What is traditional ecological knowledge?
The agricultural practices of indigenous people perfected over a period of time is termed as traditional ecological knowledge. Most of the farmers have been using this knowledge for making their agricultural production more yielding. Are the instances where such knowledge has not been validated? The list is endless and many plants have disappeared without being validated. We are realising their importance and gradually documenting them. A good example in this regard is the alder (Alnus nepalensis), which has been cultivated in the jhum (shifting cultivation) fields by the Khonoma farmers in Nagaland for centuries. It is of multiple use to the farmers as it is a notrogen-fixing tree and helps to retain the soil fertility. Its leaves are used as fodder and fertiliser, and, at the same time, it is also utilised as timber. Has the government given due importance to this knowledge? There are a few cases where the government has ignored traditional knowledge. In the Kumaon and Garhwal region
Related Questions
- How long will funding apply for projects which are targeting the use of traditional ecological knowledge to increase Indigenous best management practice?
- What is traditional ecological knowledge and how does it fit into the Caring for our Country business plan?
- What is Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)?
