TRADITIONAL FARMING SYSTEM: A CASE STUDY OF GARO TRIBE IN WEST GARO HILLS DISTRICT OF MEGHALAYA, NORTH-EASTERN INDIA

TARUNKUMAR DAS¹*, TANMAY SAMAJDAR², MOKIDUL ISLAM³, N. ARUNKUMAR SINGH⁴, GREATUSH MARAK^5
1Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, 794005
²Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, 794005
³Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, 794005
⁴Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, 794005
⁵Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, 794005
* Corresponding Author : tarunkd2011@gmail.com

Received : 18-06-2016     Accepted : 23-07-2016     Published : 24-10-2016
Volume : 8     Issue : 50       Pages : 2140 - 2145
Int J Agr Sci 8.50 (2016):2140-2145

Keywords : Tribe, Traditional, Agriculture, Homestead, Jhum, Social forestry
Academic Editor : Sovan Debnath
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : None declared
Author Contribution : None declared

Traditional knowledge and life style of the indigenous people have close link with nature. The traditional farming systems are being practiced by indigenous Garo communities of Meghalaya. The study was carried out in four Garo tribe inhabited villages namely Marapara, Sananggre, Romngbokgre and Kamagre of West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya. The method applied for the study was ethnographic approach, an important research tool. A schedule was prepared for collection of data on general information at the household level. Information on traditional farming of Garo tribe was also collected from the secondary source like books, article, research paper etc. Average family size of Garo tribe in the study area was 4-6. Ginger and paddy are the main crops in the study area. It is found that majority of the respondents has annual income in between Rs. 50, 000/- to 1,00,000/- and have primary level of education. The study also reveals that 44.91 ha of area under low land and 265.87 ha of area under up land. The villagers of the area are mainly depending on perennial stream as a source of water for their daily uses. The study showed that Garo tribe practiced traditional farming and applied their indigenous knowledge on plain land, homestead garden, jhum management and social forestry. They mainly adopted agro-forestry farming technique for their early income generation activity and livelihoods. Considering the present findings it can be concluded that the indigenous knowledge of Garo tribes is helpful for the conservation of natural resources.