Tribe Kota is one of the six indigenous communities in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu boasting a culture, crafts, and sustainable practices of its own. The iron sickle is one of the implements used by them for agriculture, small though it may be, yet it is the most important tool they have to use in their daily farming and vegetation management. The ancestral tool is made of iron and consists of a semi-circular blade set on a wooden handle with a pointed tip and sharp edge perfect for cutting grass, harvesting crops and trimming shrubs. The blade is mounted with a ferrule on a specially carved wooden handle at the junction, to establish a strong and durable connection between the blade and the handle. The sharpness offers precision and speed in a cutting motion which the tribe relies on in tough hilly terrains.
The Kota craftsmen are skilled ironworkers and woodworkers-a trait that traditionally exists among them. Tools are often made with local materials. The sickle is compact and comfortable to hold, especially useful for all those narrow and uneven plots found in the Nilgiris. Such iron sickles testify to the traditional knowledge and handicraft skills of the Kota community while symbolizing their sustainable agriculture. Protection and use of such indigenous tools affirm the necessity of ecological wisdom and cultural heritage in modern agricultural practices.