Traditional Technical Knowledge
Traditional Technical Knowledge
Traditional Technical Knowledge
With the spectacular achievement in the field of agricultural sciences, India has been able
to reach the stage of self-sufficiency in the agricultural production. But, in this change, we
overlooked and rejected sustainable natural farming systems and moved towards “exploitative”
agriculture with increased dependency on farm machinery and chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides,
etc.), which proved counter productive and resulted in depletion of soil and water resources,
and unprecedented fuel wood cries. Among many challenges in the coming years, the basic
issue will/be to find ways for sustainable development which are environmentally sound and
The best solution of this problem could be to blend the modern technology with the
traditional one. The integration of scientific and traditional knowledge would help, to develop
technologies, which are need-based, better problem-solving, locally available, easily acceptable,
There is a lot of indigenous agricultural know-how available with the farming communities
specially the tribals. These traditional farming systems are products of centuries of accumulated
experiences. Farmers all over the world have developed their own indigenous systems of
farming with local inputs. In India the traditional system of farming is being practiced since the
This traditional wisdom can disappear unless their understanding values are promoted.
Many of the practices, which were beneficial and were being used since generations have been
lost because of lack of appreciation. Therefore, there is a need to explore the indigenous
practices being used by the tribals and to get these scientifically validated for wider use by the
farming community.
Crop Protection
Traditional systems of crop protection, rooted in the simple practices that farmers have
learnt from their long association with the land, its flora and fauna, were based on ecofriendly
systems of suitable cultural practices, judicious rotation of crops, and knowledge of pests and
their life cycles. Some of the traditional methods of cultivation, which has direct bearing on pest
control, are:
1. Maize seeds are soaked in cow urine for 10-12 hours before sowing. According to
2. Rice seedlings raised from seed treated with extract of neem kernel are vigorous and
resistant to leafhopper.
water was observed in the study area against the control of paddy blast and bacterial
blight.
5. In case of insect holes made by shoot borer and bark eaters in mango tree, jaggery is
placed in the holes to attract other predators (ants), so that they will feed upon the
insects present in the hole. Similarly the practices of pouring kerosene in holes and
‘blocking holes with cow dung were also observed in the area.
6. For prevention of infestation of shoot borer in mango tree, common salt is mixed with
7. In case of ‘bunchy top’ disease in chilies dusting of ash; use of gugul (Commiphora
wightii) smoke; spray of sour butter milk; spray of liquid waste of tanned leather, and
aak (Calotropis spp.) are placed in chilli field in between rows. Similarly some farmers
placed fresh cow dung near the collar region of plant to prevent it from fungal diseases
9. In case of soil-borne diseases viz., root rot, collar rot, etc. and termites, the castor cake,
10. In case of sugarcane crop, use of common salt (100-125 kg/ha) during intercultural
operations was found to be common. According to farmers, the salt is effective against
termite problem.
11. During sprouting of sets in sugarcane crop, putting stems of aak (Calotropis spp.) in the
irrigation channels is effective against control of termites, white grub, and borers.
12. Use of kerosene was also common against control of termites in the field.
Weather Forecast
In recent times, there has been a growing demand for more accurate and reliable weather
forecasts. Modern scientific knowledge and modern methods of weather forecasting have
originated recently. But, ancient indigenous knowledge is unique to our culture. India had a
glorious scientific and technological tradition in the past. Our ancient astronomers and
astrologers made a scientific study of meteorology. Even today, it is common that village
astrologers (Pundits) are correct in surprisingly high percentage of their weather predictions.
Unfortunately, with the evident of so-called scientific technologies during the past one-century,
even if these are reductional and uni-dimensional in nature, the ancient knowledge, which is
holistic and multidimensional in nature, has been sidelined and totally neglected by today’s so-
however; if the eggs are laid at higher elevation then it is the indication of more rains. The local
people assume that eggs of rain bird are laid on such a height that in case of more or less rains,
the eggs will not be submerged in rainwater. Similarly, if the nanow ends of all the four eggs of
rain bird are downwards, then it is the indication of good rainfall through out the season.
2. When the adventitious roots of the banyan tree (Ficus bengalensis) start sprouting
(tillering), then the local people assume that the rains will appear within 2-4 days.
3. In castor (Ricinus spp.) and ber (Ziziphus nummularia) when the buds start sprouting,
4. The rains will appear after 10-15 days of flowering in babul tree (Acacia nilotica).
5. As soon as the neem kernels ripen and start falling, it is expected that there will be rains
6. Rain may come if damsel fly flies at ground surface, frogs make noise and ants move
The farmers were also forecasting rains by observing the direction of wind/clouds.
According to them Westerly winds/clouds meant good rainfall. Similarly Northwesterly clouds
Animal Management
Some of the indigenous practices used by the tribals in the area of animal management
are as under :
1. Castration in males is done by destroying the spermatic cord with a stone/hammer and
2. In case of respiratory distress, animals are branded with hot iron rod on the neck.
Bark of roheda tree (Tecomella undulata) ground and mixed with water.
Roots of date palm tree 200 g (ground) and mixed with water.
5-10 leaves of custard apple (ground) and black cumin (50 g) mixed with buttermilk.
4. In case of FMD (foot and mouth disease). a small fish wrapped with a piece of bread is
fed to the diseased animal till the animal is not completely cured.
Sesame leaves crushed, mixed with water. and strained, are drenched.
6. For control of external parasites. kerosene is applied on the body of animal with the help
of cotton gauze.
7. To facilitate normal pasturition, cows buffaloes are fed crushed wheat soaked in water and
mixed with jaggery and ghee oil for one month prior to calving.
Match stick (two match boxes) wrapped in a piece of bread is fed to animals.
Dry flowers of mahua tree (Madhuca indica) 250 g boiled in llitre are fed for 5 days.
250 g flowers of khakra (Butea monosperma) boiled in llitre of water are fed for 4-5
days.
9. In case of pneumonia, cactus (used for fencing) is burnt and the ash mixed with water is
10. In case of fractures, (a) leaves of khakra (Butea monosperma) are bandaged all over
the affected part and splints of bamboo are tied around it. (b) eggs of local poultry
breed given.
Feeding of boiled crushed maize 1/2 kg to a cow and I kg to a buffalo for about one
month.
Feeding leaves of sem (Dolichos purpureus) and chan ber (Ziziphus nummularia)
After calving, the milk left after sucking of calves is again fed to the cow/buffalo for 15-
20 days.
13. Disease Management : Dipping the foot of animal in its urine for the control of foot and
mouth disease; dipping the tail in hot water or by applying powdered camphor for
overcoming tail neurosis; feeding ground neem leaves for internal parasites; feeding
sprouted whole wheat for 10-15 days continuously for anoestrus, etc. The findings
portray that a lot of wisdom still exists in rural areas but there is uncertainty about
theirexpert validation.