NOPR Collection:

Traditional wisdom of farmers: An experience towards the sustainable development of livestock

Mon, 01 Jul 2002 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Traditional wisdom of farmers: An experience towards the sustainable development of livestock Authors: Singh, Ranjay K.; Dwivedi, B.S.; Singh, Ranjeeta Abstract: Blending of results of informal experimentation and age-old experiences gained by the livestock owners has resulted in adoption of many practices, which are commonly known as Indigenous knowledge (lK) or Traditional Wisdom. Keeping in view the importance of various features of farmers' knowledge about livestock, the present study was conducted in the eastern part of Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh among Yadav community by using the anthropological approach of participant study. Surveys included individuals and wise men other than farmers.
From the study it has been observed that, when farmers purchase the milching animals, they evaluate some important parts of body such as head, jaw, teeth, eyes, horn, tail, legs, hooves, neck, thighs, teats, udder, hump, dewlap, skin and spots on body parts and mammary glands of animals. With the help of special sound making, mucus secretion from vaginal tract and duration and quality of milk, farmers take sound decision for knowing heat period of female animals. In case of low sterility, farmers give special treatment to induce heat. Leaves of manpalla, beets of pigeon, and shoot of kareel (new growing shoot of a bamboo) are used to induce heat period in female animals. The wisdom of farmers regarding livestock has rationality and it is transmitted from one place to other through indigenous media. On account of these findings it is concluded that farmers' knowledge for selecting milching and non-milching animals is inherited over generations and developed by indigenous initiatives and is based on logic which matches the needs and social custom of farmers. Page(s): 70-74

Thummattikai - Traditional preservation of an unexplored vegetable

Mon, 01 Jul 2002 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Thummattikai - Traditional preservation of an unexplored vegetable Authors: Parvathi, S; Kumar, V J F Page(s): 67-69

Indigenous farming knowledge — A case study in Assam

Mon, 01 Jul 2002 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Indigenous farming knowledge — A case study in Assam Authors: Sarmah, Bipul; Sarma, Rajen Page(s): 65-66

Evaluation of the central depressant activity of Jadwar (Delphinium denudatum Wall.) in mice

Mon, 01 Jul 2002 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Evaluation of the central depressant activity of Jadwar (Delphinium denudatum Wall.) in mice Authors: Zafar, Shadab; Ahmad, M. Aftab; Siddiqui, Tariq A. Abstract: In Unani medicine, Jadwar (Delphinium denudatum Wall.) is reputed for its beneficial effects in various neurological disorders. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the central depressant activity of the aqueous extract of Delphinium denudatum (Dd) in mice, using various experimental paradigms of depression viz. pentobarbitone sodium induced hypnosis (PSH), spontaneous motor activity (SMA) and open- field behaviour (OFB) tests. Pilot studies indicated that single dose (2000 mg/kg) administration of Dd had little to no acute behavioural effects, hence the extract of Dd was administered orally at different dose levels. Dd extract (200-1600 mg/kg, orally) showed significant depressant effects on all the paradigms of depression. The results indicate that Dd induced a significant increase in sleeping time of pantobarbitone sodium induced hypnosis. In SMA test, significant decrease was observed in activity counts on photoactometer readings. In OFB test, there was significant decrease in openfield ambulation, sniffing, defecation and slight decrease in preening whereas rearing remained unchanged. The Dd extract showed consistent and significant depressant activity in all the tests. The effects induced by aqueous extract of Dd were less marked at lower dose than at higher dose. Page(s): 59-64