266 Traditional agricultural tools and implements Selected Paper Asian Agri-History Vol. 21, No. 3, 2017 (267-285) 267 energy is a prerequisite for mechanized These indigenous tools and A Critical Discussion on the Methods Currently Recommended agriculture. The geographical constraints implements need to be to Support Organic Crop Farming in India of Sikkim prevent from large-scale use of standardized by blending with farm mechanization methods. In Sikkim, YL Nene modern scientic knowledge in most of the farmers have small and reducing drudgery. Thus, Chairman-Emeritus, Asian Agri-History Foundation; 47 ICRISAT Colony -1, Brig. Sayeed Road, fragmented land holdings and continue to Secunderabad 500009, Telangana State, India (email:
[email protected]) use indigenous tools and implements as pertinent information on these they are cheaper, economical, and easily indigenous tools needs to be Date of acceptance: 15 July 2017 available in the local villages. These documented for further scientic indigenous tools and implements need to improvement and modication. Abstract be standardized by blending with modern scientic knowledge in reducing drudgery. Excessive use and abuse of agro-chemicals during the Green Revolution period led to Thus, pertinent information on these References serious concerns about environmental pollution and that resulted in a shift to the reduced indigenous tools needs to be documented Census of India. 2011. Sikkim: District chemical' or non-chemical farming methods. Beginning in 1990s, researchers and farm for further scientic improvement and Census Handbook (North, West, South, and policy makers all over the world, including India, re-focused their attention to organic modication. East districts). Directorate of Census farming.