An investigation of Agriculture Knowledge Sharing through Indigenous Communication Systems: Insights from Ethnic Communities

Abstract

Developing countries like India are having latest methods of communication, but their effective utilization by people who are less exposed is doubtful. In rural areas indigenous means of communication still play a vital role in social functioning, maintenance and social change. A study was employed with a qualitative research design to explore the indigenous communication systems of four ethnic communities (Ahom, Kachari, Mising and Deori) in Dhemaji district of Assam. The total respondents for the study was one hundred (100) comprising both male and female to capture gender-specific roles in agricultural communication. Focus group discussions, interviews, and auto-ethnographic observations were employed, ensuring a participatory approach to collect data from four selected villages across two culturally diverse blocks. Findings reveal that folk songs such as Bihu songs, Oi-nitom, and Bisugeet encapsulate agricultural processes and seasonal transitions, ensuring the preservation and transmission of traditional knowledge. The rituals like Narasiga Sabah, Nakathia Sisha, and Guch Luwa not only serve as cultural markers but also communicate critical agricultural practices to farmers. Similarly, proverbs and riddles acted as mnemonic devices for agricultural techniques and ecological wisdom. The study concludes that integrating these indigenous practices with modern extension systems can significantly enhance rural communication strategies. The findings of the present study hold a great potential in the field of communication for development research as well as for planning and dissemination of need based information among rural families for agricultural development that elevate sustainable rural livelihoods.