagarkurnool district, Telangana
Mandal Name
Village Name
Local Name of the
Fodder Species
Name of the
Forest
Remarks
Achampeta
Ankiranipally
Nendra gaddi,
Garaka, Utlagaddi,
Errapoolagaddi,
Kaarey gaddi,
Gunugu gaddi
Nallamala forest
Amrabad
Mannanoor
Tella nedla gaddi,
Badda nendra
gaddi, Mulla
gaddi, Kara gaddi,
Nallamala forest
Mannanoor
Nendra gaddi,
Erra gaddi, Mulla
gaddi, Poota
gaddi, Garika,
Chama gaddi,
Gokara gaddi
Nallamala forest
Gokara gaddi is
savored but it is
hard to digest
and cattle passes
loose stool, it is
available during
summer. Found
Pamabala vaagu,
Loya (valley).
Nedra gaddi is
soft and not only
delicious but
also very healthy
for cattle
Kalamlonipalli
Erra gaddi,
Nendra gaddi,
Baddera gaddi,
Kommavani
penta, Kalina
marri, Kollam
BK. Thirumala-
puram
Nendra gaddi,
Erra gaddi,
Chilaka mukku
allam
Bandaman
cheluka, Kunta
bodu, Banks of
river Krishna
BK. Laxmapur
Thanda
Nendra gaddi,
Kappala gaddi,
Sapparla gaddi,
Boda gaddi,
Garaka
Rollapenta,
Kalina marri,
Ragileti,
Kommavani
penta,
Timmanapalli,
Ootagundala,
Medimalaka,
Darsipenta,
Adamanupenta,
Bowrapur
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Kanna K. Siripurapu, Faisal Moola, Sravya Sakkuri, Shivaram Reddy Dareddy, Sabyasachi Das
Mandal Name
Village Name
Local Name of the
Fodder Species
Name of the
Forest
Remarks
cheruvu,
Eerlapenta
Padara
Chitlamkunta
Nendra gaddi,
Kavva gaddi,
Poota gaddi,
Gokara gaddi
Kalina marri,
Vajrala madugu,
Boguleti, Tangiri
gundala, Eerla
penta,
Gunnamaanu
penta,
Ippalapally
Nendra gaddi,
Baddera gaddi,
Errapoota gaddi,
Chara gaddi
Adamanchenu,
Baddelagaruvu,
Cheddalagumma,
Gunnamaanu
penta,
Medimaluka,
Tangidigundala,
Lingal
Yerrapenta
Nendra gaddi,
Kaara gaddi,
Mulla gaddi,
Modiga allam
Pulibanda,
Nallamala forest
area
Uppunoonthala
Aowvulonibai
Kappala gaddi,
Kavva gaddi,
Garaka, Chama
gaddi, Gokara
gaddi
Rayaleti,
Kommavani
penta,
Vattavarlapalli,
along the banks
of streams and
canals
At Lakshmapur tanda (BK), long-distance inter-state seasonal migration
commences during February and continues till the end of June (5 months).
Local pastoralists leave for seasonal migration when local resources (fodder
availability in the forest areas) shrink. It usually involves crossing inter-state
borders to arrive at their destination located in and around the Tenali region
of Andhra Pradesh. Cattle herds move across the agriculture fallows, grazing
on the crop residues and stubbles of paddy, sorghum, and other crops. The
inter-state migration is rather a recent phenomenon; which came into practice
less than a decade ago as a coping mechanism to avert outbreaks. Details of the
inter-state migration route of the pastoralists of Lakshmapur Tanda (BK) are
provided in table 4.
Similarly, one of the pastoralist family belonging to Lakshmapur tanda (BK)
practices both short-distance movement in and around the Nallmala Forest
and goes out on long-distance migration but within the Telangana state. The
short-distance movement includes about 15 km of travel from the camp every
day. The herd moves among the different customarily used penta (pasture
lands) located inside the Nallamala forest. The seasonal short-distance
migration starts with the onset of monsoon, usually in June, and continues up
to January. Details of the few customarily accessed pentas by the herd are
presented in table 5.
Traditionally, long-distance inter-state migration was unheard of among the
local Golla
community of Kalamalonipalli village, Amarabad mandal,
Nagarkurnool district, Telangana. Rather, the Golla people perceive it as a
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recent phenomenon. As per the information of the Golla family participated in
the study, the long-distance migration at Kalamalonipalli started a decade ago,
following the deadly outbreak of
Gudala rogam
or “
Gaddi rogam”
(grass
disease), as it was assumed that grazing some type of grass causes the disease.
As per the descriptions of the local veterinary surgeons the disease is very
likely to be the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) (WOAH, 2013)
.
Local
pastoralists describe symptoms of the disease include loss of appetite, locked
chucks, immobility, followed by a sudden collapse and death of the animal
infected with the disease
.
The family started taking their herd away to save the
cattle from contracting the deadly disease. It was reported that
Gudala rogam
is fatal for calves, adolescents, and pregnant/lactating cows. It was reported
that a couple of years ago local herders sold over 3,000 cattle for fear of losing
them to the fatal disease.
Table 4: Route of the Inter-state Seasonal Migration of the Pastoralists of
Lakshmapur Tanda (BK), Nagarkurnool district in Telangana State
Sl.
No.
Major Destinations along the
Migration Route
Coordinates
State
1.
Gundanathi penta
(or any
other penta)
Point of origin
Telangana
2.
Cheeramani banda
(or any
other penta)
Point of origin
Telangana
3.
Aramancha penta
(or any
other penta)
Point of origin
Telangana
4.
Palenka Devudu gudi
(temple)
One of the
landmarks
Telangana
5.
Maddimadugu
16°18'42.7"N
79°08'19.0"E
Telangana
6.
Gheesigandu revu
(river
bank)
16°05'17.3"N
78°53'26.3"E
Telangana
7.
Chigurupadu
16°36'42.6"N
80°08'14.7"E
Andhra
Pradesh
8.
Karampudi
16°25'50.8"N
79°43'06.8"E
Andhra
Pradesh
9.
Sattenpalli
16°23'41.4"N
80°09'03.1"E
Andhra
Pradesh
10.
Guntur
16°18'12.5"N
80°26'08.0"E
Andhra
Pradesh
11.
Tenali
16°14'10.6"N
80°38'52.0"E
Andhra
Pradesh
12.
Kolluru
(destination)
16°11'16.7"N
80°47'38.9"E
Andhra
Pradesh
*Note: After arriving at the destination (
Guntur-Tenali-Kolluru
), herds spend
most of the time grazing crop residue and stubble, traversing across the rice
fallows. At the onset of monsoon season, pastoralists follow the same route to
return home. Upon arrival at the native place, families gather at the village
outskirts to greet and welcome the returning herds amid the performance of
traditional rituals.
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Table 5: Major Camping Sites of the Pastoralists of Kalamalonipalli Village
during the Seasonal Short Distance Migration in Telangana State
Kommanapenta
Kollam
Rayalacheruvu
Erupulammacheruvu
Figure 3: Map showing the seasonal migration route of cattle pastoralists of
Kalamlonipalli
The seasonal long-distance migration starts in February after the celebration
of
Sivaratri
and continues for 4 to 5 months, usually from February to June. The
herd spends most of the time traversing across the rice fallows, grazing
stubble, and other crop residue. Cows calve during January-pril which overlaps
with the long migration. Usually, three people accompany the herd during
migration. Herders take turns (shifts of 3 hours each from 6 PM to 6 AM) at
night to prevent the cattle from going astray and raid crops. The herder is
usually accompanied by a few dogs during both the long and short migration.
Dogs not only alert the herder and herd from potential danger from predators
and cattle lifters but also defend them from attacks by wildlife. Major
destinations of the long migration are listed in table 6.
Pastoralists of School Tanda, Ramareddy mandal, Kamareddy district,
Telangana state, stay home for about five months from July to October, during
which the cattle herds are grazed predominantly over the village commons,
cultivable fallows, and the adjacent forest areas. The herds usually move within
a 10 kilometers radius, and cover a distance of about 18-20 km daily for
grazing. Many customarily used grazing patches are located inside the adjacent
forest. Few prominent ones are
Limidi, Lingannapeta, Kota devudu
, and
Chendra devudu
. Details of the grazing areas around School Tanda are
presented in table 7. Traditionally, herds are penned adjacent to the houses but
this practice has changed now. Currently, herds are penned away from the
village at designated patches over the commons, adjacent to the forest with
waterbodies to supply water for the cattle. Unlike the Golla/Yadava
community, Lambadi do not build large penn/cattle shelters adjacent to their
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Kanna K. Siripurapu, Faisal Moola, Sravya Sakkuri, Shivaram Reddy Dareddy, Sabyasachi Das
homes. In comparison with Lambadi, the Golla/Yadava pastoralists of this
region maintain better cleaning and sanitation of the cattle shelters.
Table 6: Route of the Long Seasonal Migration of Pastoralists of Kalamalonipalli
Village, Amarabad mandal, Nagarkurnool district, in Telangana State
Name of the Major Destinations along the
Migration Route
Coordinates
Vankeswaram
(origin)
16°25'51.2"N 78°54'38.9"E
Chennamapalli
16°12'47.7"N 78°32'33.7"E
Bakkalingalapalli
16°26'53.4"N 79°03'04.7"E
Nalgonda
17°11'50.1"N 79°13'17.4"E
Bedaburiya
Could not be generated online
Aligarh
Could not be generated online
Miriyalaguda
(destination)
16°52'37.3"N 79°33'57.7"E
Table 7: Details of the Grazing Areas around School Tanda When Herds Stay at the
Native Village in Kamareddy district, Telangana from late October to early November
School Tanda
(Origin)
Maddi kota
Reddy peta
Kondapur
The seasonal long-distance migration of pastoralists of School Tanda
commences immediately after the celebration of the Diwali festival, which is
usually the last week of October or the first week of November and continues
up to June. The herds linger around the grazing patches inside the forests until
the
Shivaraathri
festival, or until the harvesting season of the Rabi sorghum
(
Sorghum bicolor
) crop draws to an end. Soon after harvesting of sorghum
crop, cattle herds traverse across the cultivable fallows for grazing. Herds
spend about 10–15 days at each village along the migration route, penning
(Siripurapu, 2023) at farms for a price (cash and kind). The long-distance
migration route of pastoralists of School Tanda extends up to Balakonda from
their native place. The local pastoralists follow the same route to return home.
Details of the long migration route are presented in table 8.
Table 8: Details of the Route and Season of Annual Long-Distance Migration of
Pastoralists of School Tanda, Ramareddy Mandal in Kamareddy District, Telangana
Name of the Major Destinations along
the Migration Route
Coordinates
School Tanda
(Origin)
18°24'56.8"N 78°26'41.7"E
Maddi kota
Could not be generated online
Reddy peta
Could not be generated online
Kondapur
Could not be generated online
Gadukol
18°32'23.5"N 78°25'43.0"E
Sirikonda
18°34'47.8"N 78°27'04.1"E
Kundoor
Could not be generated online
Gunugopula
Could not be generated online
Bada Bheemgal
18°41'38.9"N 78°24'60.0"E
Armur
18°47'22.2"N 78°17'16.2"E
Chengal
18°42'26.2"N 78°22'55.1"E
Arugula
Could not be generated online
Balakonda
(destination)
18°52'13.1"N 78°20'09.7"E
Note: The pastorals use the same migration route to return home
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Kanna K. Siripurapu, Faisal Moola, Sravya Sakkuri, Shivaram Reddy Dareddy, Sabyasachi Das
Figure 4: Map showing the seasonal migration route of cattle pastoralists of
School Tanda
The pastoralist family of Sarpanch Tanda, Sirkonda Mandal, Nizamabad
district, Telangana State, practices both short and long-distance seasonal
migration. The family stays at home from July to October, during which they
practice short-distance movement covering a distance of 8–10 km (one way)
every day, grazing over village commons, cultivable fallows, and forest areas
surrounding their village. The herds move out for long-distance seasonal
migration during late October – early November, after the celebration of the
Diwali festival. The long-distance seasonal migration continues from
October/November to June, predominantly grazing over cultivable fallows and
penning over farmlands. Three to five people usually accompany the herd on
migration. Details of the movement of pastoralists of Sarpanch Tanda are
presented in table 9.
Table 9: Details of the Route and Season of Annual Migration of Pastoralists of
Sarpanch Tanda, Sirkonda Mandal, Nizamabad district, Telangana State
Name of the Major Destinations
along the Migration Route
Coordinates
District
Name
Sarpanch Tanda
(Origin)
18°29'41.9"N
78°25'47.7"E
Nizamabad
Tumpally
18°29'12.3"N
78°27'31.9"E
Nizamabad
Gadkol
18°32'23.5"N
78°25'43.0"E
Nizamabad
Ram madugu
Could not be
generated online
Nizamabad
Kondur
Could not be
generated online
Nizamabad
Muchkur
18°38'15.7"N
78°27'40.8"E
Nizamabad
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Name of the Major Destinations
along the Migration Route
Coordinates
District
Name
Bheemgal
18°42'05.3"N
78°27'14.6"E
Nizamabad
Bada Bheemgal
18°41'38.9"N
78°24'60.0"E
Nizamabad
Elpur
18°45'50.9"N
78°23'38.9"E
Nizamabad
Fatehpur
18°50'51.6"N
78°18'11.6"E
Nizamabad
Balkonda
18°52'13.7"N
78°20'13.1"E
Nizamabad
Nirmal
(Destination)
19°05'42.9"N
78°20'36.9"E
Nirmal
Note: The pastorals use the same migration route to return home – however,
they seldom use an alternate route that passes via Bhainsa.
Unlike the local Lambadi and Golla pastoralists of Rudrangi village, Rudrangi
mandal, Rajanna Siricilla district, Telangana do not practice long-distance
seasonal migration, instead, they move the herds within a radius of 15–20 km
around the village, all year around. Herds are grazed over the village commons
and cultivable fallows for the most part (eight months) of the season
(November – June) and put up inside the forest for about four months from July
to October. There are about 16–20 customary grazing patches located inside
the forest and herds are moved over the customary grazing patches depending
on the availability of fodder and water. Details of the movement of pastoralists
of Rudrangi village are presented in table 10.
Table 10: Details of the Customary Grazing Areas inside the Forest of Rudrangi
Village, Rudrangi mandal in Rajanna Siricilla District, Telangana
Name of the Major
Destinations along the
Migration Route
Name of the Major
Destinations along the
Migration Route
Name of the Major
Destinations along the
Migration Route
Rudrangi Village
(Origin) (Coordinates:
18°37'32.4"N
78°42'27.7"E)
Nalla gutta
Kalagandi
Bugga devastanam area
Sir Bugga rjarajeshwari
swamy area
Lonka rameswara
swamy area
Patcha gutta
Kalapayya
Kottapeta
Malyala
Haindalupi
Bolabanda
Konda gutta
Guba gutta
(destination at the
neighbouring village,
Salugula)
Rajula gutta
(destination at the
neighbouring village,
Salugula)
Note: Cattle rely on forest vegetation for fodder and the duration of the
seasonal migration – from late July to early November.
Pastoralists of Kottalacheruvu village, Atmakur mandal, Kurnool district, AP,
graze their cattle herds over the village commons and agriculture fallows for
eight months (November – June) and move them into the surrounding
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Nallmala forest for the rest four months (July – October) of the year. Herds are
kept inside the forest from July to October to prevent them from raiding crops.
Herds are grazed at customarily used
pentas
(places with fodder and water)
located inside the Nallamala forest. There are approximately seven pentas
spread across two forest beats namely: Indreswaram beat (located on the east
of the village) and Golukuntala beat (located on the west of the village). There
are two pentas located inside the Indreswaram beat: Sasanam and
Kanuguntala peta and five pentas are located inside the Indreswaram beat:
Sadaram, Aara, Lingamayya, Egasari, and Sari pentas. Calves are born during
February – April when herds are moving inside the forest. Animals often fall
sick from eating
Nuruku gaddi
(a type of grass) found in this region. Around 30
animals died recently from a sudden outbreak.
Pastoralists of Krishnapuram village, Atmakur mandal, Kurnool district, AP
take their cattle herds to the surrounding hillocks for grazing for nine months
during the monsoon/winter seasons (June – February). The customary grazing
areas of Gaji banda, Garigalamma, and Tirumala Konda are located on Bendi
Konda (hillock) located about 10 kilometers from the village. Bendi Konda is
spread over an area of approximately 20 km2. Herds are moved across the
cultivable fallows for three months during summer (March-May), grazing over
the stubble and crop residue. The movement of pastoralists of Nallamala-Pasa
cattle of the Kurnool district is provided in table 11.
Table 11: Details of the Pentas located inside the Nallamala Forest customarily
used by the Pastoralists in the Kurnool District
Sl.
No.
Name of the Mandal
Name of Forest Patch customarily used for
Grazing
1.
Atmakur
Rollapenta
Nallapasu konda
2.
Bandi Atmakur
Same as Velugodu
3.
Gaddivemula
Gmmadi Konda
Palabuggajendla
Vundutla jenda
Gunki banda
4.
Kothapalli
Sangameswaram Konda
Ankalamma kota
Mallayyaashala
5.
Pamaulapadu
Same as Gaddivemula
6.
Velugodu
Pavuralagutta
Rudrakodu
Mallelamma cheruvu
Annaram cheruvu
Kammakunta cheruvu
Pallaebai vanka
Peddalinu
There is some variation in the seasonal migration of pastoralists among the
sample villages. Pastoralists of Lakshmapur Tanda (BK) and Kalamalonipalli
villages of Amarabad mandal, Nagarkurnool district of Telangana state follow
the same pattern in terms of season and duration of short and long-term
migration but the distance they cover during migration differs significantly.
Pastoralists of School Tanda, Ramareddy mandal, Kamareddy district and
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Kanna K. Siripurapu, Faisal Moola, Sravya Sakkuri, Shivaram Reddy Dareddy, Sabyasachi Das
Sarpanch Tanda, Sirkonda mandal of Nizamabad district in Telangana follow
the same pattern in terms of season and duration short and long-term
migration but the distance they cover varies. Although Rudrangi village in
Rudrangi mandal, Rajanna Siricilla district of Telangana and Kottalacheruvu
village, Atmakur mandal, Kurnool district of AP are geographically located in
different states and located far apart, but, interestingly pastoralists of both the
villages were found to follow the same seasonal migration pattern in terms of
short and long-seasonal migration. Although pastoralists of Krishnapuram
village, Atmakur mandal, Kurnool district of AP do not practice long-distance
migration, nonetheless they spend a relatively longer time grazing their herds
inside the forests and a relatively spend shorter time grazing their herds on
commons and cultivable fallows found in and around the village. The summary
of the seasonal migration pattern of the study villages is presented in table 12.
Table 12: Summary of the Seasonal Migration Pattern of Pastoralists in the
Study Area
Sl.
No.
State
District
Name of the
Village
Period of
Short
Distance
Migration
No. of
Months
Period of
Long-
Distance
Migration
No. of
Months
Approx.
Distance
(one
way) of
Long
distance
Migration
(in km)
1.
Telangana
Nagarkurnool
Lakshampuram
tanda
Jul - Jan
7
Feb - Jun
5
571
Kalamalonipalli
Jul - Jan
7
Feb - Jun
5
327
Kamareddy
School tanda
Jul - Oct
4
Nov - Jun
8
40 - 45
Nizamabad
Sarpanch tanda
Jul - Oct
4
Nov - Jun
8
40 - 50
Rajanna
sircilla
Rudrangi
Nov - Jun
8
Jul - Oct
4
40 - 44
2.
Andhra
Pradesh
Kurnool
Kottalacheruvu
Nov - Jun
8
Jul - Oct
4
40 - 44
Krishapuram
Mar-May
3
Jun - Feb
9
10 - 20
3.2 Issues of Social Mobility and Seasonal Mobility of Pastoralists in the Study Area
Broadly four main challenges faced by the pastoralists in the study area were
identified in the present study. The major challenges reported by the
pastoralists in the study area are - shortage of labour, disease outbreaks,
fodder scarcity and restrictions on access to customary grazing lands located
inside forests. The most pressing issue reported by the pastoralists in
Telangana was labour shortage. Traditionally the Golla, Kuruma and Lambadi
pastoralist communities of Nagarkurnool district have been dependent on
Chenchus (a hunter and gatherer, belonging to the particularly vulnerable
tribal group (PVTG) (Ota & Mall, 2016) for taking care of their cattle herds
during migration through Nallamala forest.
Traditionally, the pastoralist communities and the Chenchu people shared a
symbiotic relationship in managing the cattle herds for ages (Omkaramaiah &
Rakesh, 2022). This traditional inter-community relationship, however, seems
to be changing for the past few decades, with the state government rolling out
more and more socio-economic development programmes for mainstreaming
the Chenchu people. With the encouragement of the government and few non-
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profit organizations the Chenchu people are bidding adieu to their traditional
hunter and gatherer lifestyles and started migrating to the nearby towns and
villages, in search of better prospects (Swamy
et al
., 2018). Furthermore, with
the improvement in the socio-economic conditions, literacy rates and changing
aspirations among the pastoralists, the next generation is reluctant to inherit
pastoralism, adding to severe labor shortages in this sector (Singh & Kerven,
2023). Except for a handful of young people in Kamareddy, Nizamabad and
Rajanna Sircialla districts of Telangana, majority of the youth are neither
interested in the traditional nomadic way of life nor rearing livestock
(Siripurapu
et al
., 2020). Maru (2017) points out that despite the growing global
recognition and technological advancements, the youth in Kenya are disinclined
towards inheriting pastoralism due to loss of resources and exclusion from
policies, which is quite similar to the Indian context. Most of the pastoralists in
the study area took up settled farming, employment at private companies, or
migrated to nearby cities or moved to the middle-east for better prospects.
Almost every pastoralist household in Kamareddy, Nizamabad and Rajanna
Sircialla districts have someone either lived or currently living in the middle-east
sending remittance. It was noticed that some level of remittance economy is
flourishing in this part of the state.
The other most pressing issues for pastoralists of Telangana during seasonal
migration are mass mortality of cattle from disease outbreaks and scarcity of
fodder from proliferation of exotic and invasive weeds –
Lantana camera,
Cassia uniflora, Parthenium hysterophorus
(Reddy
et al
., 2008). Pastoralists of
Nagarkurnool report that large number of cattle die from a fatal disease, locally
called as
“Gudala rogam
” or “
Gaddi rogam”
(grass disease), most likely to be
FMD. Pastoralists of this region bemoan that
Gudala rogam
has forced many
local cattle pastoralists to give up cattle rearing in this area. Pastoralists of
Kamareddy, Nizamabad and Rajanna Sircialla districts of Telangana state
complains about the proliferation of exotic weeds like
Lantana camara
.
Pastoralists say that Lantana suppresses native fodder species, resulting in
acute fodder scarcities and also sometimes death of unwary cattle browsing it,
especially the young ones. Studies suggests that 40 percent of the India’s Tiger
range (including Nallamala forest) is invaded by Lantana (Rastogi, 2020;
Reddy
et al
., 2008).
The other pressing issue across Nagarkurnool, Kamareddy, Nizamabad and
Rajanna Sircialla districts of Telangana is the restrictions imposed by the forest
department on access to the customary grazing patches located inside the
Nallamala forest. Pastoralists complain that the situation has worsened since
the establishment of the Amarabad Tiger Reserve
1
. It was reported that
pastoralists were allowed to graze their livestock up to 15 km inside the forest,
until 1975-76. However, things have changed drastically since then, and now
they are restricted to enter only up to 3 km into the tiger reserve. These
restrictions forbid the local pastoralists from accessing their traditional pentas,
1
Amrabad Tiger Reserve (ATR), the largest protected area of Telangana state. It is extended over
three forest divisions of Amarabad, Achampet of Nagarkurnool district, and Nagarjunsagar
division of Nalgonda district of Telangana. The ATR is spread over an area of 2611.4 sq. km
covering both Nagarkurnool and Nalgonda districts. ATR is the second-largest Tiger Reserve in
the country and it is contiguous with the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve of Andhra
Pradesh. Together they form the largest protected dry deciduous forest in the country.
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Kanna K. Siripurapu, Faisal Moola, Sravya Sakkuri, Shivaram Reddy Dareddy, Sabyasachi Das
thereby, causing fodder shortages and economic loses from bribing the forest
department personnel to gain temporary access.
Siripurapu (2020) found that until a few decades ago local pastoralists were
allowed to buy grazing permits from the forest department by paying a rupee
(USD 0.013) per animal to graze inside the forest. The issue of grazing permits
has been shelved by the forest department since 1976, making the life
extremely difficult to both pastoralists and their livestock. Local pastoralists
report manhandling and destruction of their camps by the forest department
personnel during their seasonal migration through the Nallamala forest.
In connection to the atrocities endured by pastoralists in the study area,
Mallavarapu and Rathod (2013) elucidates that many progressive laws have
been passed in the post-independent India to safeguard the marginalized
segments of the society – the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes
(ST). In accordance with the fifth and sixth schedules mentioned in the Indian
Constitution and the article 46 of the same, the welfare of the STs is vested in
the hands of the state governments of India. In consonance, the government of
the undivided Andhra Pradesh, framed the ‘Andhra Pradesh State Agency Land
Transfer Regulation (APSALTR) of 1959, which was amended subsequently to
safeguard and protect the interests of tribal communities with regards to land.
Furthermore, the other protective regulations and acts like the Andhra
Pradesh Scheduled Areas Money Lenders Regulation (APSAMLR) 1960s, the
Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Areas Debt Relief Regulation (APSADRR) 1960s,
National Forest Policy (NFP) 1894, 1952 and 1988, the Panchayatraj Extension
Act to Scheduled Areas (PESA) 1996, and the Scheduled Tribes and Other
Traditional Forest Dwellers Recognition of Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006, and
several other prominent judgments of the Supreme Court and High Courts of
India safeguards the interests of tribal and other traditional forest dwellers in
the country (Samata, 2003; Ganjivarapu, 2009; Bhagirath, 2023).
It was however found that none of the pastoralists of Telangana and Andhra
Pradesh participated in the present study were familiar and aware about the
FRA, 2006 and its provisions, during data collection in 2018-19. Mallavarapu
and Rathod (2013) points out that herding and grazing communities
inhabiting the Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, Adilabad district of Telangana state
have been struggling to file claims for seasonal grazing rights under the FRA,
2006 and their claims have been ignored (Palla, 2016). In this juncture where
pastoralism is shrouded in conflicts and uncertainties in the study area, the
suggestions of Maru
et al.
(2022) that migration policies needs rethinking,
open up to diverse local knowledge and practices and adopt a more flexible,
creative and adaptive governance approach gains prominence.
It was found that pastoralists of AP also face similar challenges, however, their
order of priority of issues was slightly different from pastoralists of Telangana.
The most pressing issue for AP pastoralists was the escalating conflict with the
forest department over access to their customary grazing lands located inside
the Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve. Pastoralists complain that they are
not only beaten and manhandled by the forest department personnel but also
wrench money and goods with force and coercion. The second most important
issue for AP pastoralists was the difficulty in accessing health care services due
to constant mobility and large herd sizes. Pastoralists of AP have also reported
Pastures & Pastoralism
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Kanna K. Siripurapu, Faisal Moola, Sravya Sakkuri, Shivaram Reddy Dareddy, Sabyasachi Das
mass mortality of cattle from eating
Nuruku gaddi
(a type of grass) found in
the region. A pastoralist family of Kottalacheruvu village, Atmakur mandal,
Kurnool district, reports that 30 animals died from the FMD outbreak
(Siripurapu, 2020).
4. Conclusion
It was observed that mobile pastoral communities of the study area practice
both short and long-seasonal migration
in sync
with the monsoon and local
cropping season. It was reported that pastoralists of Nagarkurnool district,
Telangana started migrating longer distances and spreading wider to maintain
distance among the herds to prevent disease outbreaks. However, further
studies are necessary to ascertain these claims. The seasonal migration route
of the local pastoralists includes traversing and grazing over forest ecosystems
(Nallamala forest range), commons, village pastures, and cultivable fallows.
The study finds that pastoralists in the study area have been facing many
challenges concerning their mobility. Much of these challenges stems from
unavailability of labour, disease outbreaks, and restrictions imposed by the
forest department on accessing their traditional customary grazing lands
located inside the Nallamla forest (Amarabad Tiger Reserve and
Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve).
The present exploratory study is confined to ethnographic GIS mapping of the
seasonal migration routes and major challenges faced by pastoralists along the
seasonal migration routes. The present study covers only a handful of villages
due to time and financial resource constraints. Therefore, it was assumed that
further studies are necessary to understand the availability and accessibility of
amenities (veterinary services and cattle shelters in case of emergency), the
impact of large-scale plantations and solar power plants promoted under
climate change-related projects, and risks and hazards that the livestock and
pastoralists face along the seasonal migration routes in the study area. In depth
and large-scale studies are necessary to gain better understanding of the
pastoralist system and designing appropriate policies for safeguarding the
interests of pastoralists and improving pastoralism in the study area.
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Kanna K. Siripurapu, Faisal Moola, Sravya Sakkuri, Shivaram Reddy Dareddy, Sabyasachi Das
Authors’ Declarations and Essential Ethical Compliances
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The funding for this research was made available by Sahjeevan Centre for
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biocultural or biological resources or unique characteristics/practices?
No, the present study does not necessarily focus on any of the things listed above,
however, there was a cursory mention of the fodder species consumed by cattle in the study
area.
1.4 Did/will Aboriginal identity or membership in an Indigenous community used or be
used as a variable for the purposes of analysis?
No
2. Community Engagement
2.1 If you answered “Yes” to questions 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 or 1.4, have you initiated or do you
intend to initiate an engagement process with the Indigenous collective, community or
communities for this study?
The present study was commissioned by Sahjeevan-Centre for Pastoralism, an NGO based in
Bhuj, Kutch, Gujarat state, India. The present study aims to map the seasonal migration
routes of pastoralists inhabiting the Deccan Plateau region of India. The objective of the
present was to gain a better understanding of the seasonal migration patterns and challenges
faced by the pastoralists in the Deccan Plateau region of India. The present study does not
involve collection of any cultural heritage, artifacts, traditional knowledge, biocultural or
biological resources or unique characteristics/practices of the Indigenous communities in the
study area.
Since 2018, I have been closely associated with the Amrabad Poda Lakshmi Govu Sangham
(APLGS) and Nallamala-Kamma Govu Sangham (NKGS), the collectives of Poda Thurpu and
Nallamala-Pasa/Kamma cattle breeders, of Nagarkurnool and Kurnool districts of Telangana
and Andhra Pradesh states. I have been working with the associations for conservation of the
indigenous Poda Thurpu and Nallamala-Pasa/Kamma cattle breeds and improvement of
local livelihoods. In the year 2019, a formal process was initiated with APLGS and NKGS for
participatory research and documentation of biocultural diversity of pastoralists associated
with breeding of the cattle breeds. The main objectives of such documentation was: (1). To
nominate APLGS for the India Biodiversity Conservation Award, 2021. The documentation
helped APLGS, in winning the India Biodiversity Conservation Award, 2021. For more
information about the award: https://www.ecosystemsbasedsolutions.in/telangana-3.php
(2). To publish the study in journals, giving due credit to APLGS and pastoralists. And
(3). To register Nallamala-Pasa/Kamma as defined native cattle breed with the ICAR-
NBAGR, India.
Besides documentation of the biocultural diversity of pastoralist communities and
registration of pastoralist livestock cattle breeds, our long-term engagement with the
pastoralist communities in the study area have also resulted in the development and
implementation of a project among 80 pastoralist dominated villages covering nearly 0.1
million traditional forest dependant households in two districts of Nagarkurnool and
Nalgdonda districts of Telangana state, with an objective to bring legal recognition to the
customary rights of these communities under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional
Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. The project is jointly implemented
by three NGOs the Centre for Pastoralism, Watershed Support Services and Activities
Network, and Conare Foundation.
2.2 If you answered “Yes” to question 2.1, describe the process that you have followed or
will follow with respect to community engagement. Include any documentation of
consultations (i.e., formal research agreement, letter of approval, PIC, email communications, etc.)
and the role or position of those consulted, including their names if appropriate:
The present study does not necessarily involve collection of data pertaining to cultural
heritage, artifacts, traditional knowledge, biocultural or biological resources or unique
characteristics/practices of the pastoralist communities in the study area. However, a formal
letter of prior informed consent (PIC) was shared with the Executive Committee members
and Chair Person of APLGS and NKGS, expressing the intentions (mentioned in response to
Q. #2.1.), behind the participatory research study and sought their approval for the same.
Upon, the receipt of formal letter of approval from the Chair Person of APLGS, participatory
documentation of biocultural diversity of pastoralists was initiated for the objectives #1 and
#2 mentioned in response to Q. #2.1. A copy of the same will be annexed with this form.
3. No Community Consultation or Engagement
If you answered “No” to question 2.1, briefly describe why community engagement will not
be sought and how you can conduct a study that respects Aboriginal/ Indigenous
communities and participants in the absence of community engagement.
The present study titled: “Mapping of the Seasonal Migration Routes of Cattle Pastoralists of
the Deccan Plateau Region of India Using Ethnographic Geographic Information System
Technique”, involves community participation, however, the classification of the research
participants, especially the Lambadi people varies in different states of India. They are
classified as “Scheduled Tribes”, by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs – The Government of India,
in a few states and Other Backward Castes (non-tribal) in a few states of India.
Name of Principal Researcher: Kanna Kumar Siripurapu
Affiliation of Principal Researcher: School of Arts and Design, Woxsen University, Kamkole,
Sadasivpet, Sangareddy District, Hyderabad - 502 345, Telangana, India. Website:
https://woxsen.edu.in/
Declaration: Submitting this note by email to any journal published by The Grassroots Institute is your
confirmation that the information declared above is correct and devoid of any manipulation.
