Indigenous technical knowledge practices at household and agriculture in Telangana state

Abstract

The study examined the utilization of Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) in household and agricultural practices in three villages of Suryapet district, Telangana state of India. An exploratory research design was adopted, involving 128 randomly selected respondents. The socio-economic profile revealed that 45.3% were aged 20-35 years, 81.3% were female and 89.8% were married. Regarding education, 30.5% were illiterate and 53.9% were engaged in agriculture. A significant proportion of respondents (96.1%) used turmeric paste for wound care, 83.6% used turmeric in milk for treating cough and cold, and 82.8% used neem leaves for infection control. In agricultural practices, 57.0% sprayed ash on soil 59.4% applied poultry manure, and 86.7% used manure to enhance soil fertility. The study highlighted the role of ITK in sustaining traditional health and agricultural practices, emphasizing the need to integrate these practices with contemporary scientific knowledge for sustainable development.