Indigenous Agriculture in the Hills of North-East India: A Study of the Nyishi Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh

Abstract

This study examines the indigenous agriculture practices of the Nyishi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh living in the high altitudes of the Kurung Kumey district of Arunachal Pradesh. The study adopts a qualitative method to examine the indigenous agriculture practice of the Nyishi tribe. The study found that Nyishi tribe has very insightful knowledge about the indigenous tools and techniques in jhum (shifting) cultivation. The study documents close association of the Nyishi tribe in their agriculture through some sustainable indigenous activities like selection of fertile soil, adaptive and pest resistance varieties of seeds, post-harvest management, indigenous seeds preservation, pest management technique, implementation of traditional tools which are suitable in the steep terrains etc. Though they are still concentrating on jhum cultivation; some of the capital-rich farmers start large cardamom cultivation and orange plantation in the slopes of the hills. The study emphasizes integrating indigenous knowledge with context-specific agricultural development for ecological and livelihood sustainability.