GREEN INDUSTRIES THAT ARE TO BE ESTABLISHED AROUND
KANHA TIGER RESERVE BY TRIBALS, FOR TRIBALS.

In view of the fact that most of the local Baiga & Gond Tribesmen & women have inherent knowledge of all soil types in this region – the Baiga were once honored as “Masters of the Soil”- there is now an eagerness to act upon our suggestions to become more self-sufficient, better occupied, and healthier and to also help in conserving their magical, green world. To that positive and most necessary end the following green industries are being proposed for establishment at several strategically located sites around the 2,000 sq. km Kanha NP – by Tribes, for Tribes.

Suggested green industries that have the potential to succeed, creating an economy of substance and value for these two dominant tribes are as follows:-

1. “KANHA TIGER PEPPER KITCHEN” PRODUCE
The aim is to create an economy for Tribal communities by establishing green chili bush plantations on leased land around the peripheral villages of Kanha. In addition to the plantation areas, four (4) Kanha Pepper Kitchens will be set up to prepare and pack the various chili products. The chilies will not be eaten or destroyed by any species of wildlife found in and around Kanha, and therefore this has the potential to succeed as a cash crop in the following ways:-
Ø Chilies as a cash crop to be sold at various weekly markets, after the bulk of the produce is bought by the four strategically situated “Kanha Tiger Pepper Kitchens”.
Ø Chilies can be dried and mixed with Neem leaves for use as earth friendly pesticides. The mix has to be combined with cow urine and sprayed onto the crops. Safe & non-toxic.
Ø Kanha Tiger Pepper Kitchens products are to include Chili Pickle; Salsa; Chili essence (like Tabasco); Chili sauce; Chili Vinegar; Chili Mustard. Saleable from outlets around Kanha.

2. KANHA TIGER NEEM PRODUCTS
In another effort to cover Mother Earth with a green mantle around the denuded areas of Kanha’s core, while simultaneously creating long term employment for Tribes, we plan to lease land from Tribal communities to plant Neem trees. Neem as a pesticide has been used in India for centuries, and it does not affect Mother Earth adversely. In fact when the leaves of Neem are mixed into agricultural soil, they actually help in water retention to sustain crops during the warmer months. Apart from providing shade, a percentage of the leaves can be harvested to make the following Neem products:-

Ø Neem plantations, numbering 18 to 27 will be established on either govt. waste or Tribal leased lands outside the buffer zone of Kanha.
Ø Neem capsules as an anti-malarial, natural prophylactic. We intend to secure the help of the “Himalaya” company for advice on how to set this aspect of the foundation’s employment creation plans.
-2-

Ø Neem pesticides – as previously stated Neem has no adverse effect on soil, but is a very effective barrier against crop destroying insects.
Ø Dried Neem leaves also help water retention in soil. Therefore we will create Neem compost pits and sell the compost to farmers.
Any assistance or advice to enhance the value in any of these fields of agro based economy creation for the benefit of the tribesmen & women of Kanha will be most gratefully welcomed.

3. KANHA’S TRIBAL BAMBOO ARTIFACTS. Baiga Tribesmen, women & children had for centuries bartered their skills of molding bamboo into long lasting utility items. Such as Monsoon hats; supa, which helps remove stones and grit from rice & dal etc.; chatai, a shade from both the sun and the rain; baskets for many purposes; submergible fish traps etc. They also made delightful figures of deer and other creatures for their children from the refuse. Obviously their access to the existing supplies of Bamboo has now been denied in view of the necessary preservation of the core & buffer zones of this vital National Park and its future. What do these simple, gentle people do now?

The “SHANTI BAGH” founders have decided to provide and assist in the plantation of initially five thousand Bamboo saplings around Kanha’s buffer zone. At the time of writing this information sheet a total of nine (9) nearby villages have requested involvement in the above challenge. It will take 3 to 5 years before the first bamboos can be harvested, so we intend to keep everyone involved busy with irrigation and nurturing activities to avoid disinterest creeping in. Annually we intend to add further acreages of bamboo, as interest is further encouraged.

BEE KEEPING & HONEY BOTTLING - Having watched with amazement how Baiga Tribesmen simply smear their exposed bodies with ash and ‘milk’ a hive hanging from a tree’s bough or roof edge around Kawardha, we feel this idea for creating of an economy can do well here. The assistance of two experts is to be sought, namely Mr. Martin Howard in New Delhi and Mr. John Fontanaz from Buckinghamshire.

BAKERIES - Kanha National Park has approximately 32 camps, lodges and resorts at the Kisli entrance, with 10 at Mukki. ThereforeWe have a nine month tourism season To date none of us have ever had the opportunity to purchase home made breads, buns, rolls or cakes from a nearby town, forcing us to continually buy the processed loafs we all dislike. To