shifting cultivation (Podu cultivation) has diminished in tribal communities In the districts of Bhadradri Kothagudem and Mahabubabad

 In the districts of Bhadradri Kothagudem and Mahabubabad, there are vast forest areas, and a significant population of tribal communities, especially the Koya tribe. These communities have traditionally practiced shifting cultivation (Podu) for generations. 

During the time when the Telugu-speaking states were unified as Andhra Pradesh, under the leadership of then-Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the government promised to grant full forest rights and land ownership to the tribal people who had been cultivating Podu lands. Upon hearing this, many tribal families took out loans, sold their gold, and even mortgaged their properties to level forest lands using tractors, JCBs, and bulldozers. They did this to claim these lands as their Podu lands and obtain official titles (pattas) for them. Some were successful in getting pattas for their newly cleared lands, while others were not. For instance, if a family cleared 10 acres of forest land, they might receive pattas for 4 acres, leaving the rest without any legal recognition. In a village where there were 31 families, 26 received pattas, while 5 did not.

Over time, however, the practice of Podu cultivation has diminished. The tribal communities have now settled in permanent residences in their villages, with voter ID cards, Aadhaar cards, ration cards, electricity connections, and proper houses. Mechanization in agriculture has also begun, with the use of tractors and other machinery. Tribals who once practiced organic farming now use chemical fertilizers and pesticides, both those provided by the government and purchased from local shops.

Traditionally, the tribals grew crops for their own consumption, but now they are cultivating commercial crops like hybrid maize (used as chicken feed in poultry farms), cotton, and chillies. In some places with small water sources, they also grow paddy. Even in areas with small canals or streams, they are cultivating paddy.

As a result, Podu cultivation has largely ceased because the lands that were once Podu lands have now been transformed into permanent agricultural fields. Some of these lands have received FRA (Forest Rights Act) titles, while others are still cultivated without any official documentation. The tribals continue to farm these lands as their own, even if they lack legal titles.

In tribal villages, especially in Bhadrachalam Kothagudem district in Tekulapalli Mandal, and in Mahabubabad district in Gangaram Mandal, there are different types of lands. Some lands have titles passed down from their ancestors, although in some cases, technical problems have delayed the updating of names in the Dharani portal. Over generations, large tracts of land have been subdivided among heirs, resulting in smaller holdings. For example, if a grandfather owned 20 acres, his grandchildren might only inherit 0.5 to 2 acres each.

There are also lands that have been converted from Podu lands into agricultural lands with FRA titles. These lands are eligible for government schemes like Rythu Bandhu, which provides financial assistance for agricultural inputs, and can also be used as collateral for bank loans.

However, there is a third category of lands where the tribals cultivate without any official documentation or FRA titles. These lands do not qualify for Rythu Bandhu, electricity connections, or bank loans, but the tribals continue to farm them as their own.

In conclusion, in the districts of Bhadradri Kothagudem and Mahabubabad, there are currently no Podu lands. The surrounding forests have been cleared, and the lands have been converted into permanent agricultural fields. These lands, some with FRA titles and others without, have been cultivated for over a decade, yielding good profits through commercial farming with the use of fertilizers and chemicals. As a result, the tribals have moved away from the traditional Podu cultivation and are now practicing modern agriculture, similar to that of non-tribal farmers. Despite these changes, the tribals maintain their lands meticulously, keeping them clean and well-tilled.