Reviving Indigenous Farming Knowledge in an Input-Intensive Agriculture System: Evidence from Eastern Uttar Pradesh – Frontiers

Report on the Erosion of Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge and its Impact on Sustainable Development Goals in Eastern Uttar Pradesh

1.0 Introduction and Context

This report summarizes a study on the state of indigenous agricultural knowledge among smallholder farming communities in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. Traditional practices such as organic manuring, intercropping, and the use of saved seeds have historically been cornerstones of sustainable agriculture, directly supporting several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, this vital knowledge is rapidly eroding. The study investigates the extent of this erosion and its implications for achieving key SDGs, including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

2.0 Research Methodology

The findings are based on a comprehensive survey conducted by the Grameen Foundation India (GFI) across the districts of Varanasi and Mirzapur. The methodology employed was as follows:

• Sample Size: A total of 1,768 smallholder farmers were surveyed.
• Sampling Technique: A stratified random sampling approach was utilized to ensure representative data.
• Data Collection: A structured, pilot-tested questionnaire was administered to gather information.
• Data Analysis: The study employed descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression to analyze patterns of knowledge erosion and the misapplication of traditional farming practices.

3.0 Key Findings and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

The analysis revealed a significant decline in the application of indigenous agricultural knowledge, posing a direct threat to the achievement of multiple SDGs.

1. Decline in Sustainable Soil Management (SDG 15: Life on Land)

   While an average of 60% of farmers reported using organic fertilizer, a substantial number apply it incorrectly. This misapplication reduces its effectiveness and contributes to the degradation of soil health and fertility over time. This trend directly undermines Target 15.3, which aims to combat desertification and restore degraded land and soil.

2. Shift to Unsustainable Production Systems (SDG 2: Zero Hunger & SDG 12: Responsible Production)

   The majority of farmers have abandoned diverse cropping systems in favor of monocropping, coupled with a heavy reliance on chemical inputs. This shift moves away from sustainable food production systems (Target 2.4) and efficient natural resource management (Target 12.2). It increases vulnerability to pests and climate shocks, threatening long-term food security.

3. Knowledge Gap Hindering Climate Resilience (SDG 13: Climate Action)

   A critical gap exists between farmers’ awareness of traditional practices and their ability to apply them correctly. Indigenous methods like intercropping and organic manuring are crucial for building soil resilience and adapting to climate change impacts. The failure to correctly implement these practices weakens the adaptive capacity of farming communities, hindering progress toward Target 13.1.

4.0 Recommendations for Policy and Action

To reverse these trends and align agricultural practices with the Sustainable Development Goals, the study recommends the following actions:

• Community-Driven Farmer Training: Implement targeted training programs to bridge the gap between awareness and correct agronomic application of indigenous practices. This will directly support the restoration of soil fertility (SDG 15) and the promotion of sustainable agriculture (SDG 2).
• Participatory Awareness Programs: Launch participatory programs and enhance extension service engagement to revive and embed indigenous knowledge within community practices. This fosters sustainable production patterns (SDG 12).
• Future Action Research: Focus future research on integrating indigenous knowledge with modern sustainable land management strategies to enhance agricultural resilience and contribute effectively to local and global sustainability targets.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• The article directly addresses sustainable agriculture and the practices of smallholder farmers, which are central to achieving food security. It discusses issues like soil fertility, monocropping, and the use of organic versus chemical inputs, all of which impact food production and the sustainability of food systems. The focus on “enhancing resilience” and supporting “smallholder communities in India” is a core component of SDG 2.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• This goal is relevant through the article’s emphasis on sustainable farming practices. The discussion on the “heavy reliance on chemical inputs” versus the use of “organic manuring” points directly to the need for more sustainable production patterns in agriculture. The study’s aim to revive indigenous practices is a strategy to reduce chemical dependency and promote environmentally sound management of natural resources like soil.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• The article is fundamentally about sustainable land management. It highlights how the misapplication of organic fertilizers and other farming practices are “potentially affecting soil health and fertility over time.” The recommendation to revive indigenous knowledge is presented as a strategy for “restoring soil fertility” and embedding these practices in “future sustainable land management strategies,” which directly aligns with the goal of protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems.

SDG 4: Quality Education

• The article identifies a “critical gap between awareness and correct agronomic application of traditional practices.” To address this, it explicitly recommends “farmer training, participatory awareness programs, and extension engagement.” This highlights the need for education and knowledge dissemination to equip farmers with the skills required for sustainable development, a key aspect of SDG 4.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 2.4: Sustainable food production and resilient agricultural practices

• The article’s entire focus is on ensuring sustainable food production systems. It critiques the current trend of monocropping and reliance on chemicals while advocating for resilient indigenous practices like intercropping and organic manuring to “progressively improve land and soil quality.” The goal is to make farming more sustainable and resilient for smallholders in Eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Target 12.2: Sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources

• The promotion of indigenous agricultural knowledge, such as the correct application of organic fertilizers and intercropping, is a direct attempt to achieve more sustainable management of natural resources, specifically land and soil. The article points out that current practices are inefficient and potentially harmful, indicating a need to move towards the goals of this target.

Target 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil

• The article expresses concern that current farming methods are “affecting soil health and fertility over time,” which is a form of land degradation. The central recommendation to revive indigenous practices is aimed at “restoring soil fertility,” which directly contributes to the objective of restoring degraded land and soil as outlined in this target.

Target 4.7: Education for sustainable development and global citizenship

• The article’s conclusion that there is a need for “farmer training, participatory awareness programs, and extension engagement” is a direct call for education for sustainable development. The goal is to provide farmers with the knowledge and skills needed to adopt sustainable agricultural practices, which is precisely what Target 4.7 aims to achieve.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Proportion of agricultural area under sustainable practices

• The article implies this indicator by contrasting sustainable practices (intercropping, correct organic manuring) with unsustainable ones (monocropping, heavy chemical use). It states that the “majority of farmers follow monocropping systems.” Progress could be measured by tracking the percentage of farmland shifting from monocropping to intercropping and other sustainable methods.

Farmer’s knowledge and application of sustainable practices

• The article identifies a “critical gap between awareness and correct agronomic application.” An indicator would be the percentage of farmers who can demonstrate both knowledge and correct application of practices like organic manuring. The study notes that while “sixty percent of farmers still use organic fertilizer,” many “apply them incorrectly.” Closing this gap would be a measure of success.

Reduction in the use of chemical inputs

• The article highlights that farmers “rely heavily on chemical inputs.” A direct indicator of progress towards more sustainable production (SDG 12) would be a quantifiable reduction in the volume and frequency of chemical fertilizers and pesticides used by the smallholder farmers in the study area.

Perceived and measured changes in soil fertility

• The article mentions that the negative effects on soil health and fertility are “perceived by farmers.” This perception can be used as a qualitative indicator. A more quantitative indicator, directly related to SDG 15, would be the scientific measurement of soil organic matter, nutrient levels, and other markers of soil health in the region over time to track progress in “restoring soil fertility.”

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: frontiersin.org