Deda method

Current Context : The internally displaced Muria tribes in Godavari Valley continue to practice the ‘deda’ method to preserve seeds of pulses and food crops which were handed over to them by their ancestors in Chhattisgarh.

Aim : Protection of seed from pests and worms.

ABOUT DEDA METHOD:

• This method is used to preserve seeds of pulses like green gram, red gram, black gram, and beans.
• This traditional preservation technique passed through generations among the Muria tribe.

PRESERVATION PROCESS

• Seeds are stored in leaves and tightly packed to resemble boulders from a distance.
• Siali leaves, locally known as ‘addakulu,‘ are woven around the packaged seeds to create the deda.
• Each deda comprises three layers: wood ash spread inside Siali leaves, lemon leaves forming a casing over the ash, and seeds sealed within the casing. Each deda can support up to 5kg of seeds.

MURIA TRIBE

• They are known as habitations of Internally Displaced People (IDPs).
• Location: Located in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
• They speak Koya, a Dravidian language.
• They have progressive views on marriage and life.