INDIGENOUS TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE IN AGRICULTURE AND ALLIED SECTORS OF THE LEPCHA COMMUNITY IN SOME SELECTED AREAS OF SIKKIM

Modern scientific agriculture is based on external inputs and practice evolved outside the socio-economic and socio-cultural context of farming community. An indigenous knowledge system are highly localised knowledge, unique to a particular culture or society and encompasses various domains of livelihood like agriculture, animal husbandry, medicine, weather, food, engineering, storage, environment etc. Such knowledge systems are transferred from one generation to the other through the in-built social systems, usually in verbal forms. According to Brouwers (1993) the term indigenous and local knowledge are used to refer to that knowledge which is generated and transmitted by communities, over time, in an efforts to cope with their own agro-ecological and socio economic environment. Altieri(1991) defines local knowledge as the accumulated knowledge, skills and technology of the local people, derived from the direct interaction of human beings and their environment. Gender is one of the dimensions of social fabric and knowledge is part of the social fabric. Indigenous knowledge therefore must include gender as a factor. According to Warren(1998) All knowledge is generated. Thus, knowledge system consist of total acquired and practised knowledge by both men and women The present investigation was carried out the temperate hill ecosystem of the Sikkim located in eastern Himalayas.The Lepchas or the Rongs are believed to be the original inhabitants of Sikkim and are known to possess an excellent knowledge about the flora and fauna as well as local environment. The community has been chosen keeping this into considerationObjective of the study:The specific objective area. To explore and document the indigenous knowledge system in agriculture and allied fields of the Lepcha community in Sikkim.b. To find out the rationale behind some of their indigenous practices.c. To sort out gender differentiation if any in different practices.According to wang(1988), traditional knowledge is the sum total of knowledge and practices which are based on peoples accumulated experiences in dealing with situation and problems in various walk of life.Altieri(1991) defines local knowledge as the accumulated knowledge, skills and technology of the local people, derived from the direct interaction of human beings and their environment.According to Brouwers (1993) the term indigenous and local knowledge are used to refer to that knowledge which is generated and transmitted by communities, over time, in an efforts to cope with their own agro-ecological and socio economic environment.Ban and Hawkins (1998) stressed that indigenous technology or knowledge system can contribute towards sustainable farming and for evolving location-specific recommendations.According to warren(1998) All knowledge is generated. Thus , knowledge system consist of total acquired and practised knowledge by both men and women. Gender is one of the dimension of social febric and knowledge is part of the social febric. Indigenous knowledge therefore must include gender as a factor.According to LEISA( Spl. Volume 1999) indigenous knowledge is the knowledge of the farmers living in a certain area, generated by their own and their ancestors experience and including knowledge originating from elsewhere that has been internalised. Indigenous knowledge is holistic and in compasses all aspects of rural life.

The study was conducted during June, 2013 November,2013 at rumbuk block under soreng sub-division of west district which was purposively selected for the study due to maximum concentration of lepcha community with in the area and their daily used ITK for their livelihood development. The data were collected from 120 respondents. A well structured interview schedule was prepared for this purpose. Considering the nature of agro-ecosystem, type of people and nature of the study (exploratory study), five methods have been chosen from the set of methods in accordance with the objective of the study. The five methods are as follows: 1.Direct observation. 2. Group interview. 3. Direct matrix ranking. 4. Tapping the knowledge of young boys and elderly women. 5. Strength, weakness, opportunity and limitations (SWOL) analysis.