Diversified Traditional Wooden Implements Used in Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Practices in Ladakh
Nazir Ahmed *
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, SKUAST, Kargil, Ladakh, Kashmir, India.
Maria Abbas
CWDB Project, SKUAST, Kargil, Ladakh, Kashmir, India.
Asif Malik
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, SKUAST, Kargil, Ladakh, Kashmir, India.
Afzal H. Akand
Division of Veterinary Extension, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, SKUAST, Kashmir, India.
Lyaqat Ali
Krishi Vigyan Kendra-Leh, SKUAST, Ladakh, Kashmir, India.
Bilal Ahmad Lone
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, SKUAST, Budgam, Kashmir, India.
M. I. Bhat
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, SKUAST, Budgam, Kashmir, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The traditional wooden tools are the necessities of the daily life of the people of Ladakh region and are linked directly with geographical conditions of the region. A lot of diversity in the wooden tools used by the tribal farmers of Ladakh since ancient times is observed. The tools are made up of different, locally available materials in a unique fashion by the localites. These wooden implements are preferred over modern one’s because of their multipurpose uses. Secondly these traditional implements find wide applicability in the region because of steep terrain, where the scope of mechanized farm implements is very limited. In the present study few important traditional tools of Ladakh have been presented. The important tools viz; chepo, shak, zungba, rzgeem, saddle, khem, khaczhay, thougk, gourgur, butter churner, plough, smeing, rbhat, grookook etc. have been described in detail in this paper.
Keywords: Ladakh, tribal farmers, traditional wooden tools