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Weather prediction using traditional knowledge in cold arid high altitude region of Ladakh in India

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Title Weather prediction using traditional knowledge in cold arid high altitude region of Ladakh in India
 
Creator Meena, Hari Mohan
Manjunatha, B L
Raghuvanshi, M S
Verma, Archana
Angchok, Dorjey
Dorjay, Ngawang
Spalbar, Enoch
 
Subject Leh-Ladakh
Lotho
Migration
Traditional knowledge
Weather prediction
 
Description 864-873
The Union territory of Ladakh in India is a cold arid high altitude region. The subsistence nature of agriculture being
practiced (by majority of farmers) in the region is solely dependent on melted glacier water. The present study was undertaken
in Leh district of Ladakh to identify, prioritize and understand the traditional knowledge (TK) used by the farming community
for prediction of weather. The primary data were collected from 320 households from 20 villages in Leh district from 2015 to
2020. The primary data were aided and validated by Focused Group Discussions with key informants and stakeholders working
in the region such as scientists from research institutions and officials from agriculture and line departments. Farmers used
combination of indicators including behavioral changes of birds and animals, change in atmospheric events and inferences
drawn from Lotho (almanac) to predict weather. Migration pattern of birds was the most ancient, common and widely prevalent
TK used for prediction of onset and extent of snowfall and winter season by farmers. Building of nest by birds on poplar tree
(Poplus sp.) at different heights and directions was used to predict temperatures in the forthcoming summer season. The
duration of hibernation of Himalayan marmots (Marmota himalayana) was an indication of duration of snowfall and winter
temperatures. Timing and extent of precipitation (rainfall and snowfall) was used to predict the distribution of snowfall and
winter temperatures. Lotho was extensively used for planning agricultural operations till a decade ago. The farming community
used different TK in totality to enhance the accuracy of weather prediction. It was found that improved connectivity of the
region with the mainland, introduction of modern communication technologies and decreasing dependence on agriculture as a
primary livelihood option (because of the emergence of non-farm based opportunities such as services and tourism) have made
the use of TK less prevalent among young generation farmers. However, the majority of the farmers expressed the need for
blending TK and modern science for addressing location-specific problems.
 
Date 2023-12-20T10:21:01Z
2023-12-20T10:21:01Z
2023-12
 
Type Article
 
Identifier 0975-1068 (Online); 0972-5938 (Print)
http://nopr.niscpr.res.in/handle/123456789/63033
https://doi.org/10.56042/ijtk.v22i4.7242
 
Language en
 
Relation Int Cl.23: F24F 130/10
 
Publisher NIScPR-CSIR,India
 
Source IJTK Vol.22(4) [October 2023]