N.

Sandhya Shenoy
National Academy of Agricultural Research Management
Gender issues in Agriculture

NSS, NAARM . . . . . . . .
The first 3 chapters of Genesis describes a world
in which food was freely available and could be
obtained with no hardship.

Isa Vyasam Idam Sarvam Yatkincha

Jagathiyam Jagath Thena Tyaktena
Bhunjita Maa Grutha Kasyasi Dhanam
“Everything in this universe belongs to the lord.
You should only take what is really necessary for
yourself. So long as we treat the planet carefully
and take only our share, the planet will provide for
our needs”

NSS, NAARM . . . . . . . .
 Sustainable Agriculture
“Successful management of
resources for agriculture to
satisfy the human needs while
maintaining or enhancing the
quality of environment and
conserving natural resources”
Technical Advisory Committee,
CGIAR, 1988

NSS, NAARM . . . . . . . .
Human beings and Natural Resources

Growth process
imposes new forms of
deprivations,
dislocations, exclusion
and alienation

NSS, NAARM
 Depletion of Natural resources

Where has it led ?

• Deforestation Decreasing sustaining

capacity of Agriculture
• Desertification
• Overgrazing
• Over fishing
• Marginal lands
NSS, NAARM . . . . . . . .
 Soil degradation

107.4 mh degraded area ( 71% of cultivated area)

Source : TERI ( 2006)
Exploitation of Natural Resources and Women
Land

• Overgrazing of pastural lands

• Land degradation by Wind erosion
• Land degradation by water salinity
• Depletion of forest resources

Increased hours for search for

fuel wood and fodder
NSS, NAARM . . . . . . .
Exploitation of Natural Resources and Women
Water
• Discharge of effluents
• Deforestation
• Construction of irrigation projects
Water logging & siltation

Water Scarcity

Asian & African women on average walks 6 kms

and average load on head is 20 litres (Source:
Asia-Pacific Forum on Women, Law and
Development) Several hours in
NSS, NAARM . . . . . . . search of water for
families
Exploitation of Natural Resources and Women
Work
Largest workforce in agriculture
yet
Urbanisation and migration have
increased
her work

NSS, NAARM
 Morappanadu village, Tuticorin dist
Crop Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
Paddy N (B) FP (M) TP(F) W1 (F) W2 (F) H&T (B)
Pisanam)
S (F) FA (M)
N(B) TP(F) W(F) H&T (B)
Paddy
FP (M) FA (M)

Banana
FP (M) PL (M) FUR (M) W1 (F) FA1 (M) RS (M) FA2 (M)

W2 (F) W3 (F) H(M) H(M) H(M)

Black gram S(F) H(F)
Green gram S(F) H(F)
H( F)

Livestock
Cow SG (B) Sell (M) OG (B) Calv (F)
Goats DeW
Sell (M) Calv (F) SG(F)
(M)
Poultry
CF (F) Buy (M) Sell(M)
Child rearing &
(F)
household act. NSS, NAARM
Gujja Village, Nalgonda

NSS, NAARM
Thus ….

Women have slowly become

primary victims of deepening
environmental crisis as they are
the main users of household
biomass and subsistence needs

NSS, NAARM . . . . . . . .
 Emerging Paradigms . . .

Changing Scenario of Agriculture

Higher production with boundaries
Management of Natural Resources ( MNR)

Need to make woman a tool for sustaining

the production systems

NSS, NAARM . . . . . . . .
Changes in Shifting emphasis in Research & Extension
Perspective

Dominating Discipline Considering farmers

as …
1950 - 1975
Production Stage Plant & Animal Breeding Recipients of external
Genetics knowledge
1975 - 1985
Sources of information
Economic Stage Economics & Agronomy for technology design

1985 - 1995 Contributors of ITK,

Agro-ecology & Victims & Cause for
Ecological Stage Anthropology Unsustainable development

1995 onwards Full collaborators to Res.

& Extn., Develop alliances
Institutional Stage OD, HRD & Training between different Org.
 Coping with Paradigm Shift …
Aquaculture MPTS on farm
Seed industry lands

Sustainable IPM
High tech. Ag
Production
systems
Social forestry Livestock participatory
extension
Recycling

NSS, NAARM
 The Road ahead
• Macro policies on MNR
- Access & control of knowledge, decision making,
property rights

• Empowerment
- Attitudinal, Technological, Planning

• Women in Genetic Conservation

- Tribal, Rural women

• Decentralisation of Planning
- Gender sensitisation at all levels
Women’s role must be participatory and not dole taking
NSS, NAARM
 Sustainable / Green technologies

Integrated farming systems, Agro-forestry, Silvi-

pastoral, Diversified Multi-storied cropping, Micro
watersheds, Contour cultivation, Drip irrigation, Clean
cultivation, Seed selection and treatments, Usage of
Bio-pesticides, Bio-fertilisers and Botanicals,
Recycling bi-products and wastes, Ethno-veterinary
and ITK practices

NSS, NAARM . . . . . . . .
 Strengthening Linkages
Gender sensitive, location-specific, interdisciplinary research
through PRA & PTD
Networking R&D, NGO, grass-root level women organisations
Leadership training for professional women for key decisions and
policy making to genderise R&D
Refresher training for professional women in R&D, Extension
More women beneficiaries in IVLP, LLP and KVK Trainings
Farm women Day involving R&D, NGO, women entrepreneurs for
awareness and interest creation
Documentation of successful ITKs with recognition
Vocational training by R&D and NGOs
Databank on available technologies and training facilities information

NSS, NAARM . . . . . . . .
 If we have to preserve
our mother earth, this
mother of the family has
to be empowered for
continuing her zeal for
sustenance of nature’ s
bounty.

NSS, NAARM . . . . . . . .
 Sustainable Agriculture
“Successful management of
resources for agriculture to
satisfy the human needs while
maintaining or enhancing the
quality of environment and
conserving natural resources”
Tech.Advisory Committee, CGIAR, 1988

Characteristics:
* Ecologically sound
*Economically viable
* Socially just * Humane * Adaptable
NAARM . . . . . . . .
 Defining ITK
ITK refers to information gained over a period of time, passed
on from generation to generation by word of mouth.

Indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) refers to the unique,

traditional, local knowledge existing within and developed
around the specific conditions of women and men
indigenous to a particular geographic area (Grenier, 1998)

ITK is the sum total of knowledge and practices which are

based on peoples’ accumulated experiences in dealing with
situations and problems in various aspects of life, and such
knowledge and practices are special to a particular culture
(Wang, 1998)
NSS,NAARM
 Related Terminology

Local knowledge (LK)

Traditional Knowledge (TK)

Native Wisdom (NW)

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)

NSS,NAARM
 Importance of ITK

There is an old African proverb: "When an old

knowledgeable person dies, a whole library dies”

Indigenous technical knowledge has two powerful

advantages over outside knowledge (Kothari, 1995)
• it has little or no cost
• it is readily available

NSS,NAARM
 Favourable Environment

Support to Programmes Programme Economy

Quick information exchange

Collective wisdom Quick TOT

Provides

Group Action

Draws strength
from
ITK Farmers’ participation

Local Experience
 Limitations of ITK

Scattered in space and time.

Sometimes difficult to distinguish from mere

superstitions/ taboos.

Cannot be manipulated independently of social,

political, economic structures.

Poor generalizability.

NSS,NAARM
 The Concept ...
ITK is
 based on experience
 often tested over centuries of use
 adapted to local culture & environment
 dynamic and changing
 stored in people's memories and activities
 expressed in stories, songs, folklore, proverbs, dances,
myths, cultural values, beliefs, rituals, community laws,
local language and taxonomy, agricultural practices,
equipment, materials, plant species and animal breeds
 Communicated orally by examples,& culture

NSS,NAARM
 Characteristics
Accumulated information
Respond to day-to-day situations and problems
Product of informal research or experimentation
Unique to a culture
Usually communicated over generations by word of mouth
Location specific, Use local/indigenous materials
Contribute to sustainability
Cost effective, less capital intensive
Important in resource conservation and recycling
Scientific validity to be established
Recognition brings pride to farming community
Consistent to a location
NSS,NAARM
 ITK - Forgotten and Not
Documented
Most ITKs forgotten and lost because of

 The oral tradition

 Suppression of indigenous technology
 Lack of understanding regarding importance of
indigenous technology by all concerned
 No serious attempt to document the indigenous
technology
 With the result, relatively few well documented ITKs

NSS,NAARM
 Probable areas of ITK
(as identified by the NATP mission unit on collection,
documentation and validation of ITK)

Rainfed and irrigated farming

 Rain water management

 Methods to check soil and water erosion
 Practices to check wind erosion
 Tillage and intercultural management
 Crops and cropping systems
 Pest and disease management
 Methods of weather forecasting
NSS,NAARM
 Probable areas of ITK
(as identified by the NATP mission unit on collection,
documentation and validation of ITK)

Horticultural Crops

Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry

Fisheries & Aquaculture

Farm Implements

Ethno-botany and Agro-biodiversity

Grain/Seed Storage
NSS,NAARM
 Probable areas of ITK
(as identified by the NATP mission unit on collection,
documentation and validation of ITK)

Homestead management

 Fuel management
 Wood stove/ chullah and thermal efficiency
 Waste water management
 Garbage disposal and management
 Food product development
 Agro, animal based yarn/ natural dyes
 Low cost housing materials
 Ethnic food NSS,NAARM
Contribution of Women in Sustenance
Seed selection and storage
Trap crop growing

Forestry
Livestock care
Fodder

Shelter crops

Knowledge on wild
plants
Water/Waste
recycling
NAARM
ITK relevance to sustainable agriculture
- Nutrient Management

NSS,NAARM
 ITK relevance to sustainable agriculture
- Nutrient Management
Khus (Vetiver grass) – vegetative barrier for soil conservation
in dry lands, vulnerable areas for soil erosion
Protect waste-weirs, stabilize drop structures, controls rills
formation. completely stopped sheet erosion, slowed runoff,
trapped silt to form natural terrace over the years (Gundlupet
tq.,Mysore, Karnataka )
Less Cost - 1/10th of engineered soil conservation sytems,
Wide adaptability - Himalayan foothills, Rajasthan deserts, Delhi
swamps, A.P wastelands
Cultivation on 100% slopes (45o) and unstable lands
(Vetiver Information Network, World Bank)

NSS,NAARM
ITK relevance to sustainable agriculture
- Pest Management

NSS,NAARM
 ITK relevance to sustainable agriculture
- Pest Management
Neem leaves - 200 grams of neem leaves per 50 kg of grains with
few tender branches to protect paddy (W.B., Bi., A.P., T.N.) and wheat
(M.P.,U.P., Ha., Pb.,M.S.) 6 - 8 kg of fresh green leaves boiled in 10 liters
water until liquid turns dark brown. This is left for 10-12 hours, diluted to
80-100 liters and sprayed on the field to control girdle beetle (Oberia
brevis), Bihar hairy caterpillar (Dicrisia oblique) and other pests in soya
bean (Satpura, M.P.)

Dry mahua flowers - @ 10-15 kg/hectare without any other

mixture to control Gaygwalan (Scalopendra spp) pest causing 20 % loss
by sucking sap from leaves and buds of soyabean (Satpura, M.P.)

NSS,NAARM
ITK relevance to sustainable agriculture
- Pest Management

Dry Tobacco leaves - 1.5 - 2 kg dry leaves boiled in 5-6 litres

reduced to 1-1.5 liters with dark black color. After 10-12
hours,filtered,diluted to 80-90 liters to spray one hectare, early in the
morning to control the larvae of Heliothis armigera

Ipomea leaves and buds - 1000-1200 fresh leaves boiled in

30 - 35 liters of water till liquid turns milky white.This poisonous
solution is to be sprayed within four days of its preparation to control
the larvae of Heliothis armigera, spotted bollworm and armyworm

NSS,NAARM
 ITK relevance to sustainable agriculture
- Pest Management
Larvae mixture as repellant - 2 to 2.5 kg larvae of girdle
beetle (Oberia brevis) and Heliothis armigera.are boiled for 45-60
minutes in 2 liters of water till dark brown. This is left for5 to 6 hours,
diluted to 25-30 liters and sprayed over the crop in one hectare as a
repellent to insects of same species (Satpura, M.P.)

Biological trap crops – Twigs of Calotropis, Jatropha

spread in castor field , and the Red hairy caterpillar larvae feeding on
these leaves are collected the next day for destroying (Medak,
Nalgonda, A.P.)

African Marigold and Chrysanthemum coronarium

grown as border crops to control nematodes in tomato, chillies
(Vattala kundu, T.N., Gujarat)

NSS,NAARM
 ITK relevance to sustainable agriculture
- Pest Management
Extracts of Neem seed,Garlic, Bouganvillea – Organic
pesticides mixtures are used to control pod borer in pigeon pea
(Mahaboobnagar, Kurnool dts. Of A.P.)

Plant extracts of Notchi(Vitex negundo), Karpooravalli

(Coleus aromaticus), Sitafal (Anona squamosa) Peenari
sangu (Clesodendrum inerme) mixed together 250 ml each, diluted
and sprayed to control paddy ear head bug, leaf roller (Tamil nadu)

Crop mixtures – Intercropping Coriander & Jowar to control

striga infestation in jowar ( A.P.), Groundnut & Green gram to
control tikka disease in groundnut (Bhuj, Gujarat)

NSS,NAARM
 ITK in Sustainable Agriculture
– cases
Particulars Pigeon Pea Paddy
( Chowderpalli) ( Wanaparthy)
Control SA Control SA
Cost of Rs 3683/ha Rs 1637/ha Rs 13650/ha Rs 9900/ha
cultivation
Yield 3.3q/ha 3.4q/ha 33.5q/ha 37.5q/ha
Net Income Rs 2785/ha Rs 5517//ha Rs 3435/ha Rs 9220//ha

NSS,NAARM
 Indigenous Fisheries Practices
During the rainy season, live fish Cliarias batrachus, Channa striatus
are kept in earthern pots for 15-20 days without feeding but changing
water every 3-4 days to avoid muddy taste.
To catch more fish, thorny bushes are used as aggregating devices –
especially in summer to enable fish to take shelter and then catch with
net.
Immediately after dressing and cutting fish into pieces, mustard oil,
salt and turmeric powder are rubbed to prevent spoilage.
Banana stems are put in the ponds after harvest, to make water
alkaline , to increase fish growth.
Fishermen in Tamilnadu, don’t go in for fishing in areas where they see
red coloration of water as they perceive poor catch. (Red coloration is
due to flowering of plankton which utilises lot of oxygen)
Fishermen in Karnataka and Kerala go for intensive prawn fishing
whenever they observe mud banks (turbid ocean water) during
monsoon season.( turbid water has lot of nutrients to which prawns
are attracted)
ITK relevance to sustainable agriculture
- Animal Management

NSS,NAARM
 Animal Management - EthnoVeterinary
Practices

Leaves of ‘Dikkamani’ (Gardenia resinifera) and seeds of

‘Bendval’(Dendrophthoe falcata) (Mistle toe) plant are pounded and the
mixture is fed to animal to cure the constipation within a day.
To cure swelling of udder caused due to Mastitis, bites of poisonous
insects or mechanical injury or improper milking, 200 grams of soil from
the termite mounds is collected and boiled in water, and the boiled
suspension is given to animal give relief within a day. This is very
effective in summer, not so effective in monsoon season.
Flatulence caused due to excessive grazing or feeding of green fodder
which is common during the monsoon, can be cured by giving whey
milk, onion and leaves of custard apple to the animal.
For the animal suffering from gastric trouble, 10 grams of Hing
(asaphoetida) is dissolved in 500 grams of edible oil and given to have a
carminative and soothening action.
For de-worming the young calves, a small quantity of curd or buttermilk
is kept overnight in a copper container overnight to get a blue-green
colour, diluted and given. The effect is seen from next day.
 Butana desert region of NE Sudan
(camel, sheep, and goat herding by Shukria pastoral group)
Acacia nilotica
Small ruminants diarrhoea,
treated with a drench made Striga hermonthica
from Acacia nilotica pods,
sometimes with lemon or
lime juice
EthnoVeterinary
Citrullus colocynthis Practices
Bloat in cattle treated with a
preparation of the parasitic
witchweed Striga hermonthica,
drenching with goat urine or
(sometimes intra-nasally) sesame
Traditional cure of Helminthosis oil, or feeding Coronopus
preferred, such as adding sodium niloticus seeds or water-soaked
carbonate mined from nearby hills or onions.
Citrullus colocynthis seeds to the
drinking water of their livestock NSS,NAARM
S. Dafur, Sudan EthnoVeterinary
Practices
Foot rot lesions
For Foot-and-Mouth disease
are treated
(FMD), pastoralists use a
with Acacia
different vaccination technique
nilotica
in which saliva from the mouth
preparations.
of an infected animal is passed to
the mouth of a healthy one. Topical application of
FMD lesions are commonly boiled and filtered
dressed with honey or glycerine sorghum ash or
alternatively evaporated
For retained placenta cow or camel urine for
cows may be fed Rain scald and Mange
Cissus quadrangularis ground Cissus
quadrangularis (also
used to treat wounds
and swellings), dried
okra and tobacco, or
moulted snakeskin NSS,NAARM
Latin America EthnoVeterinary
Practices
Allium sativum L. (Liliaceae) ‘lasan’ bulb used against fowl
diseases.
Annona squamosa L. (Annonaceae) ‘sarifal’ leaves are
rubbed over floors or placed in hens’ nests to keep away
vermin.
The pulp of the seeds of Bixa orellana L. (Bixaceae) ‘latkan’
is given to bulls before fights to make them more active and
ferocious(active ingredient to be investigated )
Caladium bicolor Vent. (Araceae) leaf decoction is used to get
rid of external cattle festers caused by worms
Creole people use Capsicum frutescens it for throat diseases
of pigs .
Juice of mashed leaves of Cassia tora L. (Caesalpiniaceae)
‘panvar’ is given to an animal for the ticks.
An infusion of the bark of Ceiba pentandra (L.) is given to
cattle after delivery to help expel the placenta
The gum from Mammea americana bark is used to extract
chiggers from the skin and kill ticks and other parasites
external parasites of domestic animals
NSS,NAARM
Latin America EthnoVeterinary Practices

Chenopodium Crescentia
ambrosioides L. cujete L bilayati
(Chenopodiaceae) bel’ Cattle eat
leaves are used to the fruit often
expel worms in during the dry
animals season but it is
said that it often
causes abortion

Luffa
acutangula If horses, mules
‘kalitori’and or pigs eat any
Luffa part of the
aegyptiaca Leucaena glauca
‘ghiya tori’ ‘subabool’ plant,
unripe fruits their hairs will
are used fall out. Cattle
against bowel are said not to be
disease of affected
domestic fowl
 India EthnoVeterinary Practices
Treatment for Trypanosomiasis Xanthium
strumarium Parthenium
(Surra) hysterophorus
Fresh juice and aqueous and alcoholic
extracts of Xanthium strumarium leaves
and Parthenium hysterophorus flowers,
aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Aristolochia indica
Nyctanthes arbortristis leaves, and
alcoholic extracts of Aristolochia indica
stems revealed 100% trypanocidal
activity in vitro. The alcoholic extracts
of Xanthium strumarium leaves, Nyctanthes arbortristi
Parthenium hysterophorus flower and
Nyctanthes arbortristis leaves were also
found effective in vivo at dosages of 100
and 300 mg/kg body weight.At higher
doses ( eg:1000mg /kg body weight,
toxic to test animals) NSS,NAARM
India - women in Gujarat, Rajasthan and EthnoVeterinary
Maharashtra Practices
Mastitis - Applying turmeric on udder. Aegle marmelos ,
Foot and Mouth ulcers -Walking animals on hot sand, Bael fruit (Bilva)
applying sand to wounds externally; applying linseed oil
and turmeric externally, applying kerosene if the
wounds are infested with maggots.
Tympany - Drenching linseed oil along with a mixture of
ginger, turmeric and asafoetida, keeping the animal’s
mouth open by tying a piece of wood into it.
Diarrhoea - Drenching about 1 kg fruit pulp extract of
Aegle marmelos (Bael) and mango seed kernel for 2-3
days. About 50 grams of curry leaves crushed in water
and drenched
Bleeding - Mango tender leaf is applied on wound.
Worm infestation - Whole carrot is fed, Cucurbita pepo
Gourd seeds are fed
Tick infestation - Paste of custard apple seeds is applied
Maggot wound-Paste of custard apple leaves is applied
Foot rot -About 50 grams of Jasmine leaf paste is
applied NSS,NAARM
 General Proverbs
 Planting of Beetle wine in Sravana month will double the
profit.
 When there is more Mango, more Paddy and more
Tamarind definitely there will be flood.
 Radish requires 16 times ploughing, its half times in
Cotton, its half for Paddy , but no tillage for Beetle wine.
 Rain is expected to start when Tamarind (Tamarindus
indica) is in full bloom.
 Ripening of fruits of Jamun (Syzyglum cumini) tree
indicates the commencement of rain.
 If rain comes in the month of ‘Chaitra’, then there would be
dry spell in the month of ‘Sravana’.
 Thunder storm on the full moon day in the month of
‘Vaisakha’ indicates early withdrawal of monsoon.
 If crows cry during the night, and foxes howl during the
day then there would be severe drought.
Folk songs
 Mud bin for grain storage.

Bins made of mud are

being used in the
village for paddy grain
storage. These bins
have a lid made of mud
and entire bin will be
painted with cow dung.

NSS,NAARM
 Kuthla

Kuthla - earthen structure

for storage of grains
Village : Dadri
Allahabad Dt, U.P

NSS,NAARM
Scientific Integration of ITK

Documentation

Validation

Refinement

Integration

NSS,NAARM
 Documenting ITKs

ITKs are documented in the form of descriptive texts,

reports, taxonomies, inventories, maps, matrices,
audio- visuals, dramas, stories, songs, drawings,
seasonal charts, daily calendars etc.
ITKs are stored in local communities, databases, card
catalogs, books and journals, audio-visuals, museums,
etc.

NSS,NAARM
 Methods for documenting ITKs
Methods Informal Key Pane Focus Case Participant
Interview Informants l group studie Observation
Items s s
What * * * * * *
How * * * * * *
Why * * * * * *
Who * * * * * *
Where * * * * * *
When * * * * * *
How Often * * * * * *
How * * * * * *
widespread
How * * * * * *
effective

NSS,NAARM
 Methods for documenting ITKs
Methods Sorting Venn Role play Photos Video
& diagrams
Items Ranking

What * * * * *

How * * *

Why

Who * * *

Where * *

When

How Often

How
widespread
How effective *

NSS,NAARM
 Format for documenting ITK
1. Title of the ITK
2. General description of the ITK practice (Purpose for use,
material, method, tools, equipments, processing, cost)
3. Rationale and hypotheses to solve targeted problem
4. Who uses? ( Community/ individual) their economic status,
caste, religion, tribe, education
5. Experiences of users regarding impact of ITK
6. Technical feasibility
7. Compatibility with agro-ecosystem, socio-cultural system
8. Since how many years this practice is in use, how they learn
about it?
9. Documentary evidence (photograph, sketch, diagram, map
etc.)
10. Relevant specific information
11. Consent of informant/ representative
NSS,NAARM
 Girdi
Title of the ITK Farm Implement

Location Vill: Bhiwani Rohila, Dt: Hisar,

Haryana
General description Girdi
of the ITK Practice
Rational and Converting the coarse soil into the
hypotheses to solve fine soil and conservation of moisture
targeted problems in the soil,threshing
Who uses Marginal and small farmers
Experience of the Good
users
Regarding the Economic
impact of ITK
Technical feasibility Good
Compatible with Compatible
system agro-eco
system, social –
cultural
Duration of use > 50 years from their ancestors
Relevant specific Efficiency is good
information
Specimens / Photograph attached
photographs with
uses
NSS,NAARM
 NSS,NAARM

The online National Register of Innovations in Multilanguage

Sample pages: | English | Gujarati | Hindi |
National Innovation Foundation, India
Register new innovation
1. Name
Maltiben Choudhary
2. Address
Pratappura, Post Balva (Unava)
3. City/Village
Taluka: Kalol
4. District
Gandhinagar
5. State Gujarat - Pincode: 382 655
6. Telephone
(if any) 91 2764 87237
7. Email (if any) maltiben@honeybee net
http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/signs/info_honeybee/englishnewinnovation.htm
 NSS,NAARM

The online National Register of Innovations in Multilanguage

Sample pages: | English | Gujarati | Hindi |
National Innovation Foundation, India
Summary of Innovation:

Register new innovation

I take special care of the animals and have developed processes
8. Summary of Innovation: leading to increase in milk production:

9.Whether it is a new innovation or based on traditional

knowledge
10. If it is based on traditional
knowledge, specify whether
11. What is the main advantage of
this innovation over what is
already known to people?
New innovation
It is known only to me.
It is known to every
one in the region
The main avantages I found in my methods
is that, the maintainace of the cowshed is
very easy. Special care provided to the
animal have yielded encouraging results. My
milk production is the highest in the area as
well as the quality of milk is very good. The
 NSS,NAARM

The online National Register of Innovations in Multilanguage

Sample pages: | English | Gujarati | Hindi |
National Innovation Foundation, India
Register new innovation
12.Any major limitations or I do not find any limitation of my method of
keeping Cattle healthy.
shortcomings, or precautions necessary
before or during the use of this
innovation
Ms. Priti Shroff Mehta
13. Name of three referees who
know about this innovation Mr Dilip Koradiya

14.Specify your condition in No restriction

case you would like to Only on commercial basis
disseminate this innovation With further research on it
Without further research on it
15.Any other? Please specify:
I wish to share my knowledge with all who are interested
16.Has anybody else helped you
I did it all alone, but later I got the support of Honey Bee Network &
in developing this innovation? Submit Query Clear
 Criteria of Validation
Remember
ITK is holistic
Value of some ITKs cannot be expressed in monetary terms

 Efficacy
 Cost-effectiveness
 Availability
 Understandability/ Complexity
 Cultural appropriateness
 Effect on different groups in
communities
 Environmental soundness
 Constraints NSS,NAARM
 Decisions on Using ITK
Identify Problem in Agricultural R&D
Does ITK relating to problem No Test appropriate
exist? outside knowledge

Yes

Is ITK effective and sustainable? Yes Promote ITK

No

Test appropriate
Can ITK be improved? No outside knowledge

Yes

Apply and promote improved ITK NSS,NAARM

 Methods
Surveys / RRA / PRA
Document the ITKs
Observations
Documentary evidences

Survey
Validate the ITKs / Assess Laboratory Analysis
the ITKs for Scientific On-farm testing
Logic

Input to Research
On Farm Research
Refine the ITKs for Farmer Participatory Research
increasing its applicability Laboratory Studies
on wider scale
Guard & Legalize the ITKs
Ensure Ownership to Local
Communities
Protect the Valid and
Refined ITKs
Use Media Mix
Integrate Indigenous Networks
Publicize & Reward
Promote the Use of
validated and refined ITKs
NSS,NAARM
Indigenous Knowledge Resources Centers
The Centre for Indigenous Knowledge in Agriculture and Rural
Development (CIKARD) of Iowa State University - publishes Indigenous
Knowledge and Development Monitor
The Centre for International Research and Advisory Network (CIRAN) -
hosts Indigenous Knowledge Home Page
The World Bank Indigenous Knowledge Database
The International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
The Centre for World Indigenous Studies
Management of Social Transformations (MOST) of UNESCO - the Best
Practices database
Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies (SRISTI)
– Honey Bee network in 71 countries
Gujarat Grassroots Innovations Augmentation Network (GIAN)
Traditional Knowledge in Digital Libraries (TKDL) - INSDOC

NSS,NAARM
 Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers
Rights Act (PPVFR) 2001
Optimum balance between breeder’s and farmers’ rights
Provides protection to new varieties, extant varieties including
farmers’ varieties and varieties of common knowledge
Novelty not essential for extant/farmers’ varieties or varieties of
common knowledge, distinct nomenclature important
Compulsory license provision when non-supply or short supply
of
planting material of variety/prohibitively high charges for
planting material
National Gene fund to credit benefit shared under act, use fund
to support conservation at community level and facilitate
sustainable use of genetic resources
 Arogyapaacha

Immuno enhancing
anti-fatigue, anti-
stress
and hepato-
protective herbal
drug

Trichopus zeylanicus travancoricus

NSS,NAARM
Locale
Endemic to the
region of the
Western Ghats in
the
Thrivananthapuram
district Kerala and
Tirunelveli district,
Tamil Nadu

NSS,NAARM
License holder

For manufacturing
Jeevani

The Arya Vaidya

Pharmacy Ltd.
(Coimbatore)

NSS,NAARM
Beneficiaries
• Kani Samudaya Kshema
Trust
• TBGRI

NSS,NAARM
 Benefit Sharing provisions
50% license fee
2% royalty at ex-factory sales price to be paid to
Kani tribe families in trust
TGBRI arranged for cultivation of plant by
50 tribal families on buy-back basis with
company
 Turmeric Case
Use of turmeric in wound healing
• The first time a patent based on traditional
knowledge of developing country was
challenged successfully and USPTO
revoked the patent

• Opened up the path to the creation of

Traditional Knowledge Digital Library,
Traditional Knowledge Resource
Clarification, and inclusion of traditional
knowledge in the International Patent
Clarification System.

CSIR located 32 references ( some >100 years old and in Sanskrit, Urdu
and Hindi), which showed that this finding was well known in India prior
to filing of this patent by University of Mississippi Medical Center, USA .
Granted on 28.3.95, rejected on 20.11.97 NSS,NAARM
Sharing Benefits with community
Xa 21 Gene work
Univ.California, Davis (Pamela Roland) ,
cloned Xa21 gene from rice genetic
material from West Africa
Gene conferred resistance to Bacterial
Blight in rice
Identified communities that contributed to
locating the gene
Univ. California Davis established
‘Genetic Resources Recognition Fund’ to
be used to finance graduate fellowships for
students from countries that originally
provided plants carrying the gene
 Strategies for Protection
National Innovations Foundation
To help building national register of innovations, file applications
To provide micro-venture capital support for enterprises
To support collective resource management institutions
reinforcing conservation ethics
To provide non-material incentives (recognition/honoring
innovators/community), build local ecological knowledge in
educational curriculum

Policy reforms for institution building ,

development of markets for local, organic products

NSS,NAARM
 Strategies for Protection
Public domain Traditional Knowledge in Digital Libraries in multi-
languages in
all regions (TKDL in INSDOC tied up with WIPO), Honey Bee etc..
Land races, farmers’ varieties, local herbs registered, documented at
national/
international levels with properties identified by local communities
(Gene Fund,
Indian Plant Variety & Farmers Rights Act, 2001)
New Uses for existing biodiversity for registration- ‘availability of use’
patents
to empower local communities
Duration of protection of land races for right to share benefits from
commercial use for longer duration than the present
Special grace period (>1 year) for patenting TK shared in good faith by
local
healers, herbalists in case innovation is published or disseminated
prior to NSS,NAARMfiling