Constraints Experienced by Rice Farmers in Practicing Indigenous Traditional Knowledge Practices (ITKS)

A field survey was conducted in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu to identify the constraints faced by the rice farmers in practicing the ITKs. In this study primary data were collected through personal interview. The study specifically emphasizes the usefulness and constraints perceived by the rice farmers in practicing the ITKs. The data collection was done with the help of a well structured and pre tested interview schedule with a sample size of 240. Among the constraints, land constraints focused limited land available for farming was a dominating factor which determines the adoption of ITKs. Poor cattle possession experienced as one of the major constraints by a majority of the farmers. In case of irritation, non availability of water storage facility was a major constraint. Agriculture is facing a lot of issues on labour front and many practices transmitted by word of mouth rather than in written form were found to be the major constraints. The study also documented rice farmers’ suggestions to overcome the constraints so as to conserve the ITKs for wider application in rice farming.