Food Security Through Indigenous Agricultural Practices – a Case Study of Birbhum District, West Bengal, India

Traditional farm practices enhance climate resilience, conserve indigenous species, enhance soil fertility, manage crop failure, harness local resources, minimize carbon footprint, conserve balanced ecosystems, and develop resilient farm infrastructure. They minimize environmental degradation, conserve indigenous species, and employ organic methods to enhance productivity. They also contribute to the conservation of genetic diversity and have a low carbon footprint. In poor countries and rural areas, 795 million individuals, or one out of every nine individuals, are hungry; however, technological advances like genetic modification, enhanced soil productivity, and irrigation are capable of boosting food production. Indigenous women and food sovereignty play a key role in combating world food poverty, climate change, and to assist poor farmers to combat world food poverty and climate change. Birbhum, the most northern district of the Burdwan division, is a region of 4545 km2 the district consists of a fractured plateau of hard, impermeable Archean crystalline rocks overlain by laterite and alluvium Gondwana deposits. The district is famous for its diversified landscape and tropical climatic conditions, with agriculture as a large industry, albeit in adversity, through traditional methods like mixed cropping and organic manures. The research will define indigenous knowledge strategies, measure sustainability in terms of agriculture, determine strengths and weaknesses, evaluate opportunities and threats, and determine diversification of crops in Birbhum district. This research employs a literature review, field survey, interview, group discussion, priority calculation, AHP, SWOC analysis, data analysis, suggestions, recommendations, and opportunities Indigenious knowledge and sustainable agricultural practices such as Birbhum district traditional land management ensure food security and sustainability. Food security is a global goal on the basis of availability, utilization, and access but still persists in high-income nations, which leads to undernourishment and obesity. The sustainable agriculture practices involving maximum utilization of land, risk minimization, and enhancement of biodiversity are intercropping, crop rotation, agroforestry, organic manure, mulching, jhum cultivation, intercropping, vermicomposting, bee farming, biodynamic farming, conventional pest management, and water harvesting methods.