The Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh is a semi-arid to hot sub-humid eco-region. The agriculture in Bundelkhand is mainly rainfed, diverse, complex and risky owing to increasing vulnerability to the frequent and unseasonal extreme weather conditions. Bundelkhand region has been enriched with great wisdom and knowledge of indigenous agriculture practices (IAPs) which have been followed by the farmers for a long. There are numerous ITKs that are being followed by the people of Bundelkhand for natural resource (soil, water and nutrients) management, crop protection, post-harvest management, environmental management and the techniques to predict-assess-mitigate climatic aberrations. However, the advent of modern agriculture practices has promoted the high use of chemical-based inputs and high-yielding varieties (HYVs), but it also has led to ignorance of indigenous wisdom of indigenous technical knowledges (ITKs) and more inclination towards high input-high output-based practices. Many examples of blending ITK and improved practices of Bundelkhand areas are briefed here. For example, crop residue and soil mulching reduce the cost of cultivation by Rs. 2500–3000/ha, water saving by 20% and yield enhancement by 20%. Enormous improvement in water storage and rejuvenation of dry wells was recorded with the watershed approach enhancing water availability for 3–4 months in summers, saving fertilisers by 25% with integrated nutrient management (INM) practices and promotion of agroforestry models for enhanced productivity by 120%. Hence, there is a need to explore the ways of integrating or blending such ITKs with modern agriculture technologies so that the combined effect of both technologies can be optimised and made sustainable.

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Blending Traditional Knowledge of Farmers in Agriculture with Modern Scientific Technologies in Bundelkhand Region of Uttar Pradesh

  • Sunil Kumar,
  • Gaurendra Gupta,
  • Inder Dev

摘要

The Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh is a semi-arid to hot sub-humid eco-region. The agriculture in Bundelkhand is mainly rainfed, diverse, complex and risky owing to increasing vulnerability to the frequent and unseasonal extreme weather conditions. Bundelkhand region has been enriched with great wisdom and knowledge of indigenous agriculture practices (IAPs) which have been followed by the farmers for a long. There are numerous ITKs that are being followed by the people of Bundelkhand for natural resource (soil, water and nutrients) management, crop protection, post-harvest management, environmental management and the techniques to predict-assess-mitigate climatic aberrations. However, the advent of modern agriculture practices has promoted the high use of chemical-based inputs and high-yielding varieties (HYVs), but it also has led to ignorance of indigenous wisdom of indigenous technical knowledges (ITKs) and more inclination towards high input-high output-based practices. Many examples of blending ITK and improved practices of Bundelkhand areas are briefed here. For example, crop residue and soil mulching reduce the cost of cultivation by Rs. 2500–3000/ha, water saving by 20% and yield enhancement by 20%. Enormous improvement in water storage and rejuvenation of dry wells was recorded with the watershed approach enhancing water availability for 3–4 months in summers, saving fertilisers by 25% with integrated nutrient management (INM) practices and promotion of agroforestry models for enhanced productivity by 120%. Hence, there is a need to explore the ways of integrating or blending such ITKs with modern agriculture technologies so that the combined effect of both technologies can be optimised and made sustainable.