Studies on Indigenous Technical Knowledge for Non-Chemical Pest Management in Tea Plantations of Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat and Biswanath Districts of Assam, India

Abstract

The present study investigates Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) utilized by small tea growers in Assam for sustainable pest management. The study was conducted during 2023–24 across Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, and Biswanath districts, the research involved structured interviews with 100 farmers to document traditional, non-chemical pest control methods. Twelve major tea pests were identified which causes significant losses, notably the red spider mite (Oligonychus coffeae), tea mosquito bug (Helopeltis theivora), and tea looper (Buzura suppressaria). Growers employed various locally available plant species such as Azadirachta indica (neem), Pongamia pinnata, and Polygonum hydropiper, to deter or eliminate pests. Additionally, 52% of the growers used cow dung and cow urine in their pest management practices. The effectiveness of these indigenous products in controlling tea pests ranged in between 60% to 80%, aligning with findings from similar studies. However, adoption of these traditional practices is limited due to factors like the effort required to prepare formulations, perceived lower efficiency compared to synthetic chemicals, and delayed results. To enhance adoption, further research is needed to validate and standardize preparation and application methods, supporting small tea growers in producing organic tea to meet the growing demand for sustainable and residue-free products.