Koraput is the Southernmost District of Odisha, between 17º 50" and 20º 3" North latitude and 81º 27" and 84º 1" East longitude, with a geographical area of 8,379 sq km. It forms part of the Eastern Ghats with an altitude of 1,500 to 2,900 feet above mean sea level. As per the 2001 census, the District's population is 1,180,637; most of the population belongs to backward, out of which 50% belongs to scheduled tribes (ST) and 15% to scheduled castes (SC). The main tribes present in the area are Paraja, Kandha, Gadaba, Bhumia etc.. The major livelihoods include shifting cultivation (podu),  Non-timer Forest Produce (NTFP) collection, and the major horticulture crops are Cashew, Jackfruit, Mango, and agricultural produce like Paddy, Millets, pulses, and oilseeds of the tribal farmers, with 77% of farmers as small and marginal farmers. The District's rural livelihood depends mainly on agriculture, forests, and forest lands. 69% of the families own 31% of the land, which means that the majority are small and marginal farmers with an average land holding of less than 1ha per family.