Ziro, a paradise land situated at
altitude of 2573 meters from mean sea level is encircled with lofty hills
covered by infinite green forest enriched with variant species of flora and
fauna including several rare species like pine tree (Pinus Patanis), Bamboo
(Pleioblastus Simonii), etc. Nature has gifted a wonderful ecology to Ziro
Valley by providing a heavenly natural condition for the people and it’s
surrounding. In coherent with favorable ecology, the inhabitants of this valley
are quite intelligent to maintain its balance and to perpetuate its beauty
through traditional arrangement. They are popularly known as most eco-friendly
tribes of the world. The traditional management, which they have been
practicing from time immemorial are simple in observation but involves high
technology indeed.
The inhabitants of this tranquil
valley who are primitive, medium stature and typical mongoloid having prominent
tattoos, ornamented with nose plug by women and red dyed cane tail by men are
called Apatani. The main occupation of these people is agriculture. The
traditional methods of agriculture management of these people are very popular.
They have developed many incredible agriculture methods; in synchronize with
the latest scientific technology so called the sustainable agriculture. Even
some of the technique use, which has been developed by these people are not yet
found in modern technology. Few examples of the agriculture methods
traditionally developed by the Apatanis are discussed below:
LAND USE MANAGMENT
The kitchen garden (Local name ‘Balu’)
is present in almost every household. It is located at the backside or at the
adjoining side of the dwelling house. The selections of crops for planting in
kitchen garden are done in such a way that it meets the immediate requirement
for the household. The common crops are chilly, ginger, cucumber, beans, maize,
mustard, cabbage, cauliflower, coriander, pumpkin, colocasia, potato etc. The
kitchen garden represents a perfect mixed cropping with less in number of same
crop but containing variety in species.
The upland areas a bit away from
dwelling house, ranging 200 m to 1000 m are used for distant garden (known as ‘Yorlu’).
It is properly enclosed with fence using bamboo tip or sometimes with China
rose (Hibiscus roseasinensis). Selection of crop is made same as that of
Kitchen garden but grown in larger area. Fruits bearing trees like Apple, Pear,
Plum etc. are also planted along the fence or planned randomly in the garden.
Primarily the produce of distant garden(Yorlu) is for domestic, but is made
commercially available, if surplus arises.
The upland area having same distance
with distant garden (Yorlu) or a little far away is used as open garden
(Lyapio). It is no bounded by fence. However, it is properly demarcated with
furrows from individual’s plot to plot. It is generally planted with finger
millet, but potatoes are also planted occasionally.
Bamboo grove (Biije) is located at the
adjoining site of kitchen garden or may be located at a distance of 2 to 3 km
from the house. It is managed by an individual. Certain types of shrubs and
trees are also grown along with the bamboo. Bamboo is preserved as much as
possible, so as to use it for construction of traditional house as well as use in
the emergency situation.
After bamboo groves, it is followed by
trees and shrub forest (Sansung). It is generally used for collecting firewood.
It is managed by an individual. Some useful trees and shrubs are grown in this
forest like pine tree etc. and regular a forestation with useful trees and
shrubs are done by removing the unwanted plants. This forest is very useful as
an alternative source of firewood to bamboo.
The land after trees and shrubs forest
is followed by deep forest (Morey). It is jointly managed by a sub-clan or a
clan or by the whole village. The area is kept open for rearing mithun and is
also used for hunting wild animals. There is no restriction for cutting
firewood except for certain valuable trees and shrubs and growing different
varieties of canes.
It is seen from the above pattern that
systematic arrangement has been made for using available land and there is not
a single piece of land, which is found unused and barren. This pattern refers
to the three-tier system of agro-forestry management in which lowest level of
land has to be planted with agronomical crops, middle level with horticulture
crops and on top level with forestry plants. This pattern of agro-forestry
management helps in controlling the soil erosion and in maintaining the
ecological balance.
IRRIGATION
MANAGEMENT:
A splendid work done by the ancient
Apatanis is in developing the permanent irrigation system. The most interesting
features of irrigation system is that the water from different sources like
small stream, rivulets, rills etc. are collected into a common point and
released through a single outlet which is scientifically termed as
geohydrological unit or the catchments area and this management process is
called water use efficiency. The main irrigation channel (Silling), which is
connected from the sources, runs along the top most area of the
terrace-wet-paddy field, preferably, in the area just at the foothill of
distance garden or bamboo groves. The other secondary channels are connected
from main channel and run downward. The irrigation system is designed in such a
manner that all the paddy fields are supplied with plenty of water through the
field ditches. If one area is not sufficient to receive water from one
direction, then it is supplied from another direction. The paddy fields are
arranged slightly in terraced form with lowering down pattern, so that all the
fields get water from one source or the other. To develop such an irrigation
system it requires intense survey and systematic study of the area.
It is observed from the above
discussion that the forefather of Apatanis were very hard working and highly
technical oriented people, on account of which they have successfully developed
the indigenous-permanent irrigation system.
MANURE AND
FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT
From time immemorial the Apatanis have
been using, the piggery and poultry excreta, firewood ash and paddy straw,
which is burned down in situ etc. in the agriculture field to increase the
yield of crops. Perhaps only few tribes in the world must have been using these
materials for the same purpose without having knowledge of the advanced
technology. Scientifically, these materials are called organic manures. The
piggery and poultry excreta contains high amount of Nitrogen, which helps to
increase the number of leaves, tillering and luxuriant growth of vegetables
parts of the pants. It is advisable to apply more in leafy vegetable garden.
Firewood ash and straw ash contain high amount of phosphate and potash- of which
phosphorous helps to improve the reproductive parts of the plants such as
fruits and seeds and potassium helps to improve the defensive mechanism of the
plants. In general organic manures improve soil texture, water holding
capacity, cation exchange capacity and fertility of the soil.
NON-TILLAGING OF
PADDY FIELD:
It is one of the most unique methods
of paddy cultivation. The paddy seedlings are transplanted without ploughing
the main field, while stubbles of previous crops are still there, besides the
yield is also not affected. It is not a rationing crop. The main reason behind
the successful cultivation of this method may be because of proper management
of water, weeds and sufficient gap between crops to crop. However, it is the
most distinct method of paddy cultivation ever know.
PADDY-CUM-FISH
CULTURE:
It is the most interesting method
practiced by the Apatanis. The success behind the adoption of this method is
the efficient water management by these people. In early periods, the standing
water in paddy field was used for culturing the aqua fauna like small fishes,
nymphs or dragonfly, tadpoles, frogs etc. These were harvested at the time of
weeding and finally at the last drainage at about 25-30 days before harvesting
of the paddy. But, this method has been improved by introducing the village
level fish pond by the government in early 1960s, from which the fingerlings
are transferred annually to the main paddy field. Culturing fish especially
common-carp along with the paddy, acts as a promising bio-agent for controlling
certain aquatic weeds.
TOP CUTTING OF
SEEDLINGS
Top cutting of paddy seedlings are
done when the seedlings is beyond the transplanting stage and is to be
transplanted after two or three days. But this method is compulsory for millet.
Apatanis have been practicing this technique for a long period of time, unknown
about the usefulness of the technique. In scientific point of view, it helps to
decrease the transpiration rate of the plant by reducing the exposed leaf area,
delay in wilting and reduce the diseases, insect and pest infestations by
letting off the affected part which is generally found of the leaf tip.
TOBACCO PLANTING IN
THE BORDER OF CHILLY BED:
Tabacco is planted in the border of
chilly bed. This method is being practiced since ancient periods. They found
that if tobacco is planted along with chilly on its bed, the chilly plant dies
less. The scientific reason behind this relation is that the chilly is
susceptible to infestation of chilly trips (Scritotrips Dorsalis). The trips
suck the sap from tender region and cause the leaf to shrivel, shoot hardly
develops, and leaves fall off. The same trips are more attracted to the tobacco
plants when it is planted along with the chilly plants. This way it helps to
avert the sever infestation of trips in chilly. This method is called trap
cropping.
There are many things yet to be
learned from their indigenous traditional techniques, which in turn may help us
to solve various agriculture problems in eco-friendly manner. However, these
indigenous techniques require proper exploration and exposure, so that these
techniques would fuse with modern technology to develop and improved method.
This improved method can be achieved by joint efforts of scientific personnel
and the local people.
The ancestors of Apatanis had
developed sufficient agriculture techniques at their utmost capacity. They gave
their best effort to provide maximum socio-economy security to their offspring
and to open a series of avenues for future generation and thus, they had
achieved it. Now, the card turns on the hand of present generation about how
they utilize the inherited indigenous techniques in acclimating with the latest
trend for their next generation.
