Traditional farming system of Garo tribe in district of

M. S. Uddin1 , R. Ahmed1, M. F. K. Khan1, M. A. S. A. Khan1, and M. S. Rahman2

1Department of Forestry, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, -3114, Bangladesh, 2Department of Agroforestry, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, -5200, Bangladesh.

Abstract: This article explores the indigenous knowledge of traditional farming system of Garos on plain land, homestead and forestland with the objective of assessing its role in conserving the natural resources. For this purpose an exploratory study was conducted in two villages namely Fulbari and Nollapara inhabited by both local people and Garo tribe. Primary informations were collected through households interview by a semi-structured questionnaire. A total of 40 Garo households out of 100 were interviewed. Average family size of Garo tribe in the study area was 6.5. Overall, 53% of the total population was male and the remaining was female. In practicing traditional farming and regulating other livelihood activities the Garo tribe had developed indigenous knowledge of their own which was transmitted from generation to generation. We found that Garo tribe applied their indigenous knowledge on plain land and homestead management. They mainly adopted Agroforestry farming technique for their early income and livelihoods. In case of forestland management they share their knowledge with forest department through participatory management. Considering the present findings it is concluded that the indigenous knowledge of Garo tribes is helpful for the conservation of natural resources. However, government and non-governmental supports were needed for the improvement of their indigenous knowledges. Keywords: Indigenous knowledge, farming system, agroforestry, Garo tribe. INTRODUCTION Garo tribal peoples lived in the northern part of Traditional knowledge and life style of the division. Garos are concentrated mainly in indigenous people have close link with nature. Tangail, , Netrokona and Jamalpur Traditional knowledge is also a fundamental district. In Bangladesh, they call themselves component of natural resource management. Mandi (Which means human being) and in the Indigenous communities care much about their people use the name Achick (Hill surrounding environment and employ a variety of person) (Burling, 1997). systems and practices to deal with land resources, The need for indigenous knowledge wild life plants and water etc. (Ovedeo, 2000). research is emerging with the participatory The Garo tribe have an ethnic identity are no movement (De Walt, 1994; Sillitoe, 1998). We exception. define indigenous knowledge as traditional The latest record of ethnic groups in knowledge used by the local people for natural Bangladesh gives the number as 27 distributed in resource management relating to agriculture, the various regions of Bangladesh (BBS, 1992). fisheries, livestock, health practices and other However, according to Khaleque (1995) the activities. According to Khan et. al. (2000) number of ethnic groups was 21. Garo is one of indigenous knowledge is the local knowledge them. Khan (1998) reported that there are 64280 unique to a society, community or culture. Garos have their own traditional knowledge to manage Durgapur located in the northern region of natural resources for their livelihoods. The main Netrakona district with an area of 293.42 sq km. It livelihood activities of Garos are agricultural is bounded by (State of India) on the practices in the plain land, homestead and in the north, Netrakona Sadar and Purbadhala forestland. They follow plough cultivation in on the south, on the east, plain land for transplanting rice. But they on the west. Geologically the managed their homesteads and forest land as area is almost uniform (Rashid, 1991). agroforestry system namely agrosilvipastoral Topographically the area is characterized by its system and agrisilvicultural system respectively. large hillock, known as tilla. The drainage pattern Garos managed their plain land and of the area is dentric (Hossain and Hauque, 1977). homestead since time immemorial. But they The soil pattern of the Durgapur is complex. Most managed the forestland from 1990 associated with of the upland has deep, moderately well drained forest department of Bangladesh. They cultivate permeable clay to heavy clay in the valleys. Some rice in the plain land and different vegetable, of the upland has impervious clayey sub soil. Soil spices, timber, livestock in their home garden. pH varies from 6 to 6.5 (Rashid, 1991). Except salt and oil they produced most of their We purposively selected Durgapur daily necessities. They collected fodder, fuelwood, upazila of Netrakona district as maximum number timber, medicinal drugs, and agricultural of Garo tribe lived in this upazila. We collected implements from the forest (Dwivedi, 1993). the list of Garo villages from Durgapur upazila The study was conducted in Fulbari and statistics office. There were five villages in where Nollapara villages within the Durgapur upazila of Garos are dominant. Two villages namely Fulbari Netrakona district. Till now, no extensive study and Nollapara were selected randomly. We found has been carried out to document the traditional 100 Garo households in these two villages. A farming system of Garos. We explored the total of 40 households were selected randomly for techniques of traditional farming system of Garo interviewing. Sampling intensity was 40%. Data tribe. The purpose of this study is to provide were collected both by the interview and from insights of the indigenous knowledge of Garos direct observation during a long period of nine practiced on plain land, homestead and forest land months from October’05 to June’06. We used a management that would be useful to the semi structured questionnaire for households agricultural department, relevant non-government interviewing focusing on the traditional farming organization, and forest department in the efforts system. On each topic the respondents were free to support their livelihoods. to express his/her views.

Material and Methods: Results and Discussion The study was conducted in Durgapur upazila We revealed the total number of Garo households (sub-district) of , Bangladesh. in our study site was 100. Family sizes were comparatively big ranging from 4 to 11 people as satisfactory. We found the literacy rate 74%. most of the families were combined. Average Among them highest percentage was in primary household size was 6.5. Fifty three percent of the level (45%) followed by secondary (17%) and total population was male and the remaining was higher secondary (12%) (Fig 1). female. The literacy rate of the Garo was

47 45 43

29 26 23 19 17

Percentage 15 14 12 10

Illiteracy Primary Secondary H. Secondary

Male Female Overall education rate

Figure 1: Households education status.

Ric h Poor 25% 30%

Poor Middle Ric h

Middle 45%

Figure 2: Economic status of the households

Most of the households in our study site are under middle and rich category respectively poor to middle class. We divided Garo (Fig. 2). Household interviews indicated that households into three categories namely poor, for most people, monthly expenditures middle, and rich according to their income. exceeded their income. Asking their monthly income from different Traditional farming system sources we categorized them into poor There are three types of farming (monthly income range

Plain land Agriculture Pricking and planting of seedling Topographically the area is The seedbed is wetted about 10-12 characterized by the large plane tract except hours before pricking the seedling. This is some tillas. The plain land is generally used done in such a way that there would no for rain fed crop e.g. Aman and Aus rice. damage in roots and shoots. Seedlings are Sometime the gentle slope between the tillas sowed in line about 25cm spacing from row is used for growing maize, groundnut, to row and 15cm spacing about seedling to mustard by applying minimum tillage. Slopes seedling. around the tilla land are protected by raising hedges which also reduce the velocity of the Cultural practices water reaching the plain land. All land in the For Boro cultivation, they kept the study area is suitable for paddy cultivation. land weed free at least for 40-45 days. But flood free area is suitable for high Weeding is done by rotary weeder. On an yielding rice cultivation in monsoon. average, 120 cm water is applied for the lifetime of the Boro rice cultivation. If there Procedure of growing seedling is any shortage of water, production will be The place where light and air is low and even damages the crops. To obtain available and free from floodwater is suitable maximum production equal water level for nursery bed. The land is prepared for irrigation is done by proper leveling of the nursery bed by ploughing, watering and land. The rate of the fertilizer depends on the laddering and made it very soft and muddy. fertility of the land, season and the type of The total area is fragmented into several unit rice. To improve the effectiveness and utility plots, which are 125cm × 1000cm. In of the fertilizer the following rules are between the two units 50cm wide and 20 cm followed by Garo households- deep drain is prepared for draining, watering, • All dissolute fertilizer are broadcasted and taking care of seedling. Seeds are poured before ploughing and laddering the loosely into the sack and remain it for 3-4 land days by covering it with straw. After 3-4 days • If the land is infertile, 30% urea new shoots come out from seeds. These seed fertilizer is broadcast in 7-10 days after planting the seedling. Land preparation for tree species is • If the crop is used for seed, the very similar to the establishment of forest tree amount of the fertilizer is reduced into plantation (viz. spot clearing- staking-hole about 20%. digging). But for crops the preparation is • In acidic soil, Murate of Potash is more thorough and involves tillage operations. broadcasted. In general the purpose of field preparation is For Boro rice cultivation in or low land, to provide a proper biophysical environment Urea (135kg), TSP (200kg), Potash (70kg), for the crops. Zipsum (60kg) and Zinc Sulphate (10kg) is Planting materials used per hectors. About 175 harmful insects Garo use seed, seedling and are found in paddy field among them 20-30 vegetative propagules to generate the plant in species are seriously harmful and 15 species their home garden. They broadcast or put the are found all the year round. About 13% Boro seeds in a certain place and watering. After crops are destroyed by the insects attack. germination watering continued and keeps it Sometimes insecticides are applied for the free from goat and other cattle. Sometimes removal of the pests and insects. they throw the seeds after consuming the fruits. Some trees are grown from vegetative Harvesting propagules for budding grafting and cutting. Paddy is harvested when 80% are Sometimes they collect vegetative propagules ripped. Then rice is collected from the rice which produced from root viz. Teak, Sal, strict. The green straw is not dried in the sun Taro and banana etc. immediately. It is stored in a heap for 5-6 days to increase chemical content and food Sources of planting materials value in it. Rice is dried in the sun and kept in Food and fruits producing species the storeroom. The production rate of Boro are mostly originated from seed which is rice yield is 6 tons per hector. collected from their home garden. Sometimes Homestead Agroforestry they collect improved variety of fruits from Home garden farming system is an their neighbors. After consuming the fruits ancient and widespread agroforestry system. they sow the seeds. In case of exotics and Garo tribe follows agrosilvipastoral system in timber producing species they use seedling their homesteads. There are three main which are collected from market. components of this system namely trees, crops and livestocks. Planting pattern Field Preparation Most of the Garo were found to follow traditional planting pattern. They crops at its peak physiological maturity. To always make their house south facing in order be sure about the maturity of trees, the to ensure maximum sunlight and wind. They farmers observed by striking them with the also do it in order to keep their rooms free back of the dao. When they heard somewhat from water from the Kal baishaki storm, metallic sounds, they confirmed about the which always comes from North West maturity of the plants. It was reported that direction. Fruit trees are always planted near they harvested the tree species during the the house. Timber species are planted usually winter season. Sattar (1998) assed the away from their home especially in the scientific basis of the reason that trees has northwest side of home to protect their living lesser chance of attach by the fungus and houses. Most of the Garo houses have two- insects during winter season due to low entrance road, which are planted with Supari. temperature and humidity. Vegetables (climbing) were planted usually east and south side of their house. Participatory Forestry The territory of the Durgapur tract is Cultural practices almost plain but there are some tillas in the Garo households practices different boarder line areas. The tillas are under the cultural operation in their homesteads. They protection of the forest department. Most of follow weeding operation in time when they the land property of the forest department is had no agricultural works in the field. Their used as participatory agroforestry that is family members do weeding operation. called woodlot plantation by the Garos. This Weeds are used as mulch if they are herb and woodlot plantation was started in 1990 and not used as fodder. If it is fodder species, the still it is going on successfully. Local forest weeds are collected for their cattle. In case of department, settlers and the Garo are the key vegetable if any insect attack occurs they use component of this program. The land which ash to prevent those. Most of them use cow was occupied by the encroachers and on dung and ash as manure, no chemical which agricultural crops are practiced is fertilizer was reported to use. mainly selected for the woodlot plantation. Total area of woodlot plantation is 100 Harvesting hectares and total number of the participants The timing of harvesting agricultural is 100. Every Garo participant gets one crops could spell the difference between hectares land year to year as a renewable success and failure. Most horticultural crops basis. Garo participant follows the are harvested by priming i.e. harvesting the agrisilvicultural system in this forest land. There are two components namely tree and stage of contract tenure. crops in this agroforestry system. They plant • Farmers are given right to enjoy the different types of tree and crops species in entire output from the agriproducts confined land. Most common medicinal and • All intermediate returns from dead horticultural species are Neem, Bohera and trees branches pruning, thinning, and pineapple papaya respectively. They get up rooting are being enjoyed by the whole benefit from the medicinal and participants. horticultural species. Few years ago this area was full of forest trees. Sharing agreement Terms of participation in participatory The plantation established on Forestry participatory basis are being harvested at the The local landless and small farmers end of rotation and the sale proceeds are living in and around the project area and distributed on the basis of benefit sharing encroacher were selected as participants. In agreement approved by the Apex Body as case of Garo tribe poor, landless, and Garo follows: households adjacent to the project area were • Forest department - 50% selected as participants. Participatory • Beneficiaries - 40% Agroforestry approach is a continuous • Tree farming fund (TFF) - 10% process. Both forest department and The sharing agreement is documental and it is participants follow some terms and conditions. delivered to all participants. TFF is kept to a These are as follows- committee and spend to establish and • Each participant is granted usufruct maintain new plantation. The participants get right over 1 hectares forest land on a several technical supports from forest year to year renewable basis. department. Proper training on how to plant • Agricultural inputs in Agroforestry and maintain the plantation is given to them model viz. forest tree seedling, crop by the forest department. Planting materials seeds, fruits seedling, fertilizer, such as fertilizer, stick, strings are also insecticides given free of cost to the provided to them. The forest department does participant by the forest department. protection from pest, disease and mortality • If any participant fails to satisfy the and vacancy filling. conditions set by the forest department, forest department holds Conclusion the right to nullify the contract at any The indigenous people living in the upland area of our country depends on available local De Wall, B. R. 1994. Using indigenous natural resources to meet their needs in knowledge to improve agriculture and respect to their agricultural production, cattle natural resource management. Human rearing, food and medicine. They are the Organization. 53 (2): 123-131. natural protector of our forest. By adopting Burling, R. 1997. The Strong Women of Agroforestry and participatory forestry Modhupur. The University Press program, the hilly people again prove their Limited, Dhaka1000, Bangladesh. 274p. willingness to save the forest in the study area. Dwivedi A.P.1993. Forest : Non-Wood Resources. Though they are managing their farms well Dehradun, India. 212p. by their indigenous knowledge and management techniques, but there is no Hossain, K. Z., and Haque, N. 1977. The modern farming technology and broad credit Avifauna of the Madhupur Forest. facilities. They are also facing a lot of Proceeding of First National problems during cultivation, agroforestry and Conference on Forestry, Bangladesh, participation in joint forest management. So, 381p. it is needed to solve their problems and Khaleque, K. 1995. Ehtnic communities of provide more credit facilities by government Bangladesh. In Gain, P. (ed.). and non-government organizations. Modern Bangladesh. Land, Forest and Forest suitable technology on agroforestry should people. Society fo Environment and introduce to them and motivate them to adopt Human Development(SEHD), it, which ultimately increase their income, Dhaka.PP 1-25. uplift lifestyle and samely reduce their Khan M.S. 1998. Prospects of Ethno-Botany dependency on forest for their livelihoods that and Ethno-botanical research in save the forest. Further research is strongly Bangladesh. In R.L. Banik, M.K. Alam, encouraged in this regard for other villages S.J. Pei and A. Rastogi (eds.), Applied dominated by Garo tribe. Ethno-botany. BFRI, , pp 24

- 27. References Khan, A. N., Sen, S., Mustafa, M. M. 2000. BBS (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics), 1992. A Primer on the Documentation of Bangladesh Population Census 1991, Indigenous Knowledge in Bangladesh: Zilla series: Bandarban. Ministry of The BARCIK’s Experience. Of Ppular planning, Government of the people’s Wisdom: Indigenous Knowledge and Republics of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Practices in Bangladesh. N.A. Khan (ed), BARCIK, Dhaka, 2000, pp15-21.

Oviedo, G. and Maffi, K. 2000. Towand a Biocultural Approach to Conserving the Deversity of life in the World’s Eco- regions. Indigenous and traditional peoples of the world and Ecoregion conservation. PP. 4-32.WWF, Gland, Switzerland.

Rashid H.E. 1991. Geograpry of Bangladesh. University Press Limited. Dhak- 1000.FAO, 1988; Land Resources Appraisal Of Bangladesh for Agricultural Development Report-5, Vol-1

Sattar, M.A. 1998. Indigenous Technology for processing of Forest produces. In R.L. Banik, M.K. Alam, S.J. Pei and A.Rastogi (eds.) Applied Ethnobotany. BFRI, Chittagong, pp 83-84.

Sillitoe, P. 1998. The development of indigenous knowledge: a new applied anthropology. Current Anthropology, 39(2): 223-252.