Preserving Seeds, Culture: Traditional Knowledge Among Nagaland’s Naga Tribes

November 13, 2023

The Naga tribes of India’s northeastern Nagaland state have long relied on traditional knowledge to preserve diverse crop seeds across generations. This oral wisdom enabled survival but now faces modern pressures.

Seed Saving as Community Safety Net

Naga groups like the Ao and Sümi share seeds in crises. Researchers visiting six Nagaland villages found seed selection and storage is integral to cultivation, passed down for generations.

Strategic Crops for Shifting Cultivation

The tribes practice shifting “jhum” cultivation in mountainous terrain. They strategically plant resilient crops suited to soil types – rice, millet, beans, and vegetables.

Selecting and Storing the Best Seeds

Seeds from the most abundant, tasty harvests are saved for replanting. Drying, fireplaces, and granaries with bamboo ventilation tools store varieties like beans, maize, and rice.

Basketry Protects Vulnerable Seeds

Expertly woven baskets made of insect-resistant materials traditionally store cucurbits, tomatoes, peppers and more. Pumpkin and mustard seeds are sun-dried in these baskets.

Changes Reshape Agriculture

Today some tribes use modern storage while others have switched to cash crops, reducing seed diversity. The communities must balance opportunities and heritage preservation.

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