Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK)

Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK)

Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK). https://cststudy.blogspot.com/

ITK means these knowledge that are using by farmers generation after generation in Bangladesh. It is  the traditional knowledge of the farmers of Bangladesh in the production, protection and preservation  of crops generated by their own and by the local people.

It is the local knowledge that is unique to given culture of society. It is the basis for local level  decision  making  in  agriculture,  healthcare,  food  preparation,  educational,  natural  resources  management and host of other activities in rural communities.

Objectives 

▶To keep sound environment.

▶No cost of pesticides.

▶No health hazards.

▶No pollution occur.

▶Less labour cost.

▶Use of local materials.

Commonly used ITK 

A. Agriculture: 

1. Spreading tobacco dust over the field to control insect.

2. Applying fish cleaning water at the base of leguminous (bean) and cucurbits to get benefit.

3. De­topping aus rice plants when the vegetative growth is vigorous.

4. Setting up bamboo sticks or branches of trees in rice field to sit down the birds and eat away  insects which helps to control insect infestation.

5. Hand pollination of kakrol, cucurbit flowers for getting round and unique fruits.

6. Spraying Neem solution on the vegetables to control insects.

7. Inter­cropping garlic and potato to minimize pest attack.

8. Spreading Ash in vegetables field to control aphid.

9. Spraying cowdung mixed water in the field to prevent the attack of cattle and goat.

B. Fishery 

1. Applying cow dung to feed the fish.

2. Applying oil cakes in the pond to feed the fish.

3. Applying rice kura (rice husk) in the pond.

4. Applying lime in the pond to clean the unclean water.

5. Using banana leaves in the pond to feed grass carp.

C. Livestock 

1. Feeding garlic mixed with cowdung to chicken to control 'Ranikhet' disease.

2. Feeding birth controlling tablet (Maya tablet) to chicken for controlling "Ranikhet" disease.

3. Feeding rice mixed with KMnO4 to chicken for controlling cure poul chlorera.

4. Feeding the flesh of molluscus to duck for Rapid growth.

5. Feeding the katanotey grass to livestock for improving lactation.

Importance of ITK 

1. ITK  is easy skill and experience dependence. So the people of a community can solve their  problems easily.

2. Many ITK have scientific value. ITK may use for scientific research.

3. It is subjective and linked with farming and involve low cost input use.

4. ITK is eco­friendly for agricultural system.

5. ITK of a specific Community help the extension worker to measure the depth of knowledge.

6. The knowledge are localised and situation specific. So ITK help the farmer to take decision in their  own way.


Limitations 

1. ITK have been passed from generation to generation orally. Errors are bound to creep in ITK in the  absence of proper documentation.

2. Many of the ITK passed on to the community members in the form of proverbs, folkores and folk  song. So many time member cannot remember them easily.

3.  The  scientific  community  does  not  accept  them  because  many  of  them  have  not  scientific  interpretation.

4. ITK fail to hand up to the scientific rationality and hence modern Technology lost of many ITK.