Indegenous Knowledge Of Upland Tree Management: A Case Study Of The Khasi Of Northeast Bangladesh
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Date
2017-07
Authors
Majumder, Nur Mohammad
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
This study is on indigenous knowledge of upland tree management of Khasi community in Sylhet, northeast Bangladesh. It explored how Khasi people use indigenous knowledge for the management of fruit-bearing trees and also how the farmers hybridize traditional and modern farming elements in the management of fruit bearing trees, the study also examined the various farming threats and challenges encountered by the farmers in carrying-out the tree management activities. Two villages were selected in this study; qualitative method guided this study with a total sample size of 76 respondents. In-depth interview (IDI) and group discussion 66 farmers are considered as respondents and key informant interview (KII) 10 respondents. Data collected were analyzed manually and was guided by thematic approach. Major themes which emerged from the analysis was that within this hybridized farming practices farmers employ both traditional and modern scientific knowledge in the management of fruit bearing trees. At the traditional level they apply organic and inorganic elements to facilitate past growth of trees as they connect it with physiological concepts and abstractions; for modern technique they apply pesticides and fertilizer such as urea, MP, and TSP to give the trees maximum protection for growth and yield. In all these things the Khasi people are doing they are conscious of conserving the ethnoecology of environment. The study findings revealed that so many challenges embedded the process of fruit bearing trees management in Khasi community which include both local and global problems such as few farming inputs, insecurity of land, neighbours conflict and internal community grievances and leadership crisis, pest and diseases as well as environmental hazard.
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Keywords
Indegenous knowledge of upland tree management , the Khasi of Northeast Bangladesh