Scientific rationality of indigenous crop management practices of two agro-ecological zones of Karnataka

Indigenous information systems are dynamic and this knowledge system is usually not found in written form and is transmitted from generation to generation through word of mouth. It was built up on farmer’s own knowledge generated over centuries, unlike modern technologies, which are exogenous. The present study was aimed at collecting crop management Indigenous Technical Know-how (ITK) followed by farmers and to test their scientific rationality. Present study was undertaken in zone-8 (Northern transitional zone) and zone-9 (Hilly zone) of Karnataka. ITKs related to crop management were collected through checklist guided discussions in 8 villages. Thirty agronomists were consulted to know the scientific rationality of collected ITKs. Results were analyzed using chi-square to know whether sampled agronomists opinion about ITKs match with that of population of experts or there exist any difference of opinion towards the ITK. Seven ITKs (2C, 3C, 5C, 6C, 17C, 18C and 19C) were categorized as highly rational and four ITKs (8C, 10C, 12C and 13C) as least rational. Experts expressed multiple opinions about ITKs 1C, 2C, 5C, 6C, 8C, 13C and 18C thus indicating difference between sampled experts with that of population.