TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, INNOVATION SYSTEMS AND DEMOCRACY FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: A CASE STUDY ON ADI TRIBES OF EASTERN HIMALAYAS OF NORTH-EAST INDIA

Saravanan Raj (1)

1 College of Post Graduate Studies

Global attention on natural resources management and environmental protection issues are getting an utmost priority during last few years. Worldwide scientists, policy makers, environmentalists and opinion leaders are trying to address the issues in all the possible ways. However, ever increasing population and demand for the increased food production depletes the natural resources at faster rate. Further, modernisation and urbanisation process leads to adverse environmental problems. In contrast to the present global scenario, in remote corners of the few countries, aboriginal communities are silently conserve the natural resources and maintain the biodiversity and achieving sustainable agriculture by their traditional ecological knowledge, collective decision making process and local democratic institutions. In this context, this article deals with Adi tribal community of Siang valley in Eastern Himalayas of North-East India. Case study draws clear inference on tribal communities' traditional knowledge, innovations and their democracy in regulating sustainable agriculture, natural resources management and biodiversity conservation. Tribal farmers cropping systems are based on rich indigenous ecological knowledge gained over the generations. The field preparation, choosing of crop varieties and season of sowing, intercultural operations, organic soil nutrient management, soil and water conservation techniques, ecological pest and diseases control measures, harvest and storage methods showcase their rich traditional knowledge on sustainable agriculture and natural resources management techniques. This case study very specifically lays emphasis on Adi tribe's traditional ecological cultivation and management techniques on major cultivated crops such as; rice and maize, citrus group of fruits, pine apple, etc. Crucial decision on farming, water management and fallow period are regulated by strong democratic system called “Kebang”, Adi tribe's traditional village council. The Adi tribes mixed crop orchards and traditional homestead agro-forestry demonstrates well developed indigenous systems and emphasises productivity and sustainability. Further, it demonstrates optimum utilisation of available land and other natural resources. A multitude of crops presenting a multi-tier canopy configuration makes balanced utilisation of environmental resources. Apart from traditional ecological knowledge and local democratic institutions, people's belief, taboos and customs facilitates the sustainable farming and protects the environment. Further, continuing traditional food habits of Adi tribe necessities conservation of large number of wild vegetables. This article also addresses the emerging conflicts in the Adi tribal community due to government policy, developmental departments' intervention, modernisation, changing attitude of younger generation, electronic mass media influence and high input unsustainable advanced farm technologies. Even with emerging conflicts, during this fast changing globalisation and commercialisation era, farmers of Adi tribe celebrate sustainable agriculture as their way of life

Mots clés: Knowledge; innovation; democracy; conservation; agriculture

Domaines: Agriculture, économie et politique

Saravanan Raj. TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, INNOVATION SYSTEMS AND DEMOCRACY FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: A CASE STUDY ON ADI TRIBES OF EASTERN HIMALAYAS OF NORTH-EAST INDIA. ISDA 2010, Jun 2010, Montpellier, France. 10 p. ⟨hal-00523309⟩