Indian Journal of Extension Education

The indigenous knowledge is the knowledge that people have gained through inheritance from their ancestors and it represents people's creativity innovations and skills. Indigenous knowledge is part of the life of the rural people. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in traditional practice in the developing world. The study of indigenous knowledge may help to identify ideas which have considerable scope for commercial exploitation after value addition and to understand concepts and practices depicting the elements of sustainability to integrate with the modern information system for efficient resource management. Keeping in view the present study was conducted to know the extent of awareness and adoption of ITKs followed in animal husbandry in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. The present study revealed that 54 per cent of the livestock owners were aware of the use of ingredients like unripe banana, bark of Pojo and Jamun to control diarrhea with 48 per cent adoption. In case of fever 48 per cent were aware of the use of mixture of roots of Palati, Ajwain, Black pepper mixed with salt and sugar with 44 per cent adoption. 64 per cent were aware of the use of paste of Harjora plant to treat fracture with 60 per cent adoption. 54 per cent were aware of the use of leaves of Kadam and bark of Mango in constipation with 48 per cent adoption. In case of pneumonia, 50 per cent were aware of the use of paste prepared from leaves of Tulsi, Turmeric and Ajwain with 46 per cent adoption. 56 per cent were aware of the use of ingredients like Dry Ginger and Black Pepper mixed in Luke warm water in bloat with 52 per cent adoption. 46 per cent were aware of the use of Palas seeds with 44 per cent adoption in case of GI problems. In case of FMD in foot lesion, 72 per cent were aware of the application of Gurakhu with 64 per cent adoption whereas in mouth lesion, 50 per cent were aware feeding Sonth and Black Pepper mixed with ghee with 46 per cent adoption. 64 per cent were aware of the use of Haldi with 58 per cent adoption in case of wound. 64 per cent were aware of the use of paste of leaves of Karanj or Karanj oil in ectoparasitic infestation with 56 per cent adoption. Further, these ITKs are needed to be validated scientifically and experimentally along with the identification and isolation of active ingredients present in the material used under ITKs for benefiting the rural livestock farming community.