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Indigenous plant protection practices of Tripura, India

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine volume 17, Article number: 50 (2021) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Traditional plant protection strategies have an integral part of food production system in North Eastern state Tripura, India, which has bestowed with rich heritage and biodiversity. However, there is no comprehensive report on the indigenous plant protection practices (IPPPs) specific to insect and vertebrate pest management, being followed by the inhabitants of the region for centuries. The present study was conducted to investigate, collect, and document the vulnerable IPPP practices followed by the native people from far flung locations of the Tripura.

Methods

The study aimed to document the IPPP following semi-structured questionnaires, participatory interaction, and direct observations with a total of 200 informants. We have calculated the relative frequencies of citation (RFC) for IPPP and estimated principal component analysis to link the status of IPPP with socio-demographic factors of the informants. The relationship between the field of IPPP used and different covariates (age, education, occupation, gender, location, and house type) was assessed using the Kruskal–Wallis test and Chi-square test. The relationship between adoption level and the respondents’ characteristics was analyzed using count regression analysis.

Results

The study found that the status of the IPPP has increased for mitigating pest issues. A total of 39 indigenous practices were recorded specifically to pest management from the ethnic people of Tripura, India. People acquired pretty knowledge about IPPP, and these were inherited from ancestors. The respondents in the study developed notable innovations for the management of many pest issues using locally available resources that warrant cost-effective and eco-friendly. Seed drying before storage to protect grain commodities was the most cited IPPP with a frequency of citation 0.675. In the field of IPPP used, the people primarily practiced agriculture + horticulture + storage category. An important implication from the study is the identification of two IPPP strategies in this region for the first time. Furthermore, the recorded IPPP used field was significantly associated with age, education, occupation, gender, locality, and house type. Likewise, the respondents’ socio-demographic variables were coupled considerably with the adoption of specific IPPP.

Conclusion

The reported IPPP for alleviating pest problems reflects the wisdom and generosity of the ethnic growers of Tripura, India. The study suggests the IPPP has strong potential in an integrated pest management approach passed down from generation to generation. The vulnerable practices largely remained unexplored due to inadequate scientific scrutiny and authenticity, yet in danger of being lost if not documented systematically. This study provides the first step toward accessing the valuable technology of untapped Tripura in IPPP and could be viable in paving action paradigm for their preservation, diffusion, and application with advanced pest management options.

Introduction

Indigenous plant protection practice (IPPP) assembles awareness and understanding of various facts related to pest management that farmers have developed over a long period and continue to expand and diffuse across communities. Since the inception of agricultural practices, there has been a constant struggle between mankind and pests for better crop yield and survival. Dependency on synthetic chemical pesticides by growers has an adverse impact on health and the ecological balance [1]. Though chemical pesticides are giving immediate pest control, the traditional knowledge stands well in its position when ecology and sustainability considered as a whole. In this perspective, north-east Himalayan region (NEH) is the mega preserver of these indigenous knowledge systems [2]. Being considered the biodiversity hub (within the Indo-Burma region) of the world, the north-eastern region of India, particularly Tripura, is bestowed with rich natural resources and conserves various age-old practices [3].

Tripura is a state located in the north-eastern part of India, covering an area of 10,492 km2, of which 60 percent constitute forest cover and the remaining 40 percent is available for cultivation. It is situated at 22° 56′ to 24° 32′ latitude and 91° 10′ to 91° 10′ to 92′ 21′ longitude. It has strategic importance because it shares international boundaries with Bangladesh mostly 80 percent of its periphery and states such as Mizoram and Assam. It enjoys a humid-mild tropical climate with average annual rainfall 2400–2500 mm, RH 70–85%, temperature 10 °C–35 °C, and pre-monsoon storms in March-June followed by heavy monsoon rain during July–September–October. More than seventy percentages of the people of Tripura practice agriculture as their sole source of livelihood, where small and marginal farmers contribute about 95 percent of the total farming community. Although 40 percent is the cultivable land of the total area, still the economy of the entire strata is majorly agrarian. Agriculture is an important sector, which accounts 26 percent of the state gross domestic products (GDP). However, off late due to immense pressure on land as the state has a very high population density limited the average landholding size, i.e., only 0.97 ha, which is the lowest among the seven other north-eastern Indian states.

In general, the land of this region is inaccessible, marginal, and less crop productive compared to the main land [4]. Besides general agricultural practice in plain land, the ethnic people majorly adopted two farming systems, viz. jhum or shifting cultivation and terrace or wet cultivation. Shifting cultivation or slash-and-burn agriculture (commonly known as jhum) is a major farming system in which farmers rotate land rather than crops to sustain livelihood [5], similar to strategies used in Africa, some parts of Europe and southeast Asia [6]. The area under such lands is cleared once in five to eight years for better crop production. It is realized that jhum practice, a traditional and dominant cultivation method, has been balanced with the environment for centuries in Tripura. In the terrace method, the entire hill surface is cut into many terraces, irrigation by a network of water channels that flow down from one terrace to other. It is an easier method of cultivation as compared to jhum. However, due to wide altitudinal variations, terrace cultivation is found in some rural pockets. Rice is the major crop and staple food of the Tripura people, although certain cereals and many vegetables are also cultivated. As hill agriculture is a dominant enterprise in the region which is comparatively more prone to insect pest infestation due to pleasant climatic conditions, it poses serious problems in protecting the crop and achieving good productivity in diverse crops. The cultivation methods are mostly eco-friendly and tuned to the need of the local people. Utilization of plants and animal parts and products is the valuable component of indigenous knowledge in the management of pests and diseases of crops, particularly in jhum system [7]. The uniqueness of this knowledge is that it is ecologically affordable, socially acceptable, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable [8, 9]

The treasurer land of Tripura conserves various pesticidal plants and a handful of technologies for pest management through indigenous means. Through trial and error, farmers have developed many management practices traditionally to protect crops from various pests and diseases. Transcription and transmission of such age-old knowledge from generation to generation are most commonly found in this area with the undeveloped backgrounds. Nonetheless, scientific validation, systemic incorporation, and sustainable application of IPPP on insect pest management in light of modern technology are the challenges of the present scientific era. To meet these challenges, a strong and information-rich data bank is required to be built. Concerning natural resource-richness and existing indigenous knowledge, the Tripura region of northeastern part of India has a clear-cut competitive advantage globally. Crop diversity vis-a-vis insect pest diversity exhibits higher magnitude in Tripura. Occurrence, population density, varying life cycle stages, and host specificity of various pests present a mammoth challenge to the scientific community for formulating environmentally sustainable management methods. Transfer of technology from the laboratory to the farmers’ field also requires enough time and opportunity. This backdrop presented the platform for IPPP to take over the stage as the easiest and earliest available remedy to tackle the insect pest problems. Undoubtedly, the benefits of technology should be handed over to the rural poor across the country and the diffusion of sustainable technology among needy growers. The World Summit on Sustainable Development held at Johannesburg in South Africa in 2002 has strongly advocated using the local indigenous knowledge in crop husbandry practices.

Although ethnic groups reported a scattered knowledge of the indigenous insect pest management practices from northeastern India [7, 10], detailed synthesized information of the Tripura region remained unexplored and largely obscured. Thus, there is a scope for using them to develop many lowcost eco-friendly pestmanagement strategies. Although the advanced technology of pest management has been globally disseminated, tailoring the knowledge, including coordinating with indigenous knowledge for practical application at the local level, is scare and getting momentum slowly but steadily among the end-users. Hence, in this backdrop, the current study aimed to investigate carefully, collect, analyze, and record the indigenous knowledge about plant protection practices followed by ethnic growers of Tripura that may combat the insect pests’ issues in various agro-ecosystems. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to the systematically synthesize IPPP practiced in this region. This approach could be the first report of the IPPP from Tripura. The present study focused on the hypothesis that the IPPP used field and adoption level of respondents as a function of informant-specific explanatory variables such as age, education level, occupation category, gender, location, and house types. Moreover, this synthesized collection of protection measures followed by local people will help to propose an action paradigm for preservation, diffusion, and extension of desirable insect pest management tactics for the benefit of the local community, farmers of the nation, and the globe. These sustainable technologies could provide the key guidance for an effective and sustainable solution for agricultural insect pest management. Further, it could be incorporated to advance pest management practices to enhance its efficiency for assured and eco-friendly food production.

Research methodology

Study site and data collection

In order to understand the IPPP followed by the ethnic groups of Tripura, the present study was conducted from April 2019 to July 2020 involving 40 locations across eight districts of Tripura, viz. Sipahijala, Khowai, Gomati, North Tripura, South Tripura, Unnokoti, West Tripura, and Gomati. The target groups for the study were both hilly and plain areas that signify practical application in both upland and low-land ecosystems in other places. The survey was conducted after getting ethical approval through verbal consent from informants. The data about IPPP and related local knowledge were collected using field surveys, open interviews, and semi-structured questionnaires. All the activities were carried out with informed consent. Farmers were selected randomly in each location, and active participation was ensured through open interactions.

Furthermore, field visits also encountered to find out the existence of the technology. A total of 200 informants (81 females and 119 males) aged between 21 and 80 were interviewed. The informants were categorized into four groups such as non-educated (24.5%) and education of primary level, i.e., up to class five (27%), secondary level, i.e., class six to ten (34%), and graduates (14.5%). Further, the majority (90%) of the respondents interviewed were marginal farmers, i.e., less than one hectare land. It is also noticed that 84.50% of the informants were dependent on agriculture as their sole profession, whereas 15.50% were having allied activities like shops, small businesses, and services in both government and private sectors. The detailed demographic properties, including educational level, occupation, gender, age group, location of the study area, and house type, are presented in Table 1. Furthermore, the information on plant protection strategies, local name, location/crop, procedure/method of application, target pest, and rationale is recorded (Table 2). The semi-structured interviews were performed based on the method described by Deka et al. [7] with minor modifications. Moreover, prior to the survey, the questionnaire was pre-tested with farmers in Lembucherra, Tripura, extension experts, and plant protection specialists and necessary refinement was made.

Table 1 Demographic profile of informants (n = 200)
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Table 2 IPPP in Tripura
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Information document and IPPP

We used a portable notebook to record all the information during the interview and then organized them into an Excel sheet (Microsoft Corporation, http://www.microsoft.com) in a synthesized format. The emphasis was given to record all the information provided by the informants in an Excel sheet. Because diverse language prevailed among ethnic groups, the information on IPPP was collected through informal interactions and participatory manner by engaging the local moderator with knowledge in vernacular language. Direct observation was used to record the image of the prevailing technologies in the field with a digital camera, i.e., with the permissions of the informants. Further, hand architect was drawn to represent some strategies informed by the respondents. All the photographs of specific practices referred in this paper and drawn architect was deposited at the Division of Crop Protection, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Tripura Centre and Meghalaya, India.

Data analysis

Based on questionnaire, preliminary data collected from different locations were cross checked for each IPPP to avoid any discrepancies. Further, all data obtained were compiled, transcribed, and categorized into different streams. Data were analyzed using descriptive and quantitative statistical methods. The status of the IPPPs used for pest management (increase, decrease, same, and never used) was calculated and shown as PCA using XLSTAT Premium 2020.2.1, Adinsoft, NY.

For all the collected IPPPs, frequency of citation (FC), and relative frequency of citation (RFC) were calculated following the reports of Tardío and Pardo-de-Santayana [11].

$${\rm RFC} = {\rm FC/N}$$

FC: number of informants who mentioned use of the particular IPPP strategy and N: total number of informants took part in survey.

Further, the results of the RFC and the best ten IPPPs are presented in the radar diagram using Microsoft Excel, 2010.

The disaggregated information was subjected to the Shapiro test, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Chi-square test for the dependent variable, i.e., field of IPPP used and analyzed using [12]. The Shapiro test was performed to test the normality of the data. The Kruskal–Wallis test was performed to test the relationship between IPPP used fields with age class and occupation levels. The relationship between gender, house type, occupation, and location with the IPPPs used field was statistically analyzed using the chi-square test.

The relationship between the socio-demographic variables and the IPPP adoption was analyzed using count regression analysis. The attempt was made to test the hypothesized relationship of predictor variables such as age, education, gender, location, occupation, and house type with the predicted variable, i.e., number of IPPP adopted by the individual subject. As all counts are positive integers and in rare events, the poisson count regression has been investigated [13].

Results

In the present age of technology, non-judicious usage of various chemical pesticides and other synthetic materials has casting harmful effects on the environment, leading to hazards of various types like ecosystem disturbance and negative impact on human welfare [1]. As a demand, scientific investigation, documentation, and analysis of IPPP are now being realized and encouraged. The summary sheet (Table 2; Fig. 1a–i) depicts the ethnic groups of Tripura that adopted various indigenous methods to manage insect pests.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Certain IPPP recorded during field visit. a Bird scarrer [Bengali language: Batpataka], b Placement of Holarrhena pubescens (Buch-Ham) twigs [Bengali:Kurcha gachha/kuchima gachha; Kokborok (an ethnic tribe language): Kuchimavompang] in rice field for the management of Leaf folder Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee), stem borer: Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker), c Keeping turmeric leaf; Curcuma longa L. [Bengali:Haludpata; Kokborok:Sutwi] in rice field to control Leaf folder: Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee), d Granary structure for cereal storage [Bengali: Dol; Kokborok: Dol/ Kaniya/Mayam], e–f Hookah water (consumed tobacco leaf water; Nicotiana spp) [Bengali: Hookah; Kokborok: Daba] used against Pod borers (Bhendi pod borer, Earias vitella Fab., sucking bugs (Riptorus spp., Clavigralla spp.) of vegetables crops, g Granary structure [Bengali:Gola; Kokborok: Chapmakampa/Bera] for long term storage of cereal and pulses commodities, h Banding of tin on ground region of coconut to prevent climbing of rodents (hand architect), i Trapping by luring (rodent trap made up of bamboo, lure: any grain commodities) (hand architect)

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Status of IPPP used

The PCA based on the responses of the informants of various explanatory variables with IPPP is demonstrated in Fig. 2. Our analysis revealed that the covariates of various categories respond variably to different levels, i.e., increase, decrease, same, not used for IPPP status to manage pest issues. Among age group (above 60 and 51–60 group), occupation (farmer), education (not educated and primary level), and gender (male) are found to be increase response for IPPP status during present time. For the age group (31–40 and 20–30), the education level (graduate) has given the decrease in response status of IPPP during the current era (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Principal component analysis (PCA) showing the relationship between status of IPPP (i.e., increase, decrease, same, or not used) and respondents’ covariates

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Farmers' knowledge of crop pests:

Farmers shared the name of pests that damage their crops. Most of the farmers gave the name of insect pests in the local language. Nearly all farmers mentioned a few insect pest descriptions regarding its damage and losses. Among the insects, stem borer; Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker), leaf folder; Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee), and gundhi bug; Leptocorisa spp. in rice, fruit, and shoot borer Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee in brinjal, and fruit fly; and Bactrocera spp. in cucurbits and fruits were commonly mentioned by the farmers. Some maize growers have recently revealed that a pest is attacking their crop, causing defoliation and severe yield losses. It has been identified as fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda): an invasive pest. Among non-insect pests, informants noticed birds are the major problem, particularly during grain ripening stages and rodents in stored commodities. The informants also mentioned other factors which damage their crops, viz. diseases, water logging, drought, weeds, and wild animals despite insect attack. Among all the stresses experienced by the farmers, the study focused only on insect pests problems.

The detailed investigation found that for the protection of agriculture crops against insect pests in field as well as storage, ethnic people practiced traditional management strategies using readily available resources. The set questionnaire gave clear-cut information regarding IPPP. Participatory interaction with respondents revealed that the IPPP practices are known to them from their ancestors and fellow farmers. It was also observed that most of the IPPP were used in rice crops and in storage protection. In addition, the practices were most followed at kitchen garden pest management. The result was encouraging, where the daily consumption prefers healthy organic products. These indigenous technologies managed both sucking and chewing pests. Variability in doses was not uncommon to a method of application. The remark on each agricultural pest management practice drawn from the informant’s experiences is presented (Table 2). During this study, our major focus was on scientific documentation of evidence of using IPPP in insect pest management from various study places in far-flung localities of Tripura. As a part of the program, photographic documentation was performed, which formed a strong baseline of our data. A glimpse of that effort is presented in Fig. 1a–i. In light of the collected data and survey sheets, facts were scrutinized scientifically, and an environmentally sustainable insect pest management strategy is envisaged as promised to the scientific world.

The IPPP recorded and relative citation of frequency

A total of 39 strategies of IPPP were documented as being perceived by the informants. The practices recorded from local informants were grouped into various categories concerning the sources of products or materials utilized and target pests. The classes involved home-utilized products or waste materials from home and appliances, food products, living organisms such as birds, animal products or wastages, synthetic products, natural resources such as pesticide plants and miscellaneous, mixed applications, local traps, and storage structures. The frequency of citation was ranged from 6 to 135 (Table 1). Our study revealed that the relative frequencies of citation ranged from 0.03 to 0.675. Further, the ten most-cited practices values ranged from 0.38 to 0.675. The highest cited practice was seed drying before storage against stored product insect (135 times cited and RCF was 0.675) followed by plant parts like dried chilli or calotropis leaf or tobacco leaf or curry leaf in alone or combined application with stored commodities for long term storage (119 times cited and RCF was 0.595) (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3
figure 3

List of top ten ranked IPPP recorded by respondents shown the relative frequency of citation

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IPPP used field and covariates

The IPPP used field is categorized into 7 categories, i.e., agriculture, horticulture, storage, agriculture + horticulture, horticulture + storage, agriculture + storage, and agriculture + horticulture + storage. Based on the response to a particular used field by explanatory variables, the data were synthesized and analyzed. Our findings revealed that the different responses toward the field of IPPP used among age classes were statistically significant (Kruskal–Wallis, χ2 = 83.378, df = 6, p < 0.05). Similarly, the difference was statistically significant among the different educational groups (Kruskal–Wallis, χ2 = 65.640, df = 6, p < 0.05). Likewise, the differences within various groups among occupation category and house type toward IPPP used field were statistically significant, i.e., (Pearson Chi-square, χ2 = 32.708, df = 6, p < 0.05) and (Pearson Chi-square, χ2 = 22.839, df = 6, p < 0.05), respectively. In contract to this, gender (Pearson Chi-square, χ2 = 6.877, df = 6, p = 0.332) and location of the informants (Pearson Chi-square, χ2 = 7.983, df = 6, p = 0.239) were not significant statistically for IPPP used field. Further, the findings succinct that highest used field in IPPP was noticed in agriculture + horticulture + storage for any groups within any specific explanatory variables.

Adoption of IPPP practices and covariates

The adoption of IPPP by individual informants ranged from 0 to 12. The presumed demographic factors affecting the effect in respondents as a number of IPPP adoptions were revealed through poison count regression analysis. Explanatory variables have significant effect on IPPP adoption (Omnibus test; χ2 = 46.005, df = 6, p < 0.05). The people living in the hilly area have adopted more number of IPPP compared to plain areas, which was statistically significant (Wald Chi-square; χ2 = 15.373, df = 1, p < 0.05). In the occupational category, informants engaged in agriculture adopted comparatively more IPPP than others, and the difference was statistically significant (Wald Chi-square; χ2 = 10.850, df = 1, p < 0.05). Likewise, the psycho-personal variable age was having significant effect on IPPP adoption (Wald Chi-square; χ2 = 4.329, df = 1, p < 0.05). The beta coefficient of the age factor was 0.009, positively correlated with the number of IPPP adoption. Further, the beta coefficient of location factor for hill area was 0.80 and agricultural occupation factor was 0.345, positively correlated with the number of IPPP adoption. Remaining explanatory variables such as house type (Wald Chi-square; χ2 = 0.053, df = 1, p > 0.05), education (Wald Chi-square; χ2 = 2.219, df = 1, p > 0.05), and gender (Wald Chi-square; χ2 = 0.524, df = 1, p > 0.05) were statistically not significant.

Discussion

Status and informants knowledge of IPPP used

Indigenous practices specific to plant protection have a promising role in current agriculture. They are eco-friendly, low-cost technology and can play a significant role in sustainable pest management [14]. In this study, most of the respondents in Tripura reported that the use of IPPP has increased among various covariates. Researchers such as Patel et al. (2020) and Gyawali et al. (2021) have claimed that plant protection practices based on indigenous technology should be beneficial and a critical tool for sustainable crop production with assured food safety [14, 15]. Although many improved technologies are introduced in the current world, the traditional practices kept their position promising at an effective range. The use of traditional methods for the management of insect pests serves as a better option when ecology and economy are both concerned [16]. Therefore, the use of IPPP could minimize many unwanted problems raised by indiscriminate use of synthetic pesticides and is a matter of concern.

Our findings revealed that the farmers were pretty knowledgeable about the appropriate use of available resources in pest management sustainably. The observation was found most IPPP were used in protection of storage commodity and rice crop. It is because storage is the essential part of food security and food consumption for the future [17], and rice is the major crop in the region and cultivated by the people from time immemorial and consumed as a staple food [18, 19]. Doses of IPPP were found variable among various ethnic groups and it ranged from one location to another and within the same communities. This variability in doses is mostly due to the lack of any documented information for IPPP [20]. Hence, the irrational application needed scientific evaluation and standardizing the methods at the regional and global levels. Further, they used variable doses from their own experience and based on the incidence of pests. It was observed that the management option utilizing IPPP was also variable among crops. Still, the immediate action was merely late compared to synthetic insecticides [21]. Although the results of IPPP were merely feasible concerning all the cropping system as a whole, still the action in stored commodities and certain crops was satisfactory [22]. However, the farmers reported the use of IPPP has a prominent role in insect pest management in diverse crops. Each technology has its limit and its stand having the best effects on proper placement. Though advanced pest management (ecological engineering, push–pull strategy, novel pesticides including nano formulations and entomo-pathogens, etc.) is having immediate action, it gave a range of output. Still, the IPPP was a strong tool to protect the crops against insect pests and concerning the system approach movement and environmental safety. Hence, the interaction with the informants revealed that the amalgamation of age-old practice with novel advanced technology would boost the insect pest management strategy, which will be ecologically sustainable, economically affordable, and socially acceptable [9]. The current findings revealed that the information about the IPPP technology was gained from ancestors, forefathers, seniors, or fellow farmers where it is used both in field and storage condition to protect their crops. The trick used in tackling insect pests, particularly IPPP, is a miraculous effort transcribed from ancestors since long time [23], supported our findings. The preparation of indigenous formulation and delayed results of most IPPP might be the reasons for their less popularization among farmers [24]. Constraints in desired effectiveness could be meeting by adding or synergy in combination or incorporation with suitable one was the way forward to meet the challenge and subsequently influence popularization. All the stakeholders, including plant protectionists, extension officials, and community leaders, should be aware and educate the people about the viable role of indigenous practices in pest management.

The IPPP recorded and frequency of citation

We recorded 39 practices about indigenous plant protection strategies, and many of the technology were similar to the study based on the preliminary survey in India and across the globe. A study in Kerala recorded 116 indigenous practices in pest management [25]. Likewise, other studies from Assam have reported 58 IPPP similar to our study [26]. The current findings are also supported by Halder et al. 2018 [23], who reported 15 ITK technologies from the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, India. Several indigenous practices were reported regarding pest management from Assam, Odisha, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, and many states in Indian continent [7, 28,29,30]. A study from Nepal has recorded many indigenous pest management strategies including some similar practices, viz. grain storage by drying, bird scarrer, and ploughing of the field [17]. In addition, another study from Nepal also corroborated our findings [15, 24]. Likewise, the study reported from the Bangladesh is also agreed with the present reports [31]. The use of traditional plant protection practices to mitigate pests is an effective method for sustainable crop production and storage shows similarities with the ethnic groups of Machakos and Bunoma countries in Kenya [32], Zambia [33], and people elsewhere in the world. Another study reported from tropical Asia reported the usefulness of indigenous practices for successful pest management in diverse crops [34] and indeed in the world. Further, our study claimed the promising role of IPPP, which remained untapped and not explored till date, particularly to Tripura territory. This could bring some novel indigenous strategies about the pest management paradigm and explore of the untouched area of the Himalayan region like Tripura.

The citation of indigenous practices might have been influenced by using methods at adjacent localities and passed from one region to another. The most cited procedures in this study also the most commonly used practices in Tripura, such as seed drying before storage to protect the grain from storage insects, keeping the stored product with various pesticide plants like leaves of calotropis, curry leaf, and/or tobacco or dried chilli as individual component or mixed application. These strategies are followed by almost every household of Tripura. The pesticide plants reported in the study have different chemical components and constituents proven in mitigating various pest issues. Drying of stored commodities killed the hidden stages of insect life stages and reduced the moisture level that checks the pest infestation further [35]. The bioactive component of chilli is capsaicin having an insecticidal activity [36]. Likewise, calotropis has active toxic principles such as alkaloids [37], nicotine compounds in tobacco [38], and some bio-active alkaloid compounds in curry leaves [39] that effectively suppresses stored pest menace. The mode of action relies on repellant, antifeedant properties of the pesticidal plant parts [40]. Ash application causes abrasion of mouthparts, viz. mandibles, thereby repelling the insects and irritation to most the chewing pests in the vegetable garden [41]. Further, it helps in preventing oviposition by creating a physical barrier [42]. The bioactive principle of neem is broad-spectrum having insect growth disruption, oviposition suppressant, sterilant, and antifeedant action [43]. Hence, the steam decoction of neem leaf has a promising role in both sucking and chewing pest management. Application of these diverse local pesticide plants (neem, tobacco, turmeric, chilli, calotropis leaves, curry leaves) from their own experience of knowledge bank puts the challenge for the researcher to investigate more precisely and produce the products for the future generation which will be climate-resilient and ecofriendly [40]. The bioactive principles were sufficient enough to bring down the pest population level efficiently. Storage structures like granary are very useful in long-term storage of various agri products [44]. These structures, viz. granary, by using local resources like bamboo plastered with mud or cow dung slurry were the uniqueness of resource-poor farmers for a long time. The current findings were agreed with [45], who reported that grain storage structures were used to ensure food safety. Rodent trapping by placing bamboo traps having rice grain as the lure is an effective tool in vertebrate pest management [46]. Catching rodents in the rice fields or around storage structures by local traps was an example of the generosity of the invention of local people. Effective management of rice leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee) and stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) due to repellant action of Holarrhena pubescens, is based on the alkaloid compound, i.e., conessine alleviate major pest issues in rice crop [47].

The practices with lower frequency of citation are also useful in some way: application of soil (dried/slurry form) at the whorl of the maize crop to manage the invasive pest fall armyworm (FAW), spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith). The mode of action relies on lack of oxygen (asphyxiation) which subsequently killed the pest. This indicates the best utilization of local resources for managing new invasive pests like FAW in Tripura. Although it is the least cited method, this has been practiced by farmer’s own experience as the pest invaded the region recently on April–May 2019 [48]. Our study revealed the farmers are the sole inventor of the technology by their own experience. The undiscovered and unexplored IPPP having scientific evidence should be interpreted for better development of technology. The antixenosis action of soap and detergent spray minimizes many sucking pests in the vegetable garden [49]. One rare practice was noticed that latex of jackfruit is used to trap the rodents [50]. Moreover, our study reported two novel strategies were adopted by the ethnic people of Tripura, i.e., use of a shaft of jackfruit for luring and killing of fruit fly species in fruit orchards and soil application to manage the invasive pest, i.e., fall armyworm is new to the scientific society.

Strategic utilization of home wastage products symbolized the innovativeness of ethnic groups. The placement of home appliances (fish net) and right application of utilized products, viz. tin boxes or hookah (smoked tobacco) water at appropriate place and time, mitigated pest problem with no or minimal cost of expenses [51]. Food products like citrus/pomelo used variably in agricultural crop cultivation manage pests distinctively [52]. Rearing duck nearby cultivated fields or engaging carnivorous birds by providing natural shelter for management of harmful pests represented the knowledge of the food chain cycle in the ecological system. The findings are in tune with the result as reported by Morrison and Lindell (2012) [53], who revealed that predatory birds play an important role as top predators in restoration systems by reducing herbivorous insects and their damage to planted trees. Home wastage products and usage of animal wastages in effective pest management prove the intimacy of farmer’s wisdom in plant protection [54, 55]. Bamboo beating or bird scarrer during the ripening stage of crop kept away grain feeder birds by threatening those [56]. Moreover, the synthetic natural products like petrol, kerosene in borer control, or tire burning in insect repulsion were the most effective technology even today’s world as long practiced by cultivators [57]. Cultural practices like deep ploughing, weed removal, crop rotation, and physical control (sun drying) were important tool for preventing pest incidence [58], as myth taught prevention is better than cure. As yellow light attracts sucking pests like whiteflies, farmers used large dried colocasia leaves or banana leaves smeared with sticky material in vegetable cropping systems for trapping those [59]. Age-old practice of rice hispa management by rope pulling was the most effective all over the state.

Though the advanced technologies in the field of pest management are developed rapidly and contentious in the changing world, the importance and effectiveness of IPPP can’t be overlooked. Further, it is practically difficult to ignore the value of IPPP in pest mitigation. Hence, the efficacy of enlisted practices should be tested scientifically in detail and validation at different regions of the globe is required in an extensive way. Moreover, the better understanding of the mitigation of pest problems should be picked out from ground level and investigation is required to develop novel products or technology. Then the promising one can be integrated with novel integrated pest management strategies for sustainable agricultural production and protection.

Field of IPPP used and covariates

The use of IPPP depends on several explanatory variables, such as age class, education level, occupation, gender, locality, and house types of the informants and methods of application that people usually followed. The sociocultural acceptance of people varies within different places and ethnic aborigines. The use of IPPP among seven categories falls in the range agriculture + horticulture + storage > horticulture + storage > agriculture + horticulture > agriculture + horticulture > storage > horticulture > agriculture. Our study supports most of the observations of Swangla et al. (2021) [60]. The relationship between IPPP used and covariates such as age, occupation, education, and house type was statistically significant among each level, whereas the gender and location of the respondents were not significant statistically. The use of indigenous plant protection practice related to pesticide plant also significant and dependent upon specific explanatory variables such as age, education, gender, etc. (Kamanula et al. 2010) [61], which support our findings.

Since the inception of agriculture, IPPP has its importance besides the other methods of pest management. The traditional knowledge and practices developed by various ethnic growers of the region as a part of their socio-economic culture have made a strong roadmap in insect pest management practiced in Tripura. It is also important that IPPP contributes to sustainable agricultural pest management through ethnic groups’ ingenuity [14]. Hence, it is the high time for the young generations to sustain and pass the strategies to the upcoming generation. The age-old practices can be cherished in the long run in mitigating the pest battle with human civilization.

Adoption of IPPP and respondents’ characteristics

The adoption of IPPP is an important step for any region. However, the current study revealed that adoption levels ranged from 0 to 12 for any respondents. The survey from Assam revealed the adoption of ITK regards to pest management in the crop like rice ranging from 22.50% to 79.38% [62]. A similar study by Deka et al. 2017 [26] revealed the adoption of different IPPP ranged from 8.7 to 72.5%. Likewise, the findings of Devanand, and Sabapathi, 2010 [10] also supported the current study. The current study claimed predictive variables are significant concerning to the IPPP adoption. The findings from Nepal by Naharki and Jaishi, 2020 [17] partially support our result that the adoption level is significant among various groups of farmers in pest management options. High adoption of IPPP by the people of hilly areas might be indicating the utilization of available natural resources as the land is inaccessible [4]. As this land harbored many ethnic tribes, the inherited knowledge might have encouraged the ethnic growers to take up the indigenous plant protection practices [23]. In the occupation category, those practiced and followed agriculture adopted more IPPP than other people because they were aware of the practices and very interested in utilizing low cost technologies [14]. In addition, as most of the farmers under agriculture groups are resource-poor and marginal farmers, they highly depended upon ease of availability and utilization of waste products in pest management strategies [9, 63]. The older people perceived more about the adoption of IPPP symbolized the strong belief toward age-old practices [23]. There is an emergent need to disseminate a high level of public awareness and publicity for large-scale adoption of indigenous pest management strategies.

This study has proved some basic information about the field of IPPP used and adoption level for the management of the insect pests of Tripura that could aid the development and encouraging sustainable pest management measures in agriculture. These aboriginal methods must be documented and endorsed to ease the connection between the farming and the scientific community on focused insect pest issues. The farmers attempted several control measures, the majority of which they claimed were effective. However, knowledge and skills are most important in any aspect, particularly pest management. Expertise is required to make farmers aware of appropriate pest control methods and promote the legacy of such information from generation to generation.

Conclusion

In the present era, the system demands obtaining quality food products to ensure biosafety and restoring the natural environment. But the current mindset of achieving immediate goals leads to the indiscriminate usage of pesticide resulting in environmental pollution, biomagnifications, and ecosystem disturbance pushing humankind toward a great risk of thriving. At this point, IPPP finds their way to step forward. Though the practice was age-old, there is no negative impact on the environment and completely safer for mankind. The study found that the status of IPPP is increased during the present time. The respondents were perceived pretty knowledgeable about IPPP and claimed those were perpetuated from ancestors and fellow farmers. A total of 39 indigenous practices for pest management were investigated and reported. The field of IPPP used was associated with the social and demographic variables. Likewise, the adoption of IPPP also varied with the demographic social factors of the informants. Seed drying before storage against stored product insect was the most cited practice among indigenous methods of plant protection.

Furthermore, a higher response was perceived for agriculture + horticulture + storage (IPPP used field) by ethnic groups. Out of recorded IPPP, two measures, i.e., installation of jackfruit shaft for fruit fly management and application of soil to mitigate invasive FAW issues, are reported for the first time in the present study. Utilization of various plant products, proper management of land, water, and soil, and timely incorporation of natural available resource keep the insect pests away from our agricultural ecosystem and storage condition. Since the indigenous pest management practices are golden baskets for sustainable crop protection, these may be promoted to strengthen the ongoing pest management programs. This study recommends undertaking indigenous plant protection practices adoption and used field in Tripura. The findings enumerate the significance of traditional knowledge on pest management. Believing and adopting this will boost farmers’ self-reliance and empowerment as determinants of their course toward an improved livelihood and sustainable crop cultivation. Further, concerted efforts should be made to collect and document various IPPP from unexplored regions of the globe before they become extinct. It is recommended that efforts be given to improve the knowledge, adoption, and promotion of IPPP among various stakeholders through policy interventions and engaging scientific personnel, extensions officials, and farmers.

Availability of data and materials

All data generated or analyzed during this survey are included in this article.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to the Director, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, India, for providing necessary facilities and financial support to conduct the study. The cooperation from the farmers of Tripura for the present study is also highly acknowledged. We also express sincere gratitude to Mr. Pradip Baran Roy (Ex. Technical Officer, ICAR Tripura) and Mr. Samar Chandra Das (Department of Agriculture, Tripura) for their help and supports during language translation and providing insights into the technologies. We would like to acknowledge Dr. Romen Sharma, ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana, India for the statistical inputs and useful comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICAR-IIHR-Central Horticultural Experiment Station, Bhubaneswar, 751019, India

    Satyapriya Singh

  2. ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Tripura Centre, Lembucherra, 799210, India

    Biswajit Das, Anup Das, Hidangmayum Lembisana Devi & Ranjeet Singh Godara

  3. ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, 221305, India

    Sujan Majumder

  4. ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Alok Kumar Sahoo

  5. ICAR-IIHR-Central Horticultural Research Institute, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751019, India

    Manas Ranjan Sahoo

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Contributions

SS has done investigation, generation of idea, conceptualization, methodology, software, validation, data curation, formal analysis, and writing—original draft. BD participated in data curation, formal analysis, and writing—manuscript and editing. AD conducted formal analysis, resources, and writing—manuscript and editing. SM involved in data curation, visualization, resources, and writing—manuscript and editing; and both HLD and RSG involved in writing—manuscript and editing. AKS has done statistical analysis and manuscript writing. MRS has done statistical analysis and writing—manuscript and editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Singh, S., Das, B., Das, A. et al. Indigenous plant protection practices of Tripura, India. J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine 17, 50 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-021-00476-7

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