During ancient times the village Ahir or Charwa were made over the charge to graze the cattle. At about sunrise the cattles were taken to village forest or to fallow lands for the purpose of grazing. After few hours of grazing, cattles were brought to Bathan – the resting place for cattle. The Bathan is situated outside the village basti, under the shed of some trees and has some tank, pool of water or hill stream close by. At mid day again the Ahir or charwa takes the cattle for grazing and returns home at sunset. Now -a- days in the tribal areas during the agriculture season cattles are grazed while during rest of the times they are free to graze in the forest or fields. The Ahir or charwa were given the “crop” as honorarium by each familyafter harvesting it. Bathan was very common in Oroan and Kharia Tribes.
Mono cropping pattern was used among tribals therefore the concept are still alived in some region during paddy season. Free cattle grazing is one of the reason farmers donot applies multi cropping. The farmer who grow “Rabi Crop” is himself responsible to save his field from free cattle grazing. This restrict farmers to grow second crops in their fields and is one of the main reason being poor in agricultural production.
