Agricultural Sustainability in Indian Tradition: Knowledge Systems of Krishi-śāstra

Abstract

Agriculture in India has historically evolved within an indigenous framework rooted in diverse ecological, cultural and philosophical traditions. The classical corpus of Krishi-śāstra comprising treatises such as Kṛṣi-Parāśara, Vṛkṣāyurveda, Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, Arthaśāstra and regional agronomic texts offers a comprehensive knowledge system integrating soil health, climate, plant physiology, animal husbandry, water management and ecological ethics. As modern agriculture faces challenges such as soil degradation, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and climate variability, revisiting Krishi-śāstra provides a valuable foundation for sustainable agroecological transitions. This paper examines the philosophical underpinnings, agronomic principles and ecological wisdom embedded in Indian traditional agricultural knowledge. It analyzes concepts such as ṛta (ecological order), panchabhūta (five-element ecology), triguṇa in soil and crop qualities, composting systems, mixed cropping, seed treatment, pest management through botanical formulations and water harvesting. The discussion evaluates the relevance of these ideas to contemporary sustainability paradigms including agroecology, regenerative farming, climate-smart agriculture and soil-carbon enhancement. Through a review of recent scholarly work, this paper argues that Krishi-śāstra provides a holistic, ecocentric, and community-based model that can complement modern scientific approaches and offer resilient pathways for sustainable agricultural futures in India.