Indian Journ al of Tradi ti onal Knowledge

Vol. 1(1), Jul y 2002, pp. 65-66

Indigenous farming knowledge - A case study in Assam

Keywords: Indigenous farming knowledge

The importance of plant nutrition and fu!. It is worth mentioning in this context
plant protection in respect of commercial that most of the indigenous technologies
crop production needs no emphasis and tri ed are found useful in almost all crops
use of chemical fertilizers as well as and so me of them if subjected to scien-
chemical pesticides are some of the tific refinement may even replace or sup-
means to exploit the maximum poss ible pl ement the modern methods .
yield. But thi s approach does not go In present communication an attempt
without any co mpromi se with human and has been made to identify some of the
animal health. Under these circumstances tradi tional methods of plant protection
manage ment of plant nutriti o n a nd plant and boosting up of soil fertility , with spe-
protection, through methods other th an c ia l refere nce to rice crop in Assam .
use of chemicals is gaining momentum
throughout the world. Since time imme- A few indigenous practices of plant
mo ri a l Indian farmers are following the protection in rice crop
concept of manag ing soi l and pl ant nutri- A type of c itrus fruit, locally known as
tion a long with pests and di seases through ' raba b tenga' [Citrus grandis (Linn .) Os-
local technologylindi geno us knowledge . beck syn. C. decumana Linn.] is made
But these are not fully documented and into pieces and applied in paddy fields
searched for further scienti fic improve- again st insect pests, viz. ste m bo rer, case
ment. worm , rice hi spa, etc. The solution re-
sultin g from contact of these fruits with
In Assam, the indigeno us farm meth-
water in the fields is physiologically
ods too have been practi sed generatio n
harmfu l to the pests.
after generation . Rice is a staple food of
Be fore transplanting of rice, both sides
Assam. Sporadic info rmati o n avai lab le in
of th e bunds are cleared with hoe and
respect of indi genous far m practices in
pasted w ith mud to check the inbreeding
general a nd rice in particular can be use-
of in sect pests.
When ri ce plants are infected by insect
*Correspondent author pes ts, viz. rice hi spa, case worm, stem
66 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VO L I, No. I, JULY 2002

borer, etc., farmers occasionally use the cattle dung, urine, dried leaves, household
branches of a highly pungent herb, locally waste, ash from cooking fires, etc.
known as 'baghdhoka', crush them and Green manure crop Dhaincha (Local
throw uniformly in fields when there is name-khori goch) is mainly grown as
water. fencing crop which serves as a soil addi-
Sprinkling of fresh cowdung solution tive.
in rice fields (particularly in nursery bed) In situ manuring of rice fields, such as
against yellowing is a common practice. the practice of allowing the animals to
Putting upper portion of bamboo, lo- graze directly on fields is very common.
cally known as 'jeng', in paddy fields is a Animals after grazing leave behind their
common practice to facilitate the migra- dun g and urine.
tory birds to stay on this support so that
In uplands (bari) there is a usual prac-
they can pick up insects and larva eating
tice of growing leguminous shrubs that
the growing plants.
pro vide high protein fodder for cattle.
At the time of first transplanting of
Lentil is quite often planted in association
rice, farmers usually put a banana sucker,
with grai n crops.
turmeric plant, and titaphul (Phlogacan-
thus thyrsiflorus Nees), a plant having Growing of different kinds of crops on
flower with bitter taste, as trap crops. the same land in the same year or in dif-
In the Sancranti Day of the month of ferent years is also common. This indige-
Ashina (last day of month Ashina) fire nous crop rotating system is one of the
bunches, locally known as 'Jor', are most important crop management prac-
placed in paddy fields sporadically so that tices to maintain soil fertility.
insect pests are attracted by the light of Fallowing is not a common practice.
the fire and get killed. This practice is However, many farmers keep fallow a
also followed on the Diwali Day (during portion of their upland fields.
October-November). It is, therefore, necessary to make
chemical analysis of the materials used to
Soil fertility management: A few know the components of the same. Then
indigenous practices in Assam only it can be ascertained whether such
CompostIFYM is the most important materials can be used for specific
soil organic manure applied by almost all purposes. Hence, the scope of further
the farmers of Assam. This 'compost scientific study remains open to arrive at
mix' as it may be called, is a mixture of a final conclusion.