Farmers’ adoption of indigenous technical knowledge (ITKs) for crop protection in few districts of Telangana (India)

This study investigates the adoption of indigenous technical knowledge (ITKs) for crop protection among farmers in selected districts of Telangana, India. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, is combining surveys and in-person interviews with 150 farmers. Results indicated that 29.33% of respondents actively use ITKs for crop protection, 50.67% use ITKs in combination with soil fertility enhancement approach, the most common practices used and 20.00% respondents were non-ITK users. Also, the ITKs were often integrated with modern agricultural techniques, creating a hybrid approach to regenerative agriculture. However, challenges such as lack of scientific validation and declining inter-generational knowledge transfer threaten the continued use of ITKs. Moreover, factors influencing ITK adoption includes age, education level, farm size, and access to traditional knowledge sources. This study underscores the importance of documenting and preserving these traditional practices while exploring ways to incorporate current methods for sustainable agriculture.