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RENEWAL OF AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND ITS EFFECTS ON NATURAL RESOURCES

AGRICULTURE RENEWAL WITH ANCIENT AGRICULTURAL

PRACTICES IN INDIAN PERSPECTIVE

By: Dr. Pardeep Kumar, Scientist , ICAR- Indian Institute of Maize Research

Agricultural practices

Traditional Knowledge system Scientific SystemAll parts of the natural world are regarded as animate, all life forms as interdependent

Human life is generally regarded as superior, with a moral right to control other life forms

Knowledge is transmitted largely through oral media.

Knowledge is transmitted largely through the written word

Knowledge is developed and acquired through observation and practical experience

Knowledge is generally learned in a situation, which is remote from its applied context

Knowledge is holistic, intuitive, qualitative and practical

Knowledge is essentially reductionist, quantitative, analytical and theoretical

Knowledge is generated by resource users in a diachronic (long term) time scale

Knowledge is generated largely by specialist researchers on a synchronic (short term) time scale

The nature and status of particular knowledge is influenced by socio cultural factors such as spiritual beliefs, and is communally held

The nature and status of particular knowledge is influenced by peer review, and is held by individual specialists

Knowledge is used to make suitable decisions under variable conditions

Knowledge is used to put forward hypothesis and to verify underlying laws and constantsPrakash et al., Role of ITK in Conservation Agriculture: Blending Indigenous and

Scientific Knowledge

Plant protection measuresPotential of some of those old practices in

managing plant diseases “Vrikshayurveda” (the science of plant life): Detection of underground water; spacing between trees; methods of propagation; preparation of pits for planting; seed treatments; nourishment; protection; and some other relevant information.

There is only one ancient copy on palm leaves of Surapala’s Vrikshayurveda in the world preserved at the Bodleian Library, Oxford University, UK.

Birds- The earliest references about birds as pests were found in Rigveda

Rats- Atharvaveda, Kautilya’s Arthasastra

Surpala, for the first time in the history of world agriculture classified plant disorders into two types: internal and external. External means heat, frost, stormy wind, excess water and fire.

Treatment based on prayers and mantras: written with red lac-dye and tied to the crop

To control diseases they practiced careful seed selection, crop rotation and avoided planting when the moon was full or the sun had a halo.

Practices using organic materialsSprinkling kunapa (liquid manure prepared from

parts of carcasses)Fumigation (smoking) by burning animal fat,

ghee, hemp, horse hair and cow’s hornSprinkling a decoction made out of panchamula

Internal Disorders Based on an Ayurvedic Concept

Controlling of three dhoshasVata: ghee; sprinkling of kunapa water, fumigation of

the mixture of fat of hog, ghee, hemp, hair of horses and cow’s horn

Kapha: bitter, strong and astringent decoction made out of Panchamula, paste of white mustard should be deposited at the root and trees should be watered with a mixture of sesame and ashes

Pitta: treat trees with cool and sweet substances-when watered by decoction of milk, honey

To remove insects both from the roots and branches of the trees, water the trees with cold water for seven days.

HoneyHoney is antimicrobial, used for treating wounds in plants and animals; contains proline, which induces systemic resistance in plants, increases contents of cytokinins and auxins, and protects against stresses – salt, drought, etc.

Milk Indigenous ancient tool

against plant diseases Amino acids viz. proline,

isoleucein and phenyl alanine in milk induce resistance against plant diseases

Phenolic anti-microbials are also present Potassium phosphate content strengthens host immune system against diseases

MustardBlack mustard

(Brassica nigra) seeds are broken, the enzyme myrosinase is released and acts on a glucosinolate known as sinigrin to give allyl isothiocyanate. Likewise the white mustard [Brassica (Synapsis) alba] seeds yield sinalbin.

Neem

The bitter taste of neem is due to the presence of compounds called limnoids or limonoids (triterpenoids).

modify the biological processes of harmful insects

antifeedant effect, larval repellent, oviposition

Panchamula

Suggested procedures for crop yield increase and disease management basedon recommendations made in Vrikshayurvedas

Weather forecasting and Irrigation system

Rainfall was thus viewed as victory of the divine and pious over the demonic and evil forces of nature

The faith in Rita: deities by offering oblations and prayers

In Yajurveda, importance of sacrifices performed for rains enhanced a great deal.

Sacrifices like kariri were performed specifically for rain

Parashara's main technique of forecasting rain was based on the positions of the Moon and the Sun in the sky.

In Atharvaveda, a better and more objective understanding of the phenomenon of rain and other natural forces is noticed

suggestion of rainwater harvesting and five sources of water: Desert (occasional showers), ponds, wells, pots, and seasonal rains

Untimely rain or absence or excess of rain is considered resulting from sin.

Prayers to presiding deities of water urge them not to favor the rivals.

Parashara’s unit for measuring rain was ‘adhaka’.

Distribution of rainfall on earth is as follows: (i) 50% in the ocean; (ii) 30% on the mountains; (iii) 20% on earth. The agriculturists were required to plan their farming to 20% of the total rainfall.

Methods of purifying water: - Boiling - Heating in the sun - Dipping red hot iron ball - Dipping heated brickSoil and its effect on taste of water: - Red soil: Sweet - Tawny: Sour - Pale yellow: Saline - Blue: Bitter - Yellow: Pungent - White: Astringent

Old Drip Irrigation System

Farm implements and soil• Ancient literature of the subcontinent did

not miss out on farm implements. Vedas describe a simple bullock drawn wooden plow, both light and heavy, with an iron bar attached as a plowhshare to open the soil.

• Plow – the physical disturbance of soil using large farm “implements” that are dragged through the soil either by “work animals” or machines

• They shape the land for efficient planting, but they destroy the soil structure thus making it more prone to erosion and loss of fertility.

DOMESTICATION OF ANIMALSCattle is the only animal species, found in

every age and in every clime from the earliest traces of domestic animals e.g. humped and humpless (Zebu earliest)

Domestication of animal came into practice under nomadic pastoralism which is presumed to have been adopted for animal skin for mending of leathern bag serving the purpose of container or food and stone-tools.

The cattle to the settlement was followed by a 'fire rite' in which the cattle was made to pass‘ the 'bon fIre' from the burning of cowdung. The object of this rite was in all probability t warding off diseases from the body of cattle. It was performed at the beginning of rainy season

Animal feeding : The cultivation of horse-gram

Seed TreatmentAbout 2000 years ago, Parashara (Sadhale,

1999) recommended (i) proper drying of seed, (ii) freedom from the seeds of weeds, (iii) visual seed uniformity, (iv) storing seeds in strong bags, and (v) storing seed where white ants would not have access

seed treatments (e.g., cowdung, honey, and ghee) to ensure good germination

pelleting of seed with flours of rice, black gram, and sesame

and fumigating them with turmeric powder to ensure good germination.

Seeds collected and thrashed on new

moon day (Amawasia) for

sowing in the next season are usually

not infested by pest and pathogens

ManuresKrishiParashara, it is stated that crops grown

without manure will not give yieldKautilya mentioned use of cowdung, animal

bones, fishes, and milk as manureUse of kunapajalaa liquid ferment from animal wastes that

contained animal flesh, dung, urine, bones, marrow, and skin, the fermented product contained basic constituents such as amino acids, sugars, fatty acids, keratins, macro- and (almost all) micronutrients in available

Soil/land classificationRigveda identified productive and

nonproductive soilsSurapala's Vrikshayurveda (c. 1000 AD)

(Sadhale, 1996) mentions three types of land – jangala (arid), anupa (marshy), and samanya (ordinary) – further subdivided by color into black, white, pale, dark red, red, and yellow and by taste into sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent.

Conservation agricultureRigveda: earth, air, water, fire these should be

in balanced conditionKrishi-parshara: soil management, seed health,

farm management, water harvesting and conservation, and maintenance of implements.

Kautilya’s artha-sastra: intercropping of any medicinal plant with field crop, waste land utilization was planting cucurbits on river banks

Virkshayurveda:

It is a healing fire from the ancient science of ‘Atharvaveda’.

It is a process of purifying the atmosphere through a specially prepared fire performed at sunrise and sunset daily.

It envolves burning of specific organic substances like cows ghee, rice grains, twigs of plant like peepal, bael etc.

History of “Homa Farming”?

It is also known as the “Maharishi” vedic organic agriculture since it was earlier mentioned in ‘Atharvaved’ and it had been Practiced successfully by ‘Rishi and maharishis’.The science and believes behind it:-Utilizing the healing fire, holy ash & vedic sounds, the sounds of natural law to awaken the inner intelligence of the plant and promote a peaceful , healthy life for all who eat them.

The chanting of mantaras removes negative energies from the environment

Copper pyramid:receiver andsender of subtlehealing energies

Energy is being disperced

Is sent to the atmosphere

Comes back to the receptacle

AGNIHOTRAFIRE

The pyramid affects an area of 40 hectares, which is the area in a radius of 357 m.

BASIC FIRE AGNIHOTRA

CREATES THE MAIN HEALING CYCLE

BIOSPHERE 12 KM

CAPTURED

The plant gives a Biofeedback to the

atmosphere

TAKES NUTRIENTSAND PRANIC ENERGIES

RESONANCE PYRAMID

357 m

SUNRISEAND SUNSET

Solar Energies

Energy is being disperced

Brings nutrients to all LIFE:

PLANTANIMALHUMAN

MOUNTAINS

SOIL

LAKE - WATER

How does Agnihotra work?

ADVANTAGE

It is a total and complete organic farming with assured yield

Produces healthy soils ,healthy plant life and healthy yield

Restores natural taste , color and flavor of the yields the cooking quality of

rice and other cereals improved very much

Reduces incidence of pests and disease and there by the need of pest control

measure

Poison – free fodder and food no environmental pollution and ecological

disturbance safe to handle by the plant protectors these are cost effective (200-

300)less than chemicals so it very much helpful to small and marginal farmers

leads to sustainable agriculture

Zero Budget Spiritual Farming (ZBSF)

• The movement in Karnataka state was born out of collaboration between Mr Subhash Palekar, who put together the ZBNF practices, and the state farmers association

Zero Budget spiritual Farming means for all the crops, the production cost will be zero

In the Zero Budget Natural Farming nothing has to be purchased from the outside

For more information go to the following link:http://www.palekarzerobudgetspiritualfarming.org/zbnf.aspx

Conclusion...

Source of Information:Raychaudhuri S.P. and Roy M. Agriculture in Ancient India: A

Report. ICAR, New Delhi.Asian Agri-History Foundation (Asian Agri-History Journal)http://www.palekarzerobudgetspiritualfarming.org/zbnf.aspxAgriculture in Ancient India: By Sun Staffhttp://www.indianscience.org/essays/t_es_goyal_crop.shtmlShamarao Jahagirdar et al., Traditional Methods In The

Management Of Plant Diseases - A Review(2003) Agric. Rev., 24 (2) ; 142 – 146.

http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5672e/x5672e0a.htmhttp://agritech.tnau.ac.in/org_farm/orgfarm_miscellaneous.html

#hfTamboli P M and NeneY L: Science in India with Special

Reference to Agriculture, Ved Aalok E-Patrika, Rohtak (Haryana)

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