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Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge
Vol. 16 (2), April 2017, pp. 333-340
Indian Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) on termites: Eco-friendly
approaches to sustainable management
Mahapatro GK*, Debajyoti C & Gautam RD
Division of Entomology, ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India
E- mail: gagana_gk@rediffmail.com
Received 08 February 2016, revised 27 June 2016
Despite playing significant role as agricultural pests, termites attracted less attention of researchers in India; on both
fronts - traditional and frontier techniques. Present paper is an attempt to collect and compile Indian Indigenous Traditional
Knowledge (ITK) from various sources on termite management aspects in light of various key-components
(cultural, physical, mechanical, biological, etc.) of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) under the aegis of Integrated Crop
Management (ICM). We undertook a comprehensive review of farmers’ ITK across India especially in seventeen states in
detail, in an effort to outline the underlying principles for termite management. This review confirmed existence of affluent
knowledge of local inhabitants/aborigines on termite and their management. Various ITK in termite control is used across
India. Review analysis revealed that in some places of India, termites are being used as indicator of various environmental
aspects, viz. anticipated rainfall, soil fertility, etc., soil of termite mounds were reported to be used in low risk farming
strategies. Use of locally available plants for termite control was a common practice in Indian subcontinent since ages.
No doubt ITK have strong potential, but are yet unexplored because of their limitation in scientific scrutiny and authenticity.
Even though Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) included many such farmers’ ITK, lack of critical scientific validation has
limited their use in wider scale.
Keywords: Agriculture, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Indigenous Traditional/Technical knowledge (ITK),
Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Integrated Crop Management (ICM).
IPC Int. Cl.8: A01, A01P 17/00, A01N
Indigenous traditional knowledge (ITK) is the
assemblage of awareness and understanding of
various facts which people have developed over a
large span of time and continue to expand it. Since
inception of agricultural practices, there has been a
constant tussle between mankind and insects for better
yield of crops. Through trial-and-error, farmers have
developed many physical and cultural practices to
protect crops from various pests and diseases.
Transcription and transmission of such age-old
knowledge from generation to generation is most
commonly found in the areas with undeveloped
background. ITK include various religious tradition,
faith and taboos, communication styles, music,
knowledge on ecology and climate and many other
components such as insect pest (here termites). The
wood of three world famous deities, eg. Lord Jagannath,
Mata Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra are carved out of
seasoned neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) wood on
each Navakalebar occasion (incarnation in each 12 yrs)
in Sridham Puri (Odisha). In India use of various
botanicals extracted from variety of indigenous plants
is being in practice since yore. Many of our ancient
heritage literature script such examples, i.e.,
Varaha Mihir (505-487 AD) mentioned use of roots
of Vasika (Adhathoda vasica Nees) and leaves of
Atimuktaka [Hiptage benghalensis (L.) Kurz.] for
seed treatments against possible attack of insects and
worms. Likewise, many such examples are found in
our olden and modern society which exhibit evidence
of usage of ITK against termite in agricultural field.
Under patronage of ICAR, a Nationwide Mission
Mode project was conceived on collection,
documentation and validation of ITKs under NATP
which was a milestone in this aspect1. The
documentation of traditional knowledge available in
our ancient texts was undertaken by CSIR-NISCAIR,
in the form of a computerized database, Traditional
Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL). Various NGOs
like MS Swaminathan Research Foundation
(MSSRF, Chennai), National Innovation Foundation
(NIF, Ahmedabad) under the Department of Science
_________
*Corresponding author
INDIAN J TRADIT KNOWLE, VOL. 16, No. 2, APRIL 2017
334
and Technology, Govt. of India are also augmenting
in this noble effort. ITKs on termite management
could draw attention of scientific community recently,
yet remained as lesser explored field. Any attempts to
manage termites need careful consideration of their
benefits against the loss to the ecosystem and local
communities. Scanty documentation is available on
traditional knowledge about termites, mostly focusing
the appetizing, medicinal and ethno-entomological
aspects2-7. The beneficial roles of termites in the
ecosystem include decomposition and tunneling,
which loosen and aerate the soil and thus help reclaim
and compacted and encrusted soils8. Termites are
being used as important human diet in many states of
India and around the world, where the population is
mostly dominated by tribes. Termites are rich in
protein, thus can be useful to pregnant women and
undernourished children. Food and medicinal values
of termites are fully utilized by tribal folks of various
groups in North and South India, namely, in the states of
Assam, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu,
Karnataka, etc.7. Odontotermes formosanus Shiraki is
reported to be used for food purpose in rural and tribal
areas in India9. However, all species are not consumed
by human. Besides supplementary source of protein it
also helps in income to the locals. At the same time,
hunt for termite in this purpose evidently helps to
reduce the population of this pest in the concerned
areas. Although termites cause harm to crops but some
farmers avoid destroying the mounds. Termite mounds
often offer shelter to venomous snakes, the enemies of
rats, thus a pest nest is sustainably used to eradicate
another almost equally harmful pest by pure biological
method1. Many farmers grow almond in their home
gardens. They are aware that the upper soft portion of
almond fruit is good for the termites and they cannot
eat the inner hard portion beneath which the seeds are
present. The farmers keep the almond fruits near the
termite mound and after removal of soft portion by the
termites they collect it for further processing. The
farmers of forest areas choose new land for cultivation
by using different methods and indicators. By
observing the height of termite mound, the farmers
select the land for tuber and seed crops. According to
some farmers of Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan,
appearance of termite is a forecast of rain and good
season10. It is, therefore, important to identify and
evaluate both beneficial and harmful aspects of
termites while designing and implementing suitable
management strategies.
Nonetheless, scientific validation and sustainable
application of ITK on termite management in light of
modern technology is the challenge of the present
scientific era. To meet this challenge, a strong and
information-rich data bank is required to be built.
Present research communication aims on validation of
the scientific rationale of ITK practices being adapted
across India; as well to combat the termite problem in
various agro-ecosystems. With respect to natural
resource-richness and existing ITK, India has a
clear-cut competitive advantage globally. No doubt,
the benefits of S&T should be handed over to the
rural poor. World Summit on Sustainable
Development held at Johannesburg in South Africa in
2002 has strongly advocated the use of local ITKs in
crop husbandry practices. Most of the ITKs practiced
in different part of country are remaining obscure, and
we should aim at using them for relevant
pest-management strategies in relation to termites.
Procedure of issue approach
Data collection and compilation under this study
included assemblage of data from various sources,
viz. digital library and database of ICAR1, online
portal of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University: TNAU
AGRITECH PORTAL11, TKDL, library references,
limited face-to-face interactions, seminars/symposia/
conferences/workshops, focus group interviews,
questionnaire based response from farmers, direct
field observations and internet browsing. Major chunk
of data have been tabulated as Table 1. During this
study spanning 2011-2016, our major focus was on
scientific documentation of evidences of using ITKs
in termite management from various study places in
far flung localities of India. As a part of the program,
a huge photographic documentation was performed,
which formed a strong baseline of our data. A glimpse
of that effort is presented in Figs. 1-7. In Fig. 1
Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. is planted in the field around
mounds to crosscheck the ITK claim of its
anti-termite (repellency) property. However, we
verified this fact at IARI farmland, for three years.
Odontontotermes termites did not abandon the
termitaria, as claimed by one ITK in Chhattisgarh.
The raised platform for keeping harvested wheat
plants temporarily in the field is shown Fig. 2. In Fig. 3
the use of chlorpyriphos through irrigation is depicted
which is commonly seen and has been widely
mentioned as a control practice in many parts of the
country. It is a crude method of termite control, must
be discouraged from environmental point of view.
MAHAPATRO et al.: INDIGENOUS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE ON TERMITE MANAGEMENT
335
Table 1 - Summary sheet for some relevant ITK in termite management practiced in India
Type of control Detail of ITK method adopted States of India
Physical/
Mechanical
control
Cow dung cakes show effective result in termite control when placed inside termitaria. In nursery,
termite and ant are controlled using cow dung ash. A common practice of termite control is
smoking t
ermitaria to suffocate and kill the colony. A few farmers use lighting of fire after queen
removal in order to destroy colony. Alates (winged forms) are collected by poultry farmers during
swarming of termites using light trap in order to use them as seasonal healthy poultry feed12.
Various parts
of eastern
India, Tamil
Nadu, Odisha,
Gujarat,
Chhatisgarh
Botanical –
phyto-products
Calotropis sp., commonly known as Aak is kept in bunches (10-
15 kg, slightly meshed and trampled) at the
entry point of water channels to the farmers’ field and this practice is reported to be adopted by 60-
65 % of
farmers. In order to overcome termite damage, many farmers are seen to spray a solution of leaves of
Arusha (Adhatoda vasica) on crops. About 5 kg each of Calotropis and Kheemp (Leptadenia pyrotechnica
)
twigs are cut into small pieces and put in an earthen pot or other container. About 1 kg of salt and 10 L of
urine of either human or cattle are added to it. The container is closed air-
tight, and kept in manure pit for
15–
20 days. The suspension is filtered through cotton cloth and filtrate is applied as an insecticide along
with irrigation water for termite control. Boiled roots of Nagali (Eleusine coracana) and leaves of Nafatiya
(Ipomoea fistulosa) are filtered after
cooling and the extract is sprayed on the termite affected crops,
sometimes on the base of stems of affected plants. Leaves of Calotropis
sp. is decomposed in water
(20 kg leaves/150 L) for fifteen days and the decomposed water is mixed with irrigation w
ater which
controls termite in wheat. Tobacco debris (sticks and rootlets) owing to their nicotinic content keep termite
away from field, when they are incorporated in the soil by farmers. Farmers grow castor in termite infested
fields. This is believed to
decrease termites appreciably in the next year. Farmers protect melon creepers by
using mixture of tobacco, cow urine, buttermilk and neem
leaves when they are one and half month old.
After 20-25 days of sowing the filtered solution of buttermilk, neem le
aves and cow urine is sprayed over
the crop with twenty liters of water and some soap. Water soaked in Calotropis gigantea
(L.) W.T. Aiton.
for at least 24 hrs shows effectiveness against termite in field. Post harvest straws of pearl millet (locally
called Khala
) are used as fodder. In order to avoid termite attack on these straws, infested straws are
washed with shovel and the floor is layered with Euphorbia tirucalli
. The smell of the plant sap keep
termite away. This plant is used for controlling termit
es in standing crops too. Crushed plants are kept in
irrigation channel and the water passing through the plants helps in controlling termites in wheat at the most
susceptible stage, i.e., at third irrigation. Green cut plants of sorghum are placed in the
water channel by
farmers and the passing water over the plants help in reducing termite attack. One moth to 40 days old
sorghum contains HCN which cast toxic effect on termite. In order to prevent termite attack on coconut
seedling, Aloe vera suckers are p
lanted in the pits of coconut plantation. Application of mixture of one liter
of Cactus milk with 200 L of water on the termite affected plants and using the same solution for
drenching, seed treatment and dipping of grafts before planting result in reduct
ion of termite attack in both
field and horticultural plants. Treatment of wooden works and tree trunks with crude cashew nut shell
liquid shows resistance against termite. In order to keep termite away, Tephrosia
(varnacular name:
Kolinchi) and Chithratha are grown at the time of planting coconut seedlings. Neem
cake is kept in sacks
and the same is immersed in irrigation channel to control termite15. Mixture of Asafetida
with irrigation
water in channel controls termite damage and usage of Asafetida effec
tively reduces termite attack in
chilies. Application of Calotropis
leaf extract (immersed in water for 2 days) diluted with water is found to
be a cost effective effort to prevent termite attack. Calotropis plant material (about 8-
10 kg) soaked in water
f
or 24 hrs is processed, boiled and after filtering, the liquid is used for termite prevention in infested soil.
Soil amended with safflower seed cake records less termite damage. Dipping of sugarcane setts in 15 %
Calotropis leaf extract and sprinkling of
2 % extract in furrows prior planting of the setts help in controlling
termite attack. Leaves of Vitex negundo
L. are utilized in pits of fruit trees which helps in termite control in
sapling stage. Farmers use neem and Karanj for termite prevention. Powder of neem and Karanj
are mixed
with soil at the time of field preparation before sowing. Paddy fields infested with termite and other soil
borne insects are broadcasted with leaves and fruits of Ashan (Terminalia elliptica
Willd.) and these prove
to be tox
ic, bitter and acrid to insect pests, which helps in controlling their population. Maximum number
of farmers adopted this age old practice. In the holy city Varanasi, termite resistant wood was used to build
temple of wooden frames. About 750 ml of Akanda (Calotropis gigantea
) milk is taken and poured drop
by drop at the irrigation source in wheat for termite prevention. Spray of neem
oil 3 % mixed with kerosene
on colonies of Microtermes obesi Holmgren killed them instantly21. Application of alcoholic extr
act of
Argemone mexicana
leaves is found to inhibit growth of immature stages of termite. Leaf extract (5 %) of
Aloe barbadensis, Euphorbia truncalli or Lippia alba, leaf/berry extract of Melia azedarach or
Ocimum
basilicum are found effective in control of termite.
Rajasthan,
Gujarat
(
Surendranagar,
Kutch,
Vadodara,
Palol Kheda,
Banaskantha),
Maharashtra
(Nandubar),
Kerala
(Nedumanga),
Odisha, Tamil
Nadu
(Dindigul),
Karnataka,
Pondichery,
Andhra
Pradesh,
Jharkhand
(East
Singbhum),
Uttar Pradesh,
Arunachal
Pradesh
(Contd.)
INDIAN J TRADIT KNOWLE, VOL. 16, No. 2, APRIL 2017
336
Table 1 - Summary sheet for some relevant ITK in termite management practiced in India —(Contd.)
Type of control Detail of ITK method adopted States of India
Waste products,
cultural practice,
ICM
At the time of field
preparation, cow dung ash is applied in field, which is found to be effective in
controlling termites. Experimental application of oil waste from ONGC oil wells to the bamboo
strips used for supporting saplings by the farm attendants resulted in no termite
attack in the kitchen
garden. Post harvest wastes of tobacco residues are used by farmers for soil application which help
in termite management. In coconut field, the tree trunk is painted with waste engine oil upto 40 cm
height from the bottom in order to keep termite away in field.
Jammu and
Kashmir,
Gujarat,
Tamil Nadu
(Theni
district)
Non chemical
control
Usage of washing powder by the farmers is reported to be useful and economic anti termite measure
in fruit plants. Mixture of salt and ash in the ground is useful for protecting straws of Jowar
and
Bajra
from termite. An age old practice (since 304 yrs) of usage of kerosene oil (2.5 L/ acre) at the
time of irrigation in termite affected paddy field is found as pesticidal against termite, is adopted b
y
15-
20 % of the village farmers. Cashew stem borer and termite attack on cashew trunk were
managed by application of coal tar and kerosene (2:1 ratio).
Haryana,
Gujarat
(Rajkot),
Uttar Pradesh
Physical control
People were reported to use timbers of Mahua
for construction as the beams of this tree species are
very hard and suffer less due to termite damage. Using country made plough made of neem
by the
farmers resulted in repelling of insects and it is found effective in protection of rice. Human or
sheep hairs repel white grubs and termites.
Rajasthan,
Kerala,
Jharkhand
(Ranchi)
Waste utilization
and Physical/
mechanical
control
Several earthen pots are filled with empty maize cobs after making holes of 1 cm diameter all
around and they are buried unde
r soil in different places. Termites colonized in such pots and after
3-
4 weeks the pots are destroyed after digging out of soil. In some places farmers are seen to dig
small pits and fill them with cattle dung. After a few days if termites are found in su
ch pits, they are
destroyed by kerosene spray. Sugarcane field soil is mixed with horse dropping @ 100 gm/ha by
ploughing and the field is left for a few days. Result showed 70 % reduction of termite infestation
and cost: benefit of this practice was found approximately 1:10.
Rajasthan,
Jharkhand
(Deoghar)
Seed Treatment-
Botanicals
Chickpea seeds are treated with Hing (Fernulla narthex) pre sowing in dose as per 80-
100 gm of
Hing for 1 quintal seeds. Post treated seeds are dried and sown which shows effe
ctive repellence for
45 days after sawing. Cactus (Euphorbia neriifolia
) milk mixed with of water (100 ml in 1 L) is
used for seed treatment of cereals, legumes and cotton and post treated seeds are dried in dark for
8 hrs, which now become protected from
the attack of larvae of stem borer, termites and other pests.
Application of solution of Thuar (Euphorbia nerifolia) milk (1 L of Thuar
milk in 200 L. of water)
near the root region of the newly planted crops acts as anti termite and is believed to helps
plant to
grow faster.
Rajasthan,
Gujarat
Cultural method
In Jodhpur city of Rajasthan, the buildings are painted with white and blue (lime+copper sulphate)
in order to prevent termite attack on wall and interior. During summer, the useless grass and root
s of
plants are gathered and burnt in the field which helps in control of termite. Residues after harvest
are collected and incorporated in soil in order to control termite. Sheep hair, wood ash of kiln ash is
also used to the tree base by farmers to reduc
e termite attack. Common salt tied in the cloth bag kept
in irrigation channel shows termite preventive measure.
Rajasthan,
Gujarat,
Tamilnadu
(Pudukottai).
Organics and
botanical
Termite mound, dug up to some depth is treated with hot water after pourin
g salt, lemon juice and
castor cake in it. In Jujube plantation, castor oil is used for termite control. Kerosene oil is spread on
orchard trees for preventing termites. Application of lime in the soil prevents termite attack in
seedlings of palm trees and
application of lime paste on the palm also checks the termite attack.
Application of salt and ash also prove good in termite prevention. Small heaps of 20 kg un-
decomposed farmyard manure or fresh cow dung per 0.02 ha area show controls against termite
at
tack. Application of 2.5 kg lime with 5 kg salt to the soil of sugarcane field shows
good controlling measure against termite resulting 60-
70% saving of plants in field. Application of
2.5 L of kerosene oil at the time of irrigation is practiced by farmer
s for controlling termite. In
Kandhamal district of Odisha, tribal farmers reported the use of leaves of turmeric and
Sal (Shorea robusta C. F. Gaertn.) were found good for termite control22.
Gujarat
(Mahesana,
Banaskantha,
Rajkot),
Andaman and
Nicobar,
U
ttar Pradesh
(Shahjahanpur
,
Gonda)
Post-harvest care
In order to prevent termite attack on Aangali
, a special arrangement of bundles of pearl millet and
sorghum straws which is structurally specialized to prevent percolation of rain water; ash and salt
a
re mixed and layered in different layers on the storage place before arrangement of fodder.
Different layers of the fodder are sometimes dusted with salt in the stock. The base of the
indigenous grain storage structure, locally known as Kothi is made of ce
ment in order to avert
termite and other pest attack10.
Gujarat
(Bhavnagar),
Rajasthan
Cultural practice
Flooding in field helps in termite population reduction by disturbing their life cycle and this process
attains 98 % of success rate and 65 % of the farmers are found following this practice.
Jharkhand
(Contd.)
MAHAPATRO et al.: INDIGENOUS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE ON TERMITE MANAGEMENT
337
In Fig. 4 mulch in between the planted wheat rows
which keep the attention of termite diverted from
main crop - all are excellent examples of management
of termites in a sustainable and eco-friendly way. Fig. 5
shows ant-colonization in the crop field, which is a
brilliant method of natural biological control. In Fig. 6,
post-irrigation soil crust breaking deters termite
activity. Fig. 7 shows smoking termitarium which
kills termites through suffocation. In light of the
collected data and survey sheets, facts were
scrutinized scientifically and an environmentally
sustainable termite control strategy is envisaged as
promised to the scientific world.
ITKs on termite management: ethnic comprehension
concerning bio-safety
India is bestowed with most diversified
agro-climatic zones across the country. Crop
diversity vis-a-vis pest, especially termite diversity
also exhibits higher magnitude in the country.
Occurrence, population density, termite life cycle
and host specificity etc. presents a mammoth
challenge to the scientific community for
formulating environmentally sustainable
management method. Transfer of technology from
laboratory to the farmers’ field also requires time
and opportunity. This gap presented the platform
for ITK to take over the stage as the easiest and
earliest available remedy to tackle the termite
problem. Since the beginning of agriculture, ITK
has its own importance besides the other methods
of pest control. The traditional knowledge and
practices developed by various aborigines as a part
of their socio-economic culture have made a strong
Table 1 - Summary sheet for some relevant ITK in termite management practiced in India —(Contd.)
Type of control Detail of ITK method adopted States of India
Conservation/
biological control
In Goa, the traditional practice of plastering trees, specially mango, cashew and coconut with black
mud from salt pans, locally called ‘agaracho chikhol
’ and sprinkling of jaggery around the tree by
farmers in order to attract large black an
ts, the natural enemy of termite, reduce termite attack. Scaly
Ant Eater (Manis
sp.) is a common predator of ants and termites. Venomous snakes are natural
enemy of field rats which take shelter in termitaria. Wild bear pose threat to the crops as they
fre
quent field with termataria as termites are preferred food for them. After eating termite, the crop
is attacked by wild bare and in order to avoid this, local people prefer to destroy mounds.
Goa,
Chhattisgarh
(Bagbahera)
Intercropping/
habitat-
manipulation
Plantation of Curcuma aromatica
Salisb. in coconut basin offers prevention of termite colonization
and at the same time results in better utilization of space. In each coconut basin 5-
6 rhizomes are
required to be planted. This practice is found to be
followed by 40 % of the farmers in Koipuram,
Ezhumatoor and Puramattom blocks in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala.
Kerala
IPM within ICM
Wood ash is applied since long resulting enhancement in plant health and resistance against insect
pests in general.
Odisha
Water
management – ICM
Presence of sufficient amount of ground water in any land is believed to be depicted by occurrence
of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. and/or termitaria.
Chhattisgarh
Fig. 1- Aloe vera plantation for the control of termites; Fig. 2-
The
raised platform for keeping harvested wheat plants temporarily
in the field; Fig. 3-
Use of chlorpyriphos through irrigation;
Fig. 4- Mulches in between the planted row; Fig. 5- Ant-
nest in
crop field; Fig. 6- Crevices and creaks in
the field serve as anti
termite measure. Fig. 7- Fire in termatarium -
excellent process
of termite management by smoking leading to suffocation of
termites.
INDIAN J TRADIT KNOWLE, VOL. 16, No. 2, APRIL 2017
338
platform for the management of termite problems
depending on the nature and natural perceptions. In
the present age of technology, indiscriminate usage of
various pesticides and other synthetic materials are
casting poisonous effects on the environment leading
to hazards of various types. As a demand of the time,
scientific validation of ITK are now being realized
and encouraged. It is evident from summary sheet
(Table 1) that, Indian farmers adopted various
indigenous methods to control termites. From the
findings regarding methodologies being adapted for
controlling termites, it was observed that the termites
are controlled in many villages by adapting mostly
traditional practices.
This study has proved some basic information
about farmer’s knowledge of the management of the
termites that could aid the development and
encouraging sustainable termite control measure in
agriculture. These aboriginal methods must be
documented and endorsed to ease connection between
farming and scientific community on focused termite
issues. The farmers had attempted a number of control
methods; the majority of which they claimed was
effective. However, knowledge and skills are most
important in termite management. Expertise is
required to make farmers aware on appropriate
termite control methods and to promote the legacy of
such information from generation to generation
among the farmers. Different locally evolved
management methods reported by farmers are needed
to be confirmed, standardized and promoted with
other IPM measures with the aim of reducing
application of chemical pesticides in agriculture.
Scientific validation of ITKs vis-a-vis tactful
management of termites
International Federation of Organic Agriculture
Movement (IFOAM) promotes organic farming
emphasizing on local resources, long run soil
improvement and pollution abatement by non-chemical
methods. Although some of farmers’ ITKs are parts of
good agricultural practices (GAP), the lack of critical
scientific scrutiny has limited their wider use. A few
explanations with relevant examples will make the
matter more comprehensible. Our data anthology
showed similarity and diversity of using ITK for termite
problem in different states and climatic zones of this
nation. In the far northern west Himalayan region, at the
hilly region of Rajouri, cow dung is used against
termites and it is reported effective. Farmers of Haryana
showed varied interests of using ITK against termites.
Detergent soap powder is used at fruit orchard which
proves not only easily available, but also a good
economic way to manage termite problem compared to
application of pesticides. Crops in Rajasthan, being
grown in mostly arid and semi-arid agro-climate, always
suffer from massive termite attack. Farmers here are
seen to use various methods including using locally
available medicinal herbs with irrigation water. Usage of
human and animal urine along with botanicals was also
found to be practiced here. Usage of cow dung ash was
found effective in Gujarat12. Coconut in Kerala was
found to be affected by termite in various stages. In
southern India, besides using botanicals, repellent crops
are also used to save cultivated crop, which supported
the economy of farmer to some extent. Hundreds of ITK
methods were documented from coconut cultivation
practice in Kerala13; of which some are validated by
subsequent scientific studies and are accepted by
farmers14. In Tamil Nadu some mechanical methods are
also seen to be adopted, viz. smoking termitaria, painting
the tree trunk with waste engine oil, etc. Using neem
cake with irrigation channel proves a good measure here
to combat termites15. In Andaman lime is used in soil to
keep termite away. In the east central part of the country
mostly application of botanicals were practiced along
with some typical local techniques using oils, animal
dung, etc., viz. application of horse dropping in soil in
Jharkhand, application of coal-tar and kerosene in tree
trunk in Odisha16. Flooding in field helped farmers to
keep away termites in Jharkhand. In northern plain of
India, farmers of Uttar Pradesh are reported to use
varying types of ITK including using kerosene with
irrigation water17. Use of botanicals in rice cultivation as
anti-termite measure is reported from far North eastern
part of India, which depicts the spread of ITK
throughout the country. ITK is successfully used in
crop-specific ways and is authenticated by scientific
view also. In Rice cultivation attack of termite is found
to be common problem in upland. Farmers are seen to
use salt, botanicals and animal waste to overcome the
problem16.
Use of phyto-based and other non-chemical ITK in
termite management: marvelous examples of green
pest management
Many plant species have been used by farmers
across Indian subcontinent to control termites.
Among them, frequently mentioned plant species are:
whole plant of Aak (Calotropis spp.), leaves of
Arusha (Adhatoda vasica Nees), roots of Nagali
(Eleusine coracana Gaertn.), leaves of Nafatiya
MAHAPATRO et al.: INDIGENOUS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE ON TERMITE MANAGEMENT
339
(Ipomoea fistulosa Mart. ex Choisy.), mahua timber,
tobacco sticks and rootlets, Cactus (Euphorbia
neriifolia L.) latex/milk, neem, Karanj, Kheemp
[Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Forssk.) Decne.], Kharsadi
(Euphorbia tirucalli L.), Asafoetida (Hing) (Fernulla
narthex Boiss.); Argemone mexicana L., Aloe
barbadensis Mill., Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E.Br.
ex Britton & P.Wilson., Maha neem (Melia azedarach
Blanco), Tulsi (Ocimum basilicum L.), Cassia siamea
Lam., Castor (Ricinus communis L.) seeds, etc. The
limitation of phyto-products is that farmers’ recipes vary
widely. The mechanism by which these brews reduce
termite attack is yet to be revealed. Owing to rapid
breakdown of most plant materials in soil they do not
ensure longer solution against termite problem18. In
addition the environmental and human hazards due to
them are also unknown. Therefore, these materials may
be used with extreme care. Précised toxicological safety
and environmental safety are required for their
application. A venerating example of application of ITK
against termite damage is reported from Kerala, India. In
Thrissur district of this coastal state, marvelous antique
wooden carvings and timber-in-service at
Vadakkumnathan temple were under severe termite
attack. This problem was confronted with the help of
admixture of locally available plant-based products and
oils (total eight ingredients), thus, obtaining good result
to combat termite attack. Application of this traditional
knowledge based termite management fetched the
temple prestigious UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage
Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation for 2015
(Times of India, TNN, September, 15, 2015).
Water containing decomposed fish, tobacco, salt and
brackish water worked better termite repellant in India.
Country wide spectrum of ITK and their application in
field was validated by many scientific attempts a
glimpse of which has been presented above. In light of
this, it can be strongly mentioned that, these skills, if
cultured and modified with the help of modern science,
may reduce the load of heavy usage of pesticide and
other hazardous anti-termite chemicals in a great
extent. Farmers follow different methods of destroying
the termite colony. These include digging the nest and
removing the queen; burning wood, grass, or cow
dung; using ash, pouring hot water, or indigenous plant
extractives. Even after advising for destruction
colonies, the success is limited owing to lack of
knowledge on termite biology, complicated
construction and labour requirements. This practice
targets mainly the matured colonies of mound building
species. The mound building species remain
subterranean for a few years as a result of which, even
after killing of matured colonies, the immature ones
occupy the area18. In some cases, the sacred belief in
farmers regarding termitaria abstain them to destroy it.
Capturing queen (dequeening) on the other hand
helps in great extent to destroy a termite colony.
Many urban people use insecticides for the control of
termite. The wise people call the rural workers from
nearby villages and instruct them to destroy the
termite mound, the root cause of this problem.
Protein or sugar-based products and animal waste
in termite management
The protein-based baits resulted in greater ant
nesting near maize plants and reduction in termite
damage18. Indian farmers use salt, lime to contain
termites in various situations. Cow dung and urine
have been used for termite control by farmers in India
and elsewhere abroad19. Most of the Indian villagers
smear cow dung on walls and floors of their cottage to
protect them from ant and termite attack. Sometimes
cow dung fresh are put hither and thither on
termite-prone fields, to allure them to those sites,
which can later be destroyed suitably.
Trick agri-practices to tackle termite: Intercropping,
weeding and tillage practices
According to farmers in parts of South India,
planting of turmeric (Curcuma sp.) in coconut basins
and mango orchards helps in termite reduction. Some
farmers believe in the predatory role of ants in maize
intercropped with food legumes. However, the impact
of intercropping on termite damage depended largely
on the legume species in the intercrop. Tillage and
weeding cast negative effect on termite activity owing
to disruption of their feeding areas, alternation of soil
environment and food resources as well as exposure to
predators18. However, effect of weeding on termite
population is in conflict. This highlights the need for
site-specific studies and recommendations. This
knowledge seems to be of recent origin, but some
farmers supported this view. At IARI farms, we
observed the effect of zero-tillage, cropping pattern and
concept of push-pull theory in termite management,
and reported promising results with microbial
pesticides, and garlic based products20.
Conclusion
In the present era of advancement of science,
bio-safety and environmental hazards are the burning
INDIAN J TRADIT KNOWLE, VOL. 16, No. 2, APRIL 2017
340
issues of concern; besides food security and crop
safety also claim equivalent attention. As a result of
use of indiscriminate pesticide and their incorporation
in the soil and groundwater contamination,
bio-magnification of various deadly pesticides and
heavy metals through incorporation in food chain are
pushing humankind towards great risk of thriving. In
this juncture, policy preparation on sustainable
management of pest is the demand of the time. At this
situation traditional knowledge on pest control find
their way to step forward. Being evolved in the
age-old time, when there was no possibility of any
sort of harmful effect of technology on environment,
ITKs are completely safe for human. Despite holding
immense potential, such ITKs are nowadays in dark
and on the verge of extinction because of their
limitation within the communities of far flung remote
areas of our country lacking way of exploration. This
gives challenge to the present situation to recall the
traditional techniques of pest management retrieve the
fade information from various available sources and
validate them scientifically and their subsequent
implementation as per requirement. Present study on
ITKs related to termite control is aimed at collecting
and collating information from various sources and
justifying their scientific rationale. This could justify
the significance of this traditional knowledge on
termite management, where absolutely no or least
environmental hazard is involved with better promise
of a healthy and safe crop yield.
Acknowledgement
Authors are thankful to the funding agency ICAR
for the sanctioned National Fellow Project.
"Environmentally Sustainable Termite Control:
Integrative and Inclusive Approach of Frontier and
Indigenous Technologies." Logistic supports provided
by Director, IARI (New Delhi) are gratefully
acknowledged.
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