Cross-regional analysis on usage of Indigenous Technical Knowledge in dairy farming

Abstract

Farmers in India have been using traditional health care practices in dairy farming since time immemorial. Present paper is an attempt to review the Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) practised and documented across five regions in India viz., North, South, East, West and North East regions to understand the prevalence of ITKs and its dynamics of usage across the country. Cross regional analysis of location specificity of different ITKs, similarities and variation in ingredients usage and researchable issues in ITKs would help in further promoting its widespread usage. Large inter-regional variation in the ITK usage warrants a scope to popularize the validated ITKs among the dairy farmers of other regions where these are not being practised. Concerted research efforts are required in treatment of the important diseases like mastitis which causes heavy economical losses to the farmers, whereas the ITKs may be refined in the form of user friendly package for ultimate solution to the diseases.