Indigenous Agriculture

Indigenous agriculture encompasses agricultural practices and techniques that are unique to a given culture and society and has evolved from place-bound tradition. In practice, it is often more diverse, complex, and risk-prone than both industrialized and green revolution agriculture. The concept may refer to the agricultural practices of groups that claim status as indigenous people, but it is not usually so restricted. While farmers often experiment and innovate, the invention of new agricultural implements and the domestication of new cultivars are not very common occurrences, and successful innovations are often diffused widely. “Indigenous” may thus refer more to local control over knowledge and technology than to origin. The debate on the virtues and relevance of indigenous agriculture focuses on the developing world and is related ...