| India is primarily the land of agriculture and the tribal people being the original inhabitants of this land are not only closely related to agriculture, but they depend almost totally on cultivation. There are a number of special and religious rituals connected with agriculture which explicitly disclose their emotional relation with land and crops in addition to plants, trees and animals.
In ancient times, food gathering and hunting were the chief sources of the livelihood of the tribal community. But, in course of time, as a result of pressure of population, they acquired the skill of agriculture. They cleared the forests and brought land under cultivation. They consider themselves to be the original owners of the land they cultivate. But the advanced people from outside forced them in many ways to leave the land which created serious problems and government had to make certain rules relating to the tribal ownership of land. Tribal life is chiefly based on agriculture and closely associated with animal husbandry.
This book studies in depth the tribal agriculture and animal husbandry and their association with tribal life. Also studied is the introduction of new agricultural technology in the tribal areas. |
