Identification of traditional tribal agricultural practices in pachaimalai hills, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

The tribal population in Tamil Nadu state is about 5.2 lakhs representing 1.10 percent of the total population. Among the various tribal communities “Malayali Gounders” of Pachamalai hills in one of the predominant tribal communities in Tamil Nadu state. This paper focused identification of traditional tribal agricultural practices were identified in paddy, sorghum and tapioca. In addition ten common traditional tribal agricultural practices were also identified in pachaimalai hills of tamilnadu. A sample size of one hundred tribal farmers was selected randomly from twenty villages. Data were collected by interview with the help of well-structured interview schedule. It concluded that majority of the respondents were found to have medium to high level of adoption of indigenous agricultural practices. Hence it is suggested that the extension workers to utilize the services of the farmers with indigenous knowledge in educating the other farmers.