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INDIGENOUS TECHNOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE (ITK) OF MANDI DISTRICT ITK ON AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES 1. Use of Chuna (Lime) and wood ash for controlling of grain insect pest The farmers of Rewalsar Block of Mandi district are using chuna (lime) along with wood ash in their grain storage. in the month of May-June wheat grains are dried in sun and then lime @ 2kg and wood ash @ 10 kg per quintal is rubbed by 2-3 persons for about one hrs. By using this practice the grain can be store for two to three years without any spoilage by the store grain insect pests. 2. Top dressing of FYM in late sown wheat In rainfed areas some time wheat sowing is delayed up to end of December or beginning of January. The farmers of Karsog development block are spreading well rotten FYM at the upper layer of soil after sowing the wheat. Due to black colour of FYM temperature of the soil rises which enhance the germination and later on tillering and thus the yield of crop. 3. Sowing of Banana along with Mango The practice of planting of banana alongwith mango plantation is common in Jarol area of Sunder Nagar development block. In this area mango cultivation is coming up. At the time of mango plantation, farmers of this area are planting banana in the prepared basin adjoining to the mango plant. Planted bananas reduce the wilting of the newly planted mangoes in the orchard, and thus survival of the mango plantation increases. 4. Use of Eucalyptus and walnut leaves in grain storages The leaves of eucalyptus and walnut are used for grain storing. While filling up the locally prepared bamboo bins with grains 2cm thick layer of leaves at an interval of 30cm is made and then these bins are covered with lid of bamboo. These leaves give pungent smell, which do not allow the attack of store grain insect pests 5. Control of wild rice by growing purple rice In paddy field wild rice locally called “ Nirsan” is major problem in rice growing areas. Being identical to rice plants in foliage it is not possible to distinguish before the earring of rice. The wild rice mature much earlier then the cultivated rice and shatter their grains in the fields. Due to this it becomes practical impossible to eradicate this weed from the rice field. Since this weed is of same species as that of cultivated rice, no herbicide can be used for controlling this weed. Farmers of the Mandi district has adopted a practice of growing purple colour rice variety (R-575) in the infested fields. This variety of rice has purple coloured foliage, which is distinctly different from wild rice. During hoeing and weeding operation, farmers remove green coloured wild rice from their fields and thus eradicating this weed from the field. 6. Use of Basuti (Adhatoda vasica) for ripening of banana fruit Farmers of Mandi district use twigs of Basuti (Adhatoda vasica) for ripening of banana fruits in pile. The bananas are kept rapped with basuti foliage either in bamboo basket or in khatri (pit dugout underground) dry place. The reason for rapping with basuti is that it generates heat due to which banana got ripened. 7. Use of cattle urine for controlling disease Cow urine is stored in copper utensil for 24 hours and then mixed with water in ratio of 1:1 and sprayed on the crop for controlling common diseases. The scientific reason for using this practice may be suppressing the growth of fungi which is responsible for the diseases. 8. Use of garlic in storing pulses The practice of putting dried garlic rhizomes in the storage bins of pulses is common in the villages of Mandi district in order to avoid the attack of pulse beetle particularly gram Dhora. By adopting this practice the farmers are storing pulses for two year without any attack by the insect. Generally 100 gm. Garlic is used for storing 5kg pulses 9. Polishing of pulses with mustard oil The farmers in village are polishing their pulses like urd, mung, gram etc. with mustard oil about 5ml per kg pulse in the month of May-June before storing them the bins. By doing that the pulses are stored for one year without any spoilage. 10. Wild mint for grain storage Leaves of wild mint (Menth sp.) are dried and crushed into powder and mixed with grains in the ratio of 1:100. With this practice the grain are stored for two years without any damage. 11. Cultivation of maize along with paddy In upland areas rice is generally sown in the month of May. Farmers of Balh valley are sowing maize with rice. Seed of maize and paddy are mixed in the ratio of 1:16 and broadcasted together. The farmers are of the opinion that a yield obtained per unit area is more as compared to pure crop. 12. Scrapping of bund wall In higher reaches of Mandi district farmers scrap the bund wall to remove the grasses with the help of spade as slice in order to keep field clean to get more crop yield. The reason behind this might be that it increases the soil fertility as high population of VAM fungi is harvested there. More over there also seems less damage due to rat.
ITK ON ANIMAL TREATMENT 1. Use of Haldi(turmeric) and mustard oil for curing animal wounds A paste is made by mixing Haldi powder and mustard oil in the ratio of 5:1and applied on the wounds of animals for preventing infection 2. Urine for controlling infection Pure urine of cow is used for curing animal wound infection. Farmers are of the opinion that this helps in the healing of wounds. 3. Use of terpine oil for controlling anorexia/ indigestion Whenever animals in villages are suffered from anorexia/indigestion, farmers use terpine oil @100ml for adults and 50ml for young animals. 4. Hing(Asafoetida) for curing anorexia/indigestion For curing anorexia/indigestion in animals, farmers are using Hing. A piece of Hing is first heated and then fed @ 3g per animal 5. Use of Eshav Ghol for curing hookworms Hookworm infection is a major problem in young animals. For curing this, farmers are orally feeding Eshav Ghol @ 5g per young one. 6. Feeding of Giloy (Tinospora cordifoila) to milch animals The buffalo keepers of valley and mid hill area of Mandi district feed Giloy (Tinospora cordifoila) to buffaloes in order to keep them healthy and more productive. Since Giloy improve the immunity and keep the animal free from many diseases.
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