PARENT SESSION
Contributed Oral Session 2: Traditional Ecological Knowledge
Monday, August 8, 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM, Meeting Room 513 C, Level 5, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Wetland cropping-a challenging alternative to agriculture : Case Studies from the Eastern India.
Ghosh, Subir 1, 1 Centre for Sustainable Living, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
ABSTRACT- © Diversity of Traditional commercial practices (TCP) based on wetland plants is unique in the Eastern India. More than 1-3% population in different districts of West Bengal in India is tuned with traditional practices in wetlands. These nearly non-pesticide mode of management of wetland vegetation plays an important role in rural economy in many districts in West Bengal. These practices not only paved the way of self-employment, but these practices also became a tool for wetland conservation through the involvement of local economically weaker communities. Cultivation or management of Makhana (Euryale ferox), Shola (Aeschynomene aspera and A. indica), cattail (Typha elephantina and Typha domingensis), and mat stick yielding sedges (Cyperus pangorei and Cyperus corymbosus) are among the significant practices that directly link with rural economy in different parts of West Bengal. A market survey in the villages of the Eastern India reflects that a turnover of Rs. 10,000 to. more than one lakh / ha / yr (222 to 2222 US $) can be yield from the management of nonconventional wetland plants. Soft stem pith of shola plants and other raw materials of only Rs. 100 may provide an artisan a return of about Rs. 5000 when sold as decorative ornamental products. Ipomoea aquatica and Colocasia esculenta are significant among plants providing supplementary vegetables from wetlands. Traditional Commercial Practices through selective poly-culture practice with desirable wetland species thus became unavoidable choice for the local communities particularly in non-remunerative wetlands in West Bengal for providing subsistence and results of these practices leads to the conservation of wetland ecosystem and its biota.
Key words: traditional commercial practices, wetlands, makhana, shola