This document discusses indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) used by farmers. It defines ITK and provides examples of medicinal and agricultural ITK. The importance of ITK is that it provides problem-solving strategies for local communities, especially the poor. Documenting and screening ITK is important before valuable information is lost. ITK may have scientific basis and technologies that could help other communities. The document then identifies and documents various examples of ITK related to agriculture, horticulture, sericulture, plant protection, and animal health. Not all ITK is beneficial, so practices need scrutiny before wide adoption.

1. WEL COME

2. Importance and Relevance of
Indigenous Knowledge system
Identification and Documentation of
ITK
GOPALA Y.M
PAL 1028
I Ph.D. Scholar

3. INTRODUCTION
 Why don’t farmers follow the advice we give?
1. Non Suitability of advice
2. Non Relevant advice
3. Ignorance by farmers
 As a result emphasis was given to participatory approach.
 This lead the scientific world to concentrate on the ITK

4. Definition
Warren (1991)
Indigenous knowledge (IK) is the local knowledge –
knowledge that is unique to a given culture or society. It is the
basis for local-level decision making in agriculture, health care,
food preparation, education, natural-resource management, and a
host of other activities in rural communities.

5. Flavier et al.(1995)
 Indigenous Knowledge is the information base for a
society, which facilitates communication and decision-
making. Indigenous information systems are dynamic, and
are continually influenced by internal creativity and
experimentation as well as by contact with external
systems.

6. Examples of ITK
 Medicinal properties of the neem tree (Azadirachta
indica)
 Traditional pastoralists as guardians of biological
diversity.

7. Importance of Indigenous Knowledge
 It provides the basis for problem-solving strategies for local
communities, especially the poor.
 It represents an important component of global knowledge on
development issues.
 IK is an underutilized resource in the development process.
 Understanding IK can increase responsiveness to clients.

8. Conti…,
 Adapting international practices to the local setting can help
improve the impact and sustainability of development
assistance.
 Sharing IK within and across communities can enhance cross-
cultural understanding and promote the cultural dimension of
development
 The basic component of any country’s knowledge system is its
indigenous knowledge. It encompasses the skills, experiences
and insights of people, applied to maintain or improve their
livelihood

9. Importance of Indigenous Knowledge
for the Poor
 It is an important part of the lives of the poor
 It is a integral part of the local ecosystem
 It is a key element of the “social capital” of the poor;
 Shape local visions and perceptions of environment and society

10. Need of study and appreciation of ITK
 ITK may have scientific basis and its technologies could be
transferred to other similar farming situations;
 documentation and screening of ITK is necessary before
the valuable information is lost for ever;
 ITK may be an alternative, a substitute or a complement to
modern technology;
 ITK may generate ideas for future research
 It is often easier to secure adoption of ITK than modern
technology.

11. Special Features of Indigenous Knowledge
 Local
 Tacit
 Transmitted orally
 Experiential rather than theoretical knowledge
 Learned through repetition
 Constantly changing

12. Indigenous knowledge levels for the
development process
 Local community in which the bearers of such knowledge live
and produce.
 Development agents need to recognize it, value it and
appreciate it in their interaction with the local communities.
 Lastly, indigenous knowledge forms part of the global
knowledge. Indigenous knowledge can be preserved,
transferred, or adopted and adapted elsewhere

13. Indigenous knowledge is of particular
relevance for the following sectors and
strategies:
 Agriculture
o Animal husbandry and ethnic veterinary medicine
o Use and management of natural resources
o Primary health care (PHC), preventive medicine and
psychosocial care
o Saving and lending
o Community development
o Poverty alleviation

14. Identification and documentation of ITK
I. Agricultural Production
Soil Management
Description of ITK Farmers’ Logic Probable Scientific
Explanation
Burning sugarcane Easy disposal Ensures sanitation and has
trash in the field of trash soil sterilization and priming
effect
Coconuts garden are Improves nut Tank silt/red earth improves
applied with 6 to 8 size and yield soil properties and supply
tones of tank silt/red nutrients
earth per ha.
Crop Management
Sunflower seed soaked Better Acts as a growth retardant
in sour butter milk germination
before sowing

15. II. Horticultural Production
Description of ITK Farmers’ Logic Probable Scientific
Explanation
The cut ends of plant Better sprouting Reduces desiccation and acts
cuttings are pasted & rooting as growth promoter
with cowdung ball
Application of 200 ml Improves aroma Ensures availability of
butter milk to curry enzymes, vitamins and
leaf plant every week micro-nutrients

16. III. Seri cultural Production
Description of ITK Farmers’ Logic Probable Scientific
Explanation
Exposing chandrikas Hastens spinning Warm temperature
to morning sunlight activity of worms increases spinning activity
& dries urine of worms and dries urine
Removal of bottom Eliminates Prevents soil borne infection
leaves upto 8 inches soil/dust/yellow and avoids feeding of over
above ground before and over matures matured leaves
chopping leaves

17. IV. Plant Protection
Description of ITK Farmers’ Logic Probable Scientific
Explanation
Spraying cowdung Cost effective Cowdung is a known
slurry to sapota and control for disinfectant
mango plants sooty mould
Spraying jaggery Controls pod Ants and other insects
solution (0.4%) to borer attracted by jaggery destroy
redgram pod borer eggs

18. V. Post Harvest Technologies
Description of ITK Farmers’ Logic Probable Scientific Explanation
Neem leaves are put in Controls storage Neem leaves affect hatching
pulse bags for storage insect repellent storage pests eggs
Bunching local small Enhance self-life Hanging prevents rodent
onion and hanging to damage & the higher
the roof temperature & air circulation
near the roof has a curing
effect
Mixing wood ash for Controls storage The fine powder of ash acts as
storing pulses pests a physical barrier & also blocks
respiration system in storage
pests

19. VI. Animal Health
Description of ITK Farmers’ Logic Probable Scientific Explanation
100g of fresh papaya Cost effective Acts as a helminter
seeds are crushed & deworming
administered in 1 liter of medicine
water to claves
Administering a handful Stops Restores electrolyte imbalance
of salt in 4 liter of water diarrhea
or a handful of salt
mixed in cattle feed
Application of cashew Fast healing Acts as antiseptic, natural
shell oil/fresh cowdung of wounds disinfectant and softens the
to cattle wounds wound site

20. Conclusion
Not all indigenous practices are beneficial to the
sustainable development of a local community; and not all IK
can provide the right solution for a given problem. Therefore,
before adopting IK, integrating it into development programs,
or even disseminating it, practices need to be scrutinized for
their appropriateness.