Inventory of Peasant Innovations for Sustainable Development an annotated bibliography

1. 
   Cattle suffering from flatulence (gas formation in the stomach) are relieved by a) juice of chatannath leaves, b) water of hubble bubble (Hokah) mixed with salt.
   

2. 
   Cattle suffering from cold is treated by hot and burned Tit palla fruit inserted into the nose.
   

3. 
   Cattle suffering from Golaganda treated by mixture of Chatanath and bamboo root extract.
   

4. 
   Growing Allahmoni sapling besides the cattle shade prevents sucking of milk by the snake.
   

5. 
   Goats suffering from Diarrhoea are treated by feeding clay soil.
   

1. 
   If the animal is passing watery stools, it should be given linseed plant or soaked gram at night which would given relief by morning. Or give the animal thorn apple. If this is also not possible then burn an old aharar wood and mix it with ash, salt and water. Giving it twice would help the animal.
   

2. 
   If the animal has got a sore throat then giving it pure ghee mixed with pepper will help.
   

3. 
   If any animal has dirty eyes then rubbing mustard oil on its horns and head will help. Also putting salt water solution in the eyes early in the morning will keep the eyes healthy.
   

4. 
   If the toes of the animal has become septic, take 1 Kg. of the bark of ‘chul’ tree and cut it into small pieces and boil it. When the water becomes absolutely red then pour this water on the toes of the animal. Then spray gamaxene on the toes. This should be done 3-4 times in a day to heal the toes.
   

5. 
   To kill the worm in the animal’s sores Quinine tablets should be grounded and filled in the sores. This will kill the worms and the sores will also heal fast.
   

6. 
   If the animal has got worms in his stomach then take 200 grams of ‘Bakain’ leaves (the plant is like neem). Grind it into paste (with water). Giving this 3-4 times a day will help the animal.
   

7. 
   If the animal has got blisters in the mouth, rubbing salt would help.
   

8. 
   If the animal has got pus in the gums, then touching the gums with a hot iron rod will take away the pus. Then put turmeric and mustard oil on the gums.
   

(The above eight practices were collected from the farmer Ram Sunder Giri of Mathiya village, District Faizabad, India).

1. 
   The farmer sometimes gives need oil to the animals to keep them healthy. (Farmer: Ram Sunder Sigh of Prakash Ka Purvwa).
   

1. 
   For controlling Foot and Mouth diseases of the cattle. The farmer washes the mouth by using potash with ht water. This is done 3-4 times a day.
   

2. 
   In the affected area of foot use a paste of sugar and naphthalene which results in about 90% control of the disease.
   

3. 
   Treatment by a mixture of rotten Rhizome of ‘Aytta Kala’ and roots of ‘kata khuduri’ is used for diarrhea. Feed the animal 2 chatak/ (app 150 gms) twice a day.
   

4. 
   Treatment of rheumatism in cattle by a mixture of Bishdaran leaves with cow dung.
   

1. 
   The farmer applied lime on the swollen belly of the cow. By this the cow was cured of the swelling.
   

1. 
   Ghee or castor oil is rubbed over the bullock’s horns to prevent Kamodi disease, and it’s ears are pierced to keep bullock sturdy.
   

2. 
   For common cold turmeric powder is mixed with hot milk and small hot piece of tile made of mud is tossed in milk. Turmeric has antiseptic value.
   

3. 
   The smoke of the burning gunnysack is burnt, it’s smoke helps curing cold in the animals.
   

4. 
   Bullocks’s urine is rubbed over diseased part of the body of bullock to cure it.
   

5. 
   Ears are pierced, if different parts of the ears are pierced it takes care of different diseases.
   

2. 
   When the animal suffers from ‘gala ghotu’ (swelling of throat) he treats the animal in the following manner:
   

1. 
   Application of smoke by burning 2-3 years old ‘bhusa.’ Hot water with salt is given to the animal.
   

2. 
   A mixture of black pepper (5 gms) powder with ghee (50 gms) is fed to the cattle after making.
   

(Farmer: Ramawadh; Village: Saraya Bagha).

3. 
   In case of ‘khurpake’ disease (foot-mouth disease) the bark of the locally known Dhak/Palas (Ribersrubrum) is boiled with water which turns red and then applied to the affected part. (Farmer: Ramawadh; village: Saraya Bagha).
   

4. 
   When animal suffers from cold/fever hot mixture of ghee and black pepper is fed to the cattle and mustard oil is applied on the forehead and head. Lassi (‘mattha’) is offered to the animal suffering from fever (Farmer: Ramawadh; village: Saraya Bagha).
   

5. 
   When animals suffer from galaghotu (swelling of throat) washes the part with water boiled with neem leaves. Then covers the part with the soil-paste prepared out of the soil heaped by the house-ants. The disease is dangerous and it becomes very difficult to save the cattle once attacked (Farmer: Ramashankar; village: Saraya Bagha).
   

6. 
   For ‘Khurpala’ disease (foot and mouth disease) also known as ‘chafra’ besides applying the solution prepared from the bark of Dhak/Palas (Ribes rubrum). The animals tied in a muddy place. This creates the breathing problem for the insects in the hoofs and they die (Farmer: Ramashankar; village: Saraya Bagha).
   

7. 
   In case of swelling of stomach black salt with water is fed to the animal (Farmer: Ramashankar; village: Saraya Bagha).
   

8. 
   To kill the worm in the stomach the animal is drenched with neem oil (Farmer: Ramashankar; village: Saraya Bagha).
   

9. 
   When animals suffer from foot and mouth disease powdered naphthalene is applied on the affected part. Phenol is also sometimes applied on the affected part (Farmer: Ramashankar; village: Saraya Bagha).
   

10. 
    In case of dysentery sesame leave with water is given to the animal. Water mixed with powdered wood charcoal (made by burning old arhar sticks) is also given to the animal for stomach problem (Farmer: Buddha Yadav, Village: Saraya Bagha).
    

11. 
    When the animals do not take feed they should be fed ‘sarua’ with other foods. This would increase the appetite. To prepare ‘sarua’ one/two kgs. Of wheat is crushed and kept in a pitcher containing 5/7 litres of water. Two/three kgs. Of onions are cut into pieces and then mixed with the wheat grains. The mouth of the pitcher is closed lightly. The mass is allowed to decompose for 5-7 days. The solution mixed with other feeds is given to the animal whose appetite increases by consuming the same. (Farmer: Balkrishan Maurya, Village: Isoulibhari).
    

1. 
   Feeds for Milk: In the Gujjar community various feeds are supposed to affect milk production and consistency of butter produced. The feeds which increase milk in the opinion of majority of the breeders are Gud, Methi, Taramira, Sarson oil cake, dudi, Zira, Alsi, treacle, Bran, Biuel leaves Greawia oppositifoloa) chal leaves or bakli (Anogeissus lettifolia) behers leaves (Terminalia belerica) and Dudli leaves. On the contrary wheat bhusa, Maize flour, Rice busk, Kada flour, Mohru leave ban leaves (queroosincane) beans leave (Demdrecalanus strictus), malzan leave (Bauhiniavehjlii), simbal leaves, (Bombaxmalabaricum) and sain leaves (Terminali-atomantoss) are believed to decrease milk yield. The feeds which are attributed to increase the butter fat content of milk are cotton seed, oil cake (sarson), oil, dry grasses, taramira, behera leaves (Terminaliaelerica), alsi, etc. The feeds and fodders which decreases fat content of milk are ban leaves, (Quercus incane), bani leaves (Quercus annulate), sain leaves (Terminalia tomentos), rice straw, wheat straw, mohru leaves, kharshu leaves (Questcus semicaroifolia) wheat bran and maize flour. It would be desirable for the nutrition specialist to examine the authenticity of these beliefs.
   

1. 
   To keep the buffaloes healthy, the farmer prepares a special kind of fodder called ‘sarva’. This increases the appetite and makes the animal healthy. (Farmer: Ram Sunder Giri of Mathiya village, District: Faizabad, India).
   

1. 
   The green leaf of sweet potato is a good fodder and is liked by cattle. The dried leaves are not liked by the cattle and cause problem in the stomach (animals pass watery stool). (Farmer: Ramawadh Yadav; Village: Saraya Bagha).
   

1. 
   In keeping sheep, in China a earthen vessel of table salt is hung in the sheepy. Sheep being fond of salt will come back frequently of their own to have a lick. Thus no shepherd is necessary.
   

2. 
   Sheep when diseased tend to infect each other. To discriminate between those who are ill, and those who are healthy make a ditch 2 inch deep and 4 inch wide in front of the sheepy. Those that jump over are healthy and these that fall I the ditch are diseased and therefore easily isolated.
   

1. 
   In Ecuador, it is general custom not to till the soil, plant seed, and not to harvest crops at the time of New Moon and 7 days thereafter.
   

2. 
   Experience is that this period stimulates maize, Potatoes, beans and even wheat and other cereals to a growth spurt. Despite the spurt the plant hardly forms a fruit or tuber.
   

3. 
   The plants remain weak and consequently are sensitive to diseases and pests.
   

4. 
   The farmers claim that tilling of soil at new moon increases attach of larvae.
   

5. 
   If harvest is gathered in the New moon it is liable to be attacked by storage pests.
   

6. 
   Potatoes and fruit do not keep well during new moon.
   

7. 
   Bananas should never be planted at new moon, the fruit will be small and the tree will deteriorate.