Indigenous methods of grain storage followed by the Lepcha and Limbo tribes in the Himalayan tract of Sikkim

Abstract

Since time immemorial, seed has been stored through indigenous methods as per people’s convenience and access to contemporary technologies. Thus, indigenous traditional methods have become essential component of sustainable agriculture and it varies from region to region. However, with modernization, urbanization and the associated technological breakthroughs, the indigenous technologies have been eroded and are not passed on to next generation. In the present study, attempt has been made to identify some of the traditional methods and associated knowledge called Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK), linked to storage of seeds and grains followed by the people of Sikkim, the organic state of North-eastern India. ITKs were collected from 04 villages of east district and 02 villages of west district of Sikkim. Total of 06 (bhakari, kotha, jhutta, dalo, chindo and dhikuti) traditional storage structures were identified which are commonly used by the people of Sikkim to store grains. Utilizing the locally available materials people has designed their own eco-friendly and safe storage structures for storing grains.