Empirical insights into Santal agricultural knowledge: preserving sustainability in a changing climate in India

The study examines the Indigenous agricultural wisdom of the Santal community in the Ajodhya Hills of Purulia, West Bengal, highlighting it as a sustainable and culturally meaningful farming system. Conducted across six tribal villages through interviews, questionnaires, FGDs, and observations, the research reveals gender- and age-specific roles in cultivation, with elders preserving traditional seeds and passing on ecological knowledge. The Santals have skilfully adapted their farming to local soil, terrain, and water conditions, cultivating drought-resistant crops like millet and maize and maintaining community seed banks for shared resource management. Their eco-friendly and resilient practices embody a harmonious relationship with nature and provide valuable insights for integrating Indigenous wisdom into modern sustainable agriculture, especially in the context of climate change adaptation and resilience.