The state of Goa falls under the agroecological region of the Western Ghats, characterized by a hot humid to per humid climate, with red and lateritic soils, as well as alluvium-derived soils. The state is also home to part of one of the eight “biodiversity hotspots” of the world, and it is rich in agrobiodiversity. At the same time, the region has a wealth of traditional agricultural knowledge to keep harmony within the agroecosystem with a focus on conserving natural and genetic resources. Kulagar, a traditional farming system found in hill slope terraces of Goa, is distinguished by the cultivation of a variety of crops in the interspaces of areca nut and coconut plantations. Showcasing the rich agrobiodiversity and the traditional knowledge of the Kulagar farming and the Goan farming through agroecotourism has opened up avenues for agricultural development in the state, where tourism is one of the important economic activities. In the state of Goa, a blending of indigenous traditional knowledge with modern science technologies has been successfully attempted for sustainable agricultural development. Using waste coconut husk as a mulching material in coconut basins in high rainfall areas of the west coast region reduced the irrigation requirement by 35–40%. The development of a methodology for lining traditional ponds with silpaulin sheets reduced water losses by up to 60% and increased coconut yield by 149% and farmers’ income by 184%. Diversification of monocropped lands with a crop-livestock-based integrated farming system increased productivity and income, while reducing the cost of inputs. This approach doubled the farmer’s income and improved soil health, besides reducing environmental pollution. The use of Goa Bio 1, a salt-tolerant PGPR bioformulation increased productivity under salt-affected coastal soils, resulting in grain yield by 17.6% and net income by 20.7%. Using locally prepared food baits to manage insect pests and avoid yield losses in cucurbitaceous vegetables reduced the insecticide load by 90% and increased the yield by 12–15%. The traditional knowledge developed by the farmers over the period has been blended with the modern approaches to develop crop varieties, integrated farming systems, soil and water conservation measures, and nutrient management practices to improve crop productivity and income, besides conserving biodiversity.

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Blending Traditional Knowledge of Farmers in Agriculture with Modern Scientific Technologies in Goa: The West Coast Region of India

  • Parveen Kumar,
  • Gopal Ramdas Mahajan,
  • V. Paramesha,
  • Sujeet Desai,
  • R. Maruthadurai,
  • A. R. Uthappa,
  • Shripad Bhat

摘要

The state of Goa falls under the agroecological region of the Western Ghats, characterized by a hot humid to per humid climate, with red and lateritic soils, as well as alluvium-derived soils. The state is also home to part of one of the eight “biodiversity hotspots” of the world, and it is rich in agrobiodiversity. At the same time, the region has a wealth of traditional agricultural knowledge to keep harmony within the agroecosystem with a focus on conserving natural and genetic resources. Kulagar, a traditional farming system found in hill slope terraces of Goa, is distinguished by the cultivation of a variety of crops in the interspaces of areca nut and coconut plantations. Showcasing the rich agrobiodiversity and the traditional knowledge of the Kulagar farming and the Goan farming through agroecotourism has opened up avenues for agricultural development in the state, where tourism is one of the important economic activities. In the state of Goa, a blending of indigenous traditional knowledge with modern science technologies has been successfully attempted for sustainable agricultural development. Using waste coconut husk as a mulching material in coconut basins in high rainfall areas of the west coast region reduced the irrigation requirement by 35–40%. The development of a methodology for lining traditional ponds with silpaulin sheets reduced water losses by up to 60% and increased coconut yield by 149% and farmers’ income by 184%. Diversification of monocropped lands with a crop-livestock-based integrated farming system increased productivity and income, while reducing the cost of inputs. This approach doubled the farmer’s income and improved soil health, besides reducing environmental pollution. The use of Goa Bio 1, a salt-tolerant PGPR bioformulation increased productivity under salt-affected coastal soils, resulting in grain yield by 17.6% and net income by 20.7%. Using locally prepared food baits to manage insect pests and avoid yield losses in cucurbitaceous vegetables reduced the insecticide load by 90% and increased the yield by 12–15%. The traditional knowledge developed by the farmers over the period has been blended with the modern approaches to develop crop varieties, integrated farming systems, soil and water conservation measures, and nutrient management practices to improve crop productivity and income, besides conserving biodiversity.