Traditional ecological knowledge of farmers, Gujarat, India

Title : Traditional ecological knowledge of farmers, Gujarat, India

Abstract:

TEK (Traditional Ecological Knowledge) suggestions about the indigenous proficiency and mode of local farmers that have been coming to light through generations. TEK of Indian framers represents a rich archive that developed through ages due to confined interaction with native ecosystem. Sequestrated in cultural beliefs, community governance framework, TEK had enabled integral approach to manage natural reserves, retain sustainable agriculture and hypothesis resilience to environmental disturbances. Indian farmers traditionally assessed soil by texture & color, spread organic manure, sustained with cropping systems, together encouraged with various aspects such as crop selection, soil conservation, fertility management, bio-pest management & disease management and climate adaption. TEK based processes externalized fundamentals of closed-loop nutrient cycling and participatory stewardship collectively sustaining agroecosystem abundance and rural sustenance.

However, accelerated modernization, dependence of agrochemicals and disappearance of traditional practices pose significant pitfall to original knowledge. Nevertheless, by verifying, preserving and integrating TEK with recent agriculture methods, sustainable growth can be nurtured and food security for future generations can be sustain with availability of natural resources.

Biography:

Jagruti Y Rathod currently serves as an Assistant Professor at Navrachana University, Vadodara, Gujarat. An Ecologist and internationally recognized Certified Restoration Practitioner who careered her passion for conservation, management and restoration of the ecosystem. After completing a doctorate degree in Zoology. She is also the founder Indian company, NCR, Nature Conservancy & Restoration which works for conservation, management, and restoration and deals with organic farmers. She also works for an international organization, SER (Society Ecological Restoration) as a judging panel, goals and governing council, and moderator for webinars. She works on different projects like the conservation of the Houbara bustard, the avifaunal diversity of coastal areas of Gujarat, and also tries to restore the barren land of one of the villages of Vadodara district. She has more than 15 years of research experience in the diversity of different ecosystems (forest, wetland, desert, grassland, river). She conducts training, workshop, internship program for different stakeholders like students, business people, industrialists, scientists, and restoration practitioners.