Ancient Agricultural Science and Technologies for doubling farmers income at present day context

Indians have been cultivating for more than 10000 years since the time of Rigveda (c.8000 BC) using locally available resources in an eco-friendly way. Farmers of many areas still are following ancient practices while modern agricultural graduates, trained in the agricultural technologies of the West, are mostly ignorant of our own rich heritage of ancient agricultural practices. It is absolutely necessary for the farm scientists to possess knowledge of our agricultural heritage in order to effectively communicate with the majority of farmer communities.

The oldest composition, Rigveda (c.8000), has several verses describing the profession of farming, farming operations and farmer’s happy and enjoyable life. Parasar(c.400 BC), Garg( ), Barahmihir(600 AD),  Kashyapa(700 – 800)AD and Surapal(1000AD) were five famous scholars and thinkers in ancient India who laid the foundation of Agriculture in India. The following eight books, six of which have been translated into English by Asian Agri-History Foundation (AAHF) confirm the richness of knowledge possessed by our ancestors. These are:
i) Krishi Parasar of the sage Parasar(c.400BC)
ii) Kashapiya Krishisukti(A treatise on Agriculture) of the sage Kashyapa(c.800 AD):
iii) Brtsamhita of Barahmihir(600 AD)
iv) Vrkshayurveda(The Science of plant life) by Surapala(c.1000AD)
v) Lokopokaro(For the benefit of people) by Chavundaraya(1025AD)
vi) Sarngadharapaddhati (written by Sarngadhara), belonging to the thirteenth century,
vii) Viswavallabha( Dear to the world: The science of plant life) compiled by a scholar, Sri Chakrapani Mishra (around 1557 AD)
viii) Nuskha Dar Fanni-Falahat(The Art of Agriculture) compiled by Moghul prince Dara Sikoh around 1650 AD.
Some important teachings from some of the above mentioned books are cited below:

Krishi Parasar of the sage Parasar(c.400BC) must be the oldest text book on elementary agriculture, has made several statements on the status of farming. One of them is:
 “life of farmers is solely dependent upon the microbes present in the soil.”

Kashapiya Krishisukti of the sage Kashyapa(c.800 AD):
1. Help to agriculture has been said to be religious as well as conducive to success and health.(Sukta-199-200)
2. Of all wealth agriculture is the highest wealth.(Sukta-237)

Brhatsamhita of Varahamihira of the sixth century also contains a chapter titled Vrikshayurveda. It also contains chapters on allied subjects such as divining groundwater, productivity and non-productivity of land as indicated by natural vegetation, etc.

Surapal's Vrikshayurveda(1000AD) is a systematic composition starting with the glorification of trees and tree planting. It then proceeds to discuss various topics connected with the science of plant life such as procuring, preserving, and treating of seeds before planting; preparing pits for planting saplings; selection of soil; method of watering; nourishments and fertilizers; plant diseases and plant protection from internal and external diseases; layout of a garden; agricultural and horticultural wonders; groundwater resources; etc. The topics are neatly divided into different sections and are internally correlated. Surapala's merits as an author of a scientific work have been brought out incidentally in course of these discussions.

Application of Ayurvedic principles to trees: Lokopakaro(For the benefit of people) by Chavundaraya in 1025 AD:) Lokopakaro  which meant for the benefit of common people is a vade mecum of everyday life for commoners and describes topics such as astrology, potents, vastu(artitechture), perfumery, water divining, vkshayurveda(the science of plant life), cookery, veterinary medicines etc.

i)Cow urine is known to contain “bio-enhancers” that increases efficacy of ingredients.(Khanuja et al 2003). Fermentation of cow horn should release sulphur-containing ingredients from keratin. With availability of sprayers today, compared to sprinklers of the ancient time; it should be possible to obtain excellent insect control.
ii) Kunapa, the liquid manure based on fermenting flesh in water, after boiling, also found in this text.
iii) The procedure of “approach grafting” is narrated here.
iv) The procedure of uniting rhizomes to produce mixed flowers of lotus and lily is also described here.

Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (RKMVERI), Ranchi faculty centre has selected this ancient agricultural science as its thrust area for research since its inception in 2006 and developed some package of ‘low cost organic cultivation’ combining ancient wisdom with modern science and technology and have been applying in crop fields at Ranchi, Jharkhand since 2006 and getting very good results in terms of productivity, profitability, sustainability(perpetuity) and purity. 

All will be happy to know that Govt of India also adopted ‘Low Cost Organic Agriculture’ and ‘Paramparagata Krishi(Traditional Agriculture)’ as national policy in agriculture from this year to make the farmers’ income double in an eco-friendly way and ensure quality produce.

Our agricultural scientists, plant chemists and farmers have immense opportunities to utilize the ancient agricultural scientific knowledge with modern science and technology for in depth research and application in the field for qualitative and quantitative increase in production in an eco-friendly way.

                                                                                             
                                                                             Swami Bhaveshananda, Administrative Head, RKMVERI