This paper in the Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge aims to describe indigenous pest management (IPM) practices being followed by farmers of Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand and their belief behind following them.With those practices, farmers would manage pests effectively without deteriorating environment. These practices could be very important if incorporated into integrated pest management research to enrich the research process and make it more relevant for the farmers.
In Uttarakhand hills, due to the prevalence of traditional system of farming, there are many chances of finding indigenous pest management practices. The study identifies various indigenous pest management practices and their scientific basis. The methodology comprises of semi-structured interview schedule, key informant observation and focused group discussion in Gwarbhilkot and Kalaggajali villages in Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand. The documented practices were then placed before the entomologists and plant pathologists of Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar to explore the scientific rationality behind them. Some practices include -