Indigenous Knowledge of Bihar Farmers

Indigenous Technical Knowledge provides a valuable resource for sustainable development. Most of such knowledges are passed down from generation to generation, usually by word of mouth. India has been nurturing a traditional civilization over a period of 5,000 years. India's ancient scriptures, teachings of sages as well as innumerable sayings and proverbs contain profound store-house of ideas, concept and practices that are designed to address the process of building harmonious relationship among man, animal and nature. With the dissemination of modern practices the indigenous practices have started to lose their background and have eroded to a large extent. But still many people in rural India use indigenous practices. Under this study an attempt has been made to document indigenous knowledge of the ATMA farmers of Bihar regarding crop production, animal husbandry, and human health care.