A report of the International Council for Science (ICSU) Study Group on Science and Traditional Knowledge characterises traditional knowledge as:
"a cumulative body of knowledge, know-how, practices and representations maintained and developed by peoples with extended histories of interaction with the natural environment. These sophisticated sets of understandings, interpretations and meanings are part and parcel of a cultural complex that encompasses language, naming and classification systems, resource use practices, ritual, spirituality and worldview."
This is the most accepted soil conservation
structure in the country. It is practiced at
large scale all over India. Earthen field
bunds are constructed on agricultural land
with the aim of arresting soil erosion and
improving the soil moisture profile.
In such type of terraces bunds are formed
gradually by allowing erosion on the upper
parts of sloping fields and arresting the soil
by creating vegetative/ stone barrier on field
boundary. By adopting this practice, land
with limited depth of soil can safely be put
under cultivation without further
degradation in sloping areas.
In some of the highly sloping areas where
soil depth is a limiting factor, stone wall
terraces are very common particularly in
those areas where stones are readily
available in the area. Like stone bunds the
stone wall barriers are also put across the
slope for developing terraces on downhill
slopes.
It is found to be very effective, adoptable,
Low cost indigenous technology in
moderately sloping (0-5%) arable lands
where the small stone slabs are easily
available at or near the site. In this system
30-45 cm high bunds of rough stone slabs
(5-10 cm) thick and 45-60 cm long are put
across the slope, uniformly all along the
boundaries. Stone slabs are thoroughly
embedded in soil one after the other in dug
out furrows of 15-30 cm depth.
In the absence of the slabs simple stone pieces of 10-20 cm thick, 45-60 cm long and
of varying widths are also used. In due
course of time the small gaps in between
two slabs/ stones are being covered by
naturally occurring grasses; also acting as filter strip. Some of the farmers prefer to
have such bunds against smaller cross sectional earthen bunds because in this
system only a narrow strip of land goes of
cultivation and maintenance is almost nil.
This is a commonly used indigenous
conservation practice in semi-arid regions.
Established bunds are found to be very
effective. Barriers of lantana, Jatropha, and
other small height plants are also very
commonly used technique in many of the
areas. Stabilize the periphery of fields
situated on the banks of big nalla or rivers.
In hilly areas of Malwa region to
concentrate eroded soil at appropriate
location is the construction of temporary
sediment detention dams. In such areas most
of the badly eroded lands are found in deep
and narrow valleys, where due to high
concentration of runoff the rate of soil
erosion is very high. Under these situations
construction of Temporary Sediment
Detention Dams (TSDD) is adopted by the
farmers. Suitable locations are those where
the possibilities of sediment trapping is
more.
This practice is adopted in those conditions
where bank erosion is a problem particularly
in arable lands. This technique is primarily
used only in those areas where stones are
available at sites or very near to sites
suitable cross sectional wall of loose stone is
constructed all along the bank or only at
vulnerable sites. Erection of such protection
wall is done starting from the bed of nallah
keeping appropriate foundation.
It is easy to construct. Sand bag structures
are constructed during peak flow across the
drainage line of field with cement bags filled
with soil/sand to check the flow of water.
The runoff water is stored or checks without
much seepage loss and stored water is
utilized for growing of crops. This is
practiced on individual basis. It was evolved
from the creativity and experience of the
farmers of the village.
This is Common rural rainwater harvesting
technology. Pond is constructed at suitable
sites mainly for domestic use and also for
recharge of groundwater. Suitable site for an
economic viewpoint is selected by the
villagers where the largest storage volume is
obtained with the least amount of earth fill.
Surface runoff is the major source of feeding
the ponds/ talabs.
Talai is an indigenous water harvesting
technique Creating water point for cattle. In
this system an earthen embankment of very
low height may be of 1-2 m is made at
suitable location in a nallah/ natural drainage
line, where natural depression exists. The
earth required in making embankment is
also taken out from the existing depression
for increasing storage capacity.
These farm ponds are generally constructed
by a farmers, whose land remain temporarily
submerged and after monsoon. In rabi
season crops are sown as tank bed
cultivation, when the water has evaporated
or percolated. Stored water is sometimes
drained through some indigenously
developed surplussing arrangements for
sowing of Rabi crops.
This is practiced by all categories of farmers
on individual basis. It is an age-old practice.
In this system 2 - 5 m diameter well is dug
manually. The depth of the well varies from
5 - 12 m depending on the availability of
groundwater in the superficial aquifer. The
adoptability is very good and the users take
water from the wells for domestic use and
irrigation.
This is most suitable soil and water
conservation techniques. In hilly areas
moderately sloping land nali of about 30-
45 cm depth are constructed across the slope
almost on contours for enhancing in-situ
moisture conservation and also for
checking soil erosion from arable lands. As
per the requirements of the area, a provision
for safe disposal of excess runoff is also
kept. In some of the areas these nali like
structure are also established for
controlling/ stabilizing drain.
In this type of structure the upstream and
downstream walls are constructed 3-4 m
apart by dry stone masonry after excavating
a foundation of appropriate depth. The space
in between these two walls is filled with
locally available murrum or soil with proper
compaction. The earth fill is kept 10-20 cm
above the top of the wall to provide an extra
provision for natural settling over a period
of time.
Developmental activities that tend to ignore
local technologies; local knowledge
systems, and those which fail to formulate policies without a concern for local
environment generally fail to achieve the
desired outcomes. Today, many indigenous
knowledge systems are at risk of becoming
extinct because of rapidly changing natural
environments and fast pacing economic,
political, and cultural changes on a global
scale. Practices vanish, as they become
inappropriate for new challenges or because
they adapt too slowly.
All these practices are based on indigenous
knowledge.
Conclusion
The finding of this study justify That farmers devise alternative technologies for increasing land productivity, as they are exposed to the risk of food scarcity due to shrinking per capita land holdings. The significance findings of the study have important policy implications for sustainable land management in the area. Any future land management initiative should aim at enabling watershed settlers to adopt practices conducive to increase income as well as to enhance land conservation.