Traditional Agricultural Tools used by Tribal Farmers in Eastern India

Research Paper Research Journal of Agricultural Sciences 6(1): 215-219, January-February (2015) ISSN: 0976-1675 https:// www.rjas.info DI: 2106-1209-2014-054 Traditional Agricultural Tools used by Tribal Farmers in Eastern India Bikash Sarkar, Prem Kumar Sundaram, Amitava Dey, Ujjwal Kumar, Kamal Sarma and B P Bhatt ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Indian Council of Agricultural Resarch Parisar, P/o: Bihar Veterinary College, Patna - 800 014, Bihar, India e-mail: bikas_sarkar2003@yahoo.com Received: 12 September 2014; Revised accepted: 28 December 2014 A B S T R A C T Present study was carried out with the objective to document indigenous tools used by tribal farmers of Odisha and West Bengal. Survey was conducted in four villages with sample size of 25 each. The detail information about each tool was collected and informative notes were taken during meeting with the farmers at the adapted village under TSP Project operated by ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna. A total 32 tools were documented and tools like khurpa, spade, Axe, sieve, sickle, daw, silnora, kula, jhuri, Nanda and paniki were found in every household. The study also revealed that use of traditional tools was maximum in Uttar Simlabari followed by Mobarakpur, Baredeswar and Phatepur. Key words: Traditional agricultural tools, Hand tools, Tribal farmers, West Bengal, Odisha Tribal families are engaged mostly in agriculture and wage activities, which has been their primary source of livelihood. The traditional economy of tribes is for subsistence only not to profit. Tribal farmers are characterized by small and fragmented land holdings, low productivity of crops and livestock, disguised unemployment, poor income and low risk bearing ability. Traditionally land occupancy status was lying with the tribal but in the gradual process of change; it has been transferred to other communities by various means of legal transfer. Now the situation is such that the upper caste own more and productive land than that of the tribal. The land holding size is also very small and the land productivity or yield per acre is comparatively less. Almost all farming communities have common traditional agricultural implements like Sickle, Plough, Spade, Winnower, Khurpa, Bamboo sieve, Weeder and Axe etc. (Das and Nag 2006, Elzubeir 2014). But, possession of modern agricultural equipment is completely absent. Traditional agricultural tools and implements refer to those invented in ancient times, and used for a long time, until recently or still being used now. Traditional farm tools and implements for self-subsistence have been developed and modified through experience over generations to meet emerging socio-economic and farming challenges. Traditional agricultural tools and implements were made up of locally available materials like stone, wood and iron, constructed at local level or standardized factory-made implements. These tools and implements were economical in term of labour, money and time saving (Karthikeyan et al. 2009). Also, they are operated easily without any special skills. Each of these tools and implements are usually used in connection with specific operation in the sequence of agricultural operations; land preparation, sowing, weeding, irrigation, harvesting, post-harvesting operations and transportation. A brief discussion of the most commonly used indigenous agricultural tools by the tribal farmers are given in the study, which includes: English name or local name, description and usages. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was conducted in the selected villages namely Baredeswar, Phatepur and Mobarakpur in Bhadrak district of Odisha and Uttar Simlabari in Alipurduar District of West Bengal. A total one hundred households (25 in each village) were randomly selected from the four villages of Odisha and West Bengal. Information related to indigenous tools used by them and other socio-personal traits were collected through interview schedule and focus group discussions. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Most commonly used traditional agricultural tools and implements in various tribal dominating villages are illustrated in the study, which includes English or local name, description and their usages. A qualitative research approach was adopted for the study. In India, tribal farmers have been using a variety of traditional tools and implements for agricultural practices, which are identified and discuss as follows: 215

Sarkar et al. 2015 Research Journal of Agricultural Sciences 6(1) Plough (Lungal) Usually, small farmers and farm owners of scattered lands are unable to use tractors and in that case ox-ploughs are highly preferred. The basic components of the plough are a shoe, a body, a handle and a beam. This implement can be used with a pair of oxen to till fields before planting. It has a single bottom desi plough and the average depth of ploughing is 15 cm. It has a provision for adjustment of the hitching point which can be adjusted according to height of oxen and the working depth. Tillage depth can be adjusted by applying manual force on the handle (Fig 1a). The cost plough ranges between `. 800-1500. Spader (Plough) This is similar to Lungal, but without handle. It is mostly used for making furrow and covering the soil for making bund by manual pulling (Fig 2). Its cost is aproximately ` 600. Khurpa (Khurpi) It is used to loosen the soil. It is a hand operated tool also used to remove weeds. The narrow edge khurpi is shown in (Fig 3a), which is used to uplift the root media of weeds/ carrot/radish. Its total length is 0.3 m, working length, 0.16 m and working edge 0.025 m and its cost is ` 20. The wider edge general purpose khurpi is shown in (Fig 3b), its total length is 0.30 m, working length, 0.14 m and working edge is 0.095 m, its cost is 35. Farmers in villages, who canot afford to buy weeders, use Khurpa/Khurpi to remove the weed manually and sometimes also sowing. Weeder rack (Hashkini) It has a wooden plank of one meter lengthto which twelve number of bamboo pegs of (0.16 m) length are fitted with three meter length bamboo shaft. It is used for breaking soil crust after rain and also for uprooting weeds (Fig 4). Its cost is ` 450. Long and short handle weeder (Khera) Long handle weeder performs weeding operation without bending thus reducing drudgery of the farmers and increasing the field capacity. This weeder is generally hand fork type (4 numbers). The uprooted weeds are collected from paddy or wheat field using long handle weeder or khera (Fig 5a). The total length of Khera is 2 m. The short handle weeder or Khera is used for removing weeds from vegetable field (Fig 5b). It has five types and total length of the tool is 0.35 m. Its cost ranges from ` 70-100. Spade (Kodal/Phaura) It is a multipurpose tool used for making bunds, ridges, furrows, shallow trenches for sowing seeds and planting materials, chop weed and removal of crop residue, irrigation channels and even to dig or move soil, such as when harvesting root crops. Handle is made up of bamboo/wood and the working area is made up of iron with rectangular shape (0.20 0.16 m). Various types of spade with vertical handle with 90 o (Fig 6a) and bend handle (Fig 6b) are being used by the farmers. The kuri (Fig 6c) is used for mud excavation to make bund (Hirde). It costs about ` 120. Guity It is a miniature of the spade, it has a short wooden handle and trapezoidal in shape. The soil working tool is made of mild steel (Fig 7). The cutting width of the cutting edge is 0.09m. It is used to move small amounts of soil, weed control by agitating the surface of the soil around plants, pilling soil around the base of plants, creating narrow furrows, shallow trenches for sowing seeds, planting bulbs, chopping weeds, roots and weeding operation. It costs about ` 100. Sickle (Kaste/Daw) This is one of the most popular multi-purpose tool that our ancestors used in agriculture. Primarily designed for harvesting most of the crops like cereals, pulses, millets and grasses. Sickle was designed C shaped/curved with the view to ease the harvesting operation (Fig 8). Hence, it is preferred more than other tools and implements. With the help of sickle the ear heads, branches or even whole plant could be harvested. The cutting or shearing area is made of iron and handle is made up of wood. Its cost ranges from ` 50-80. Daw (Katuri) It is made of mild steel with one side cutting edge and fixed on wooden handle (Fig 9a). It is a multipurpose cutting tool used for cutting bamboo and making strip, wood etc. The length of the working edge is around 0.24 m. Another type of Katuri (Fig 9b) has a long handle (0.45 m) is used for cutting of grass on the embankment. The working edge of this katuri is little smaller than normal daw. Its cost ranges from ` 120-180. Long handle Dauli The cutting tool is similar to sickle and is fitted with a 3 meter long bamboo handle (Fig 10). It is used for cutting weeds from the trees/ cutting nut leaves/dates and cutting of grass at embankment. Its cost is around ` 70. Axe (Kural/Kurali) The axe has many specialized uses. Generally consists of an axe head with a wooden/ bamboo handle of 0.7 m and working edge of 0.08 m (Fig 11). Axes used by the farmers are double beveled, i e symmetrical about the axis of the blade and is frequently used for cutting bamboo, branches of trees for firewood. Its cost is ` 70-80 per kg. Sabal The simplest tool still in use in agriculture is the earth digging work (Fig 12). It is a solid rod (length 1.3-1.4 m) with a flatten end, used for making holes in which plants can be transplanted or making holes to construct fencing/house. Its cost is ` 70-80 per kg. Hand stone mill (Jatakal) 216

Traditional Agricultural Tools used by Tribal Farmers Fig 1a Plough (Dunckle) Fig 1b Plough (Langal) Fig 2 Spader (Plough) Fig 3a Khurpa (Khurpi) Fig 3b Khurpa ( Khurpi) Fig 4 Weed rake (Hashkini) Fig 5a Short handle weeder (Vegetable Khera) Fig 5b Long handle weeder (Rice Khera) Fig 6a Spade (Kodal/ Phaura) Fig 6b Spade (Kodal/ Phaura) Fig 6c Spade (Kodal/ Phaura) Fig 7 Guity Fig 8 Sickle (Kaste/Daw) Fig 9a Daw (Katuri) Fig 9b Daw (Katuri) Fig 10 Long handle Dauli Fig 11 Axe ( Kural/Kurali) Fig 12 Sabal Fig 13 Stone mill (Jatakal) Fig 14 Sil Nora/Sil Pata Fig 15 Paddy spader Fig 16 Bamboo sieve (Chalni/Chalana) Fig 17 Winnower (Kula) Fig 18 Silo (Duli/Thiki) It is used for grinding and crushing. The top circular stone is rotated on a pivot by right hand using a fixed wooden peg, over the heavy circular base (0.32 m diameter and thickness of stone is 0.07 m each) while the left hand 217 slowly pours grains into a hole on top half. The rubbing of the grains by the two flat stones causes splitting and removal of husk. The milling stone is also used to grind wheat, and whole pulses to make Dhal (Fig 13). Its cost is ` 600.

Sarkar et al. 2015 Research Journal of Agricultural Sciences 6(1) Fig 19a Bamboo busket (Jhuri/Tukri) Fig 19b Jhuri/Tukri for general purpose Fig 20 Nanda Fig 21 Bankua/Bhara Baungi Fig 22 Mugura (Gila) Fig 23 Bamboo made Pola Fig 24 Khalui Fig 25 Paniki/Boti Table 1 Percentage distribution of traditional tolls in selected villages of Odisha and West Bengal Use of tools in different villages (%) Name o traditional tools West Bengal Odisha Uttar Simlabari Phatepur Mobarakpur Baradeswar Plough 60 00 50 32 Khurpa 100 100 100 100 Weed rack 32 00 00 00 Weeder 60 00 48 24 Spade 100 96 72 56 Guity 00 00 48 00 Sickle 100 100 100 100 Daw 100 100 100 100 Axe 100 20 08 64 Sabal 32 08 40 32 Hand stone mill 24 00 00 00 Sil nora 100 100 100 100 Paddy spader 72 00 00 00 Bamboo sieve 80 24 72 52 Kula 100 100 100 100 Silo 48 00 16 24 Jhuri 100 100 100 100 Nanda 72 16 24 28 Bankua 88 00 00 00 Mugura 00 24 00 00 Pola 00 48 00 00 Khalui 32 00 00 00 Paniki 100 100 100 100 Sil Nora/SilPata Traditionally, this device consists of one large flat slab (0.40 0.25 0.075m) with a depression mark on the surface and another smaller hand-held cylindrical stone (0.20m length and 0.09 m diameter) (Fig 14). It is used for grinding spices for making paste. It costs about ` 220. Paddy spader It consists of a wooden plank to which a long bamboo handle is attached (Fig 15). It is used in spreading the paddy for drying. It is also used to collect and deposit paddy/pulses/wheat during and after threshing operation in one place. Its cost price is ` 60. Bamboo sieve (Chalni/chalana) In early days, for cleaning, sieving and packaging, many devices made up of bamboo were used. Some of them are still in use (Fig 16). One such device is the sieve or Chhalna that separates dust, stones and other foreign matters from cereals. It costs approximately ` 35 each. Winnower (Kula) 218

Traditional Agricultural Tools used by Tribal Farmers It is a round or U-shaped structure made of bamboo strips. It is coated with cow dung paste to fill up the gaps/ holes (Fig 17). The overall dimensions are0.35 0.25 0.03 m and 0.40 0.03 m in case of u-shaped and circular kula, respectively. It is used in cleaning and winnowing such as pulses, cereals, millets and oil seeds etc. It costs approximately ` 75 each. Silo (Duli/Thiki) It is a round-conical in shape made of bamboo strips coated with cow dung, often mixed with a strengthening material to fill up the gaps/ holes. The base diameter is 1.0 meter while the diameter at top is 1.2m. Its height varies from 1.2 to 1.5m. It is used to store food grain including pulses, cereals, millets and oil seeds etc. by farmers (Fig 18). Its cost approximately ` 550. Bamboo busket (Jhuri/Tukri) It is made up of bamboo stick and is used for mud excavation to make Hirde. It has a depth of 0.20 m and diameter of 0.45 m. Both men and women operate it (Fig 19a). The smaller bamboo basket is used for carrying farm yard manure (FYM) and farm produce (Fig 19b). Its cost ranges from ` 40-60. Nanda It is cylindrical-vertical in shape made of clay soil, locally made by potter. It is used to keep the paddy in wet condition for 48 hours before boiling the paddy to make parboiled rice. The top diameter is 0.9 m and depth is 0.6m with parabolic base. The cost is around ` 550 (Fig 20). Bankua/Bhara Baungi It is used for carrying FYM/ planting materials/ plant leaves in the field (Fig 21). It consists of two bamboo baskets fitted with a shaft made of bamboo similar to a balance. It costs around ` 120. Mugura (Gila) It is conical in shape and made of bamboo stick (Fig 22). It is used for catching of small size fish during rainy season. It is placed in paddy field or shallow water body against flow of water. The small fish once entered in the device, cannot escape. Its base diameter is 0.45 m and total height is 0.9 m. It costs around ` 180. Pola It is conical in shape and made of bamboo stick (Fig 23). The bottom is fully open (0.5 m diameter) and top has small opening (0.20 m diameter). When fishermen observe the movement of fish, he immediately immerses the pola. After trapping, fish are caught by hand and put in khalui (Fig 24). Its height is 0.7 m. It is used in shallow water body/ river, where depth of water is less. It costs around ` 150. Khalui It is made of bamboo stick with conical in shape (Fig 24). Fishermen hold the khalui on their waist and put the fish inside the khalui during harvesting of fish. It costs around ` 40. Paniki (Boti) Paniki/Botiis a cutting tool used particularly in eastern states of India. It is a popular and a convenient device used for chopping vegetables, meat, fish and some of them also have a serrated tip which is used as a coconut scraper. The boti has a curved blade which is attached to a wooden platform (Fig 25). The platform is held down by the foot and the vegetable or meat is moved against the blade for cutting them, using both the hands. The boti is also known as Dao. Its cost ranges from ` 80-120 depending on size and quality of cutting blade. The percentage distribution of traditional tools used by the tribal population of selected villages in Odisha and West Bengal are presented in (Table 1). It is evident from the table that khurpa, sickle, daw, silnora, kula, jhuri and paniki were found in every household. Spade was used by all households in Uttar Simlabari of West Bengal followed by 96, 72 and 56% household of Phatepur, Mobarakpur and Baredeswar of Odisha, respectively. It was observed that some of the tools like weed rack, hand stone mill, paddy spader, bankua and khalui were only found at Uttar Simlabari of West Bengal. Similarly, mugura and pola were only used in the Phatepur village of Odisha. Study also revealed that use of traditional tools was maximum in Uttar Simlabari followed by Mubarkpur, Baradeswar and Phatepur. In any agriculture production system, improved tools and implements play an important role to increase the work efficiency and production. In India most of the tribal farmers have Small and fragmented land holdings and continue to use indigenous tools and implements as it is considered to be cheaper, economical and easily available in the local market. It is needed to be standardizing tools by blending traditional and modern scientific knowledge in completing the work in less time and reducing drudgery. Thus, these indigenous tools need to be documented so that these can be improved and serve the base for developing need based new tools/implements. LITERATURE CITED Das P K and Nag D. 2006. Traditional agricultural tools: A Review. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 5(1): 41-46. Elzubeir A S. 2014. Traditional agricultural tools and implements used in Sudan. International Journal of Agricultural Sciences 4(2): 140-146. Karthikeyan C, Veeraragavathatham D, Karpagam D and Ayisha F S. 2009. Traditional tools in agricultural practices. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 8(2): 212-217. 219