Indigeneous Technical Knowledge About Soil and Water Conservation

Over a millennium indigenous people of Chhattisgarh have evolved a large number of practices locally called Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) relating to soil and water conservation suitable for different agro-climatic conditions of the state. Rainfed areas of the state have high rural population with a high concentration of poverty stricken community. In this context, precision agriculture is needed to boost the agricultural production in a more scientific way with farmer¿s participation on watershed basis constitutes the key to agricultural development of rainfed areas. Conservation of land and water not only controls land degradation but also can lead to sustain productivity. Rainfed areas are mostly characterized with high intensity, short duration and erratic rainfall causing unpredictable droughts and floods. Conservation of this scares resources through improved soil and water conservation technology therefore hardly needs emphasis.