Documentation and Application of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) for Sustainable Agricultural Development
Vinita Pandey *
Department of Extension Education and Communication Management, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, Punjab, India.
Ritu Mittal
Department of Extension Education and Communication Management, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, Punjab, India.
Preeti Sharma
Department of Extension Education and Communication Management, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, Punjab, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This paper focuses on application and documentation of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) which is a local knowledge that is unique to a given culture or society. It is a key element of the social capital of the poor and constitutes their asset in their efforts to gain control of their own lives. The flow of indigenous knowledge communication is necessary for preservation, development and sustainability of local wisdom. The study is based purely on secondary sources. Indigenous traditional knowledge system consists of an integrated body of knowledge system which tends to focus on different aspects of agricultural sciences i.e. agriculture, home science, animal care & soil and water conservation. It can be concluded that traditional knowledge is vital for the well-being and for sustainable development as it has evolved after thousands of years of observation and experience. By linking the indigenous knowledge systems of the people with farmer, research and extension, the output of researches can be made more fertile and usable. The participatorytechnologies that are developed through ITK integration will provide diversified technological options. Being low in cost, it will also benefit national economy besides sustainable agricultural development.
Keywords: Indigenous traditional knowledge, documentation and validation, agricultural extension.