Text Book of Agricultural Heritage

Text Book of Agricultural Heritage

Authors

Dr. utpal GiriDr. Md. hedayetullah

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ISBN: 978-93-89412-52-9 (Paperback)ISBN: 978-93-89412-53-6 (EBook)

Printed in India

FOREWORD

Agricultural heritage refers inherited values carried from one generation to other generation. Agricultural heritage indicates the values and traditional practices and methods adopted in ancient India, which are more relevant for present day system for maintaining sustainable agriculture. The objectives of the book are to increase awareness and implant a sense of pride amongst the people of the rich unique heritage of Indian agriculture, to know as our agriculture has sustainable practices for generations and to stimulate scientific research based on traditional technology.

The present book “Text Book of Agricultural Heritage” covers thirteen chapters, providing in depth description of key contents, issues and topics. The first chapter introduces the agricultural heritage, the second chapter focuses on ancient agricultural practices, third chapter explains the past and present status of agriculture and farmers in society, fourth elaborates history of agricultural development, fifth describes indigenous technology knowledge in agriculture (ITKs) and allied agricultural sector, sixth is devoted to crop voyage. The scope of agriculture scope, importance of agriculture and agricultural resources available in India have been explained in the seventh chapter, eighth is devoted to crop significance and classifications, ninth chapter highlights the national agriculture setup in India, tenth describes the current scenario of Indian agriculture, eleventh chapter is related to Indian agricultural concerns and future prospects. Chapter twelve focuses on Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) institutes and chapter thirteen focuses on different types of model questions.

The books has got true reflections of 5th Dean’s Committee recommendations in giving the syllabuses for the students in under graduate level to the State Agricultural Universities in the country and legacy of referral works in continuation and to follow up present day modern agriculture.

The book would come to help with much contribution to the students, researchers, planners and policy makers throughout the country and abroad.

Professor A Zaman Visiting Professor & Advisor Agriculture,

The Neotia University, Kolkata Campus at Sarisa-743368,24 Paraganas (S), West Bengal

Co-founder, Vice President, and Member Secretary of International Institute of Bengal Basin, H.Q based in Berkeley,

California, USA Formerly Consultant to World Bank, Minor Irrigation Project

Head, Irrigation Expatriate Team, Government of Uganda, East Africa Head, Department of Agronomy, BCKV (2008-2012)

Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Chief Scientist, Water Management, Director of Research

Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidhayalaya (BCKV) West Bengal India.

PREFACE

Agriculture is our backbone of the society, way of life and not an occupation. History is defined as the continuous record of past events, where as heritage denotes the inherited values carried from one generation to other generation. Agricultural heritage indicates the values and traditional practices and methods adopted in ancient India, which are more relevant for present day system for sustainable agriculture. The objectives of the book are to increase awareness and implant a sense of pride amongst the people of the rich unique heritage of Indian agriculture, to know as our agriculture has sustainable practices for generations and to stimulate scientific research based on traditional technology.

This book is intended as a text book for under-graduate students in agriculture. It will be a valuable reference to professional faculty members, agricultural scientists, and students.

Citations are avoided in the text so that the reader is not distracted. At the end of the book, a list of references has been given from which most of the material in the book is drawn. Theses references will also help students for further reading.

The author acknowledge their indebtedness to the authors of various books, bulletins, monographs, periodicals and published papers from which most of the material in this book is drawn. The authors are indebted to several individuals and organizations for the supply of useful material.

The book is spread over 13 chapters, providing in-depth description of key contents, issues and topics. The first chapter introduces the Agricultural Heritage, the second chapter focuses on ancient agricultural practices, third chapter explains Past and present status of agriculture and farmers in society, fourth elaborates history of agricultural development, fifth describes indigenous technology knowledge in agriculture and allied agricultural sector, sixth is devoted to Crop Voyage. Agriculture scope, Importance of agriculture and agricultural resources available in India have been explained in seventh chapter, eighth is devoted to Crop significance and Classifications, ninth chapter highlights the National agriculture setup in India, Tenth describes the current scenario of Indian agriculture, eleventh chapter is related to Indian agricultural concerns and future prospects.

Utpal Giri

Md. Hedayetullah

Contents

1. Agricultural Heritage in India 1

2. Ancient Agricultural Practices, Relevance of Heritage to Present Day Agriculture 7

3. Past and Present Status of Agriculture and Farmers in Society 31

4. Journey of Indian Agriculture and its Development from Past to Modern era 45

5. Indigenous Technology Knowledge in Agriculture and Allied Agricultural Sector 59

6. Crop Voyage in India and World 73

7. Agriculture Scope, Importance of Agriculture and Agricultural Resources Available in India 91

8. Crop Significance and Classifications 103

9. National and International Agricultural Setup 115

10. Current Scenario of Indian Agriculture 127

11. Indian Agricultural Concerns and Future Prospects 139

12. Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) Institutes 151

13. Model Questions 159

Chapter 1

Agriculture Heritage in India

Agriculture is our backbone of the society. History is defined as the continuous record of past events, where as heritage denotes the inherited values carried from one generation to other generation. Agricultural heritage indicates the values and traditional practices and methods adopted in ancient India, which are more relevant for present day system for sustainable agriculture.

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), as defined by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the UNO), are: “Remarkable land use systems and landscapes which are rich in globally significant biological diversity evolving from the co-adaptation of a community with its environment and its needs and aspirations for sustainable development”. Worldwide, farmers developed, modified and maintained specific agricultural systems, landscapes and herders based on available diversified natural resources, using locally adapted management practices. These local knowledge and experiences on ingenious agricultural systems reflects the humankind evaluation, knowledge diversity and its profound relationship with nature.These systems have resulted not only in outstanding landscapes, maintenance and adaptation of agriculturally significant biodiversity, ITK systems and ecosystems, but, above all, supply of sustainable multiple goods and services, food and livelihood security for thousands of local people, well beyond their borders and conserved the natural resources and biodiversity.

Agricultural heritage systems can also be found throughout the world with an area of 5 million hectares. These vast heritage serves as a important combination of social, cultural, ecological and economical services to humankind. The existence of various GIAHS through out the world testifies to the inventiveness and ingenuity of people in their use and management of the these natural resources, biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics, and ingenious use of physical attributes of the landscape, codified in traditional but evolving knowledge, practices and technologies. Whether it has been recognized by the scientific community, these traditional agricultural systems build up the foundation for contemporary and future agricultural innovations and technologies. Their cultural, ecological and agricultural diversity is still found in many parts of the world, and considered as unique methods of agriculture. Through a remarkable process of co-evolution of Humankind and Nature, GIAHS have represented the accumulated experiences of local peoples which have emerged over centuries of cultural and biological interactions and synergies.

2 t Text Book of Agricultural Heritage

Agriculture Heritage in IndiaIndian heritage is unique and prestigious than any other civilization in this world. We must feel proud being a citizen of India for its rich cultural heritage. Agriculture in India has a long history from Neolithic age of 7500-4000 B.C. People changed their life style from nomadic hunter of wild berries to cultivator of land. Agriculture is gifted from the wisdom and teachings of great saints. The knowledge achieved and techniques adopted have been passed down through generations. The traditional farmers have developed the eco-friendly farming systems and mixed farming, mixed cropping, crop rotation etc type of systems were practiced by them. The older generations of the farmers of India passed the depth of knowledge and experience of great epics of ancient India.

The most ancient literature available in India was “Vedas” which includes the four Vedas (rig, yajur, sama, atharvana), nineteen Brahmanas (two associated with the Rigveda, six with the Yajurveda, ten with the Samaveda and one with the Atharvaveda). Some other important ancient epic literatures are Aranyakas, Sutra literature, Susruta Samhita, Charaka Samhita, Upanishads, the epices Ramayana and Mahabharata, Puranas (20), Buddhist and Jain literature, and texts such as Krishi-Parashara, Kautilya’s Arthasastra, Panini’s Ashtadhyayi, Sangam literature of Tamils, Manusmirti (laws), Varahamihira’s Brihat Samhita (maths & astrology), Amarkosha, Kashyapiya-Krishisukti and Surapala’s Vriskshayurveda. These literatures were most likely to have been composed between 6000 BC to 1000 AD. The information related to the biodiversity and agriculture (including animal husbandry) are available in these texts.

Rigveda, which is the most ancient literary work of India, believed that Gods were the foremost among agriculturists.According to the thesaurus, “Amarakosha” which was written by the Jain or Buddhist scholar Amarasimha in Sanskrit, Aryans were agriculturists. Agriculture, cattle rearing and commerce were the essential subjects of the king that must be learnt. This was prescribed by Manu and Kautilya.The great compiler of the Yoga Sutras, “Patanjali” mentioned that the economy of the country depended on agriculture and cattle-breeding. According to ‘Puranas’, the ancient Indians had intimate knowledge on all agricultural operations.The books dealing exclusively with techniques of agriculture were Sage Parashara’s ‘Krishiparashara’ in 1000 A.D. Other important texts are Agni Purana and Krishi Sukti written by Kashyap (500 A.D.).Some of the well known ancient classics of India are namely, Kautilya’s‘Arthashastra’; Patanjali’s ‘Mahabhasya’; Panini’s ‘Astadhyayi’; Amarsimha’s ‘Amarkosha’; Varahamihira’s ‘Brahat Samhita’and Encyclopaedic works of Manasollasa. These classics literary works indicated the knowledge and wisdom of the people of ancient period.Ancient works of Tamil and Kannada contain lot of useful information on agriculture in ancient India. Indian agriculture made tremendous progress in the rearing of cows and buffaloes, sheep and goats, cultivation of trees and shrubs, spices and condiments, food and non-food crops, fruits and vegetables and also developed nature friendly farming practices. These practices had done with the social and religious relationship and it was the way of life for the people. Domestic rites and rituals of festivals often coincided with the four main agricultural operations like ploughing, sowing, reaping and harvesting.