Indigenous Technical Knowledge for Insect-pest Control in Home Gardens: Insights from Punjab's Border Areas

Abstract

Indigenous communities worldwide have refined traditional pest control strategies rooted in their knowledge of local environments over generations. Environments and natural resources, these methods are often cost-effective, eco-friendly, and tailored to local conditions. The adoption of ITK-based strategies is often influenced by social norms and community beliefs. Farmers may prefer these methods due to their cultural familiarity and perceived safety compared to chemical alternatives. The main objective of the study was to find out the Indigenous practices used by the farmers in kitchen gardening for insect pest management. The present study was conducted in three border districts of Punjab, namely, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Tarn Taran. A random selection of 15 rural and 15 urban respondents was made from each district, resulting in a total sample of 90 respondents. The findings revealed that the use of neem extract spray, ash dusting, a mixture of red chili, green chili, and garlic, and the application of lassi (buttermilk) were common Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) practices employed by farmers for insect-pest management in kitchen gardening. The study further found that age and experience in kitchen gardening significantly influenced farmers’ decisions to adopt ITK practices.