Utilization of Traditional Knowledge in Storage of Grain and Seeds in Darbhanga District of Bihar

In the context of agricultural sustainability, Indigenous Technological Knowledge (ITK) is a social capital which is defined as the traditional knowledge of the local community existing within and developed around the specific conditions of women and men indigenous to particular geographical area. The farmers in the study area are traditionally based on subsistence agriculture. More importantly, due to subsistence agriculture farmers seldom indulge in other costlier scientific practices for storage of grain/seeds. The documented ITKs for seed storage covers five broad categories viz. drying of grains before storage, general practice during storage, protection of stored seed from insect pest, protection of stored seed from rodents and pre-sowing treatment of stored seed. These ITKs help them to do the needful and reduce the expenditure. These ITKs seldom documented and so are often lost. Suitable modification of these ITKs through research and development will help to develop location specific, appropriate, socially acceptable technology that involves minimum expenditure, minimum risk to rural farmers as well as producers. Since, storage of grain/seed is an important activity of agriculture. Therefore, Indigenous Technological Knowledge of grain/seed storage possessed by the farmers shall be identified, validated and given due importance and recognition.