Scientific Rationality and Adoption of Indigenous Soil and Water Conservation in Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The tribal farmers of Kolli hills of Namakkal district in Tamil Nadu have unique insight in ITAPs (Indigenous Tribal Agricultural Practices) on soil and water conservation, that can be amalgamated with latest know-how for sustained agricultural development. There is a need to assemble, record, justify and refine those ITAPs before they antiquate. Hence, a study was performed by analyzing the rationality and the extent of adoption of the first-line selected ITAPs. About 9 ITAPs on soil and water conservation, in cluster villages of Kolli hills were recorded. The rationality was assessed by referring the selected nine ITAPs to the agricultural engineering scientists. After rationality analysis, they were test verified for their extent of adoption. All the nine selected ITAPs were found to be scientifically rational. Moreover, out of 9 number of selected ITAPs, 7 ITAPs were used by > 75 per cent and 2 ITAPs used by 50-75 per cent of the tribal farmers. This paper will help in culling out the appropriate indigenous technological package for soil and water conservation, thereby provoking the farmer-scientist interface.