From Sivasish Thakur
ITANAGAR, March 9 – The unique integrated agricultural system of the Apatani
tribe of Arunachal Pradesh is a testimony to the fact that traditional agro
practices and knowledge of the farming communities can be instrumental in
maintaining sustainable production in a specific agro-ecosystem. Arunachal has
great ethno-cultural diversity with 26 major and 110 sub-tribes, which explains
the wealth of traditional ecological knowledge among farmers, especially
relating to agro practices.
“The traditional farmers’ groups of the Apatanis in the Apatani Valley in
central-western Arunachal Himalayas have successfully been managing their
natural resources since ages. Their traditional agro-ecosystems are intrically
linked with nature, and are well-suited to local environmental conditions and
cultural needs,” Mihin Dollo, a scientist with the GB Pant Institute of
Himalayan Environment and Development, Itanagar, says.
Over the centuries the Apatanis have evolved a indigenous farming system with a
very high degree of energy and economic efficiency, partly due to effective
recycling of organic wastes and crop residues, Dollo says.
The integration of irrigation, animal husbandry and fishery with agriculture
adds more novelty to the Apatanis’ farming practices. The Apatani system of
irrigation is over a century old, which has been worked on and perfected
through community involvement and equitable sharing of water resources.
“The water is tapped near the forests on the foothills of the valley, and is
channelled through to main canals on either side of the valley to supply to the
agricultural land. Then the water is distributed through numerous small canals
in a manner that every plot of land gets sufficient water for rice and fish
culture,” Dollo says, adding that the surplus water is drained back to the main
canal without outflow of any organic matter or soil loss.
The Apatanis practise high crop diversity, which helps effective utilisation of
different soil types. The highly-developed cropping system enables them to grow
Emo paddy even on low fertile land and Mipya on high fertile land. “There are
18 rice varities with Emo and Mipya, all of which are grown as per soil
requirement which ensures sustainability,” Dollo says.
As part of a wider research into the little-studied but fascinating facets of
tribal practices, the GB Pant Institute had carried out a drive to document,
validate and revitalise traditional knowledge in relation to sustainable
agriculture across the Arunachal Himalayas.
“The main objectives of the study were to examine the different farmers’ groups
in three villages in the Apatani Valley, their nature of association, their
role in agro-ecosystem management and the changes they are facing,” Dollo says.
According to Dollo, the traditional farmers’ groups are now passing through a
transitional phase, mainly due to outside influences. “A conservative
community, the Apatanis are on the verge of parting with some of the
traditional agro-ecosystem management practices due to integration of hired
labour forces from outside. For example, barbed wire fencing has been used
recently whereas the traditional bio-fencing is more eco-friendly and
efficient,” he says.
Experts believe that the traditional agricultural systems may benefit from the
use of newer, appropriate technologies based on farmers’ agro-ecological
knowledge, but it is important to document and revitalise this knowledge, which
is quickly disappearing as farmers’ groups change, and there is more
intervention in indigenous communities.
Muktikam Phukan
Deputy Director (NR)
Petroleum Conservation Research Association
Sanrakshan Bhawan,10, Bhikaiji Cama Place,New Delhi 110066
Ph: +91 11 26198856 Ext 385, Mob: +91 9818598565
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] , [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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