Karbi Anglong Research Articles

Standardization of Sowing Time of Chinese Onion (Allium chinense) for Hill Zone of Assam

A miniature type of onion known as Chinese onion is widely grown in Karbi Anglong hill district of Assam which is used by the local tribes mainly for its medicinal value as well as in culinary purposes. A field experiment was conducted at AAU-Zonal Research Station, Diphu, Karbi Anglong, Assam with the objective to standardize the planting time of this crop. Planting was done at two-month interval during July 2020 to May 2021. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with four replications and six treatments as planting time. Data regarding growth and yield was recorded and analysed statistically. The data on growth and yield characters like Plant height(cm), No. of leaf per plant, Leaf length (cm), leaf breadth (mm), No. of cloves per bulb, bulb length(cm), bulb breadth(cm) and yield/hectare were recorded. The result revealed that plant height, number of leaves per plant, bulb length and bulb yield was significantly influenced by the planting time. The highest plant height of 19.62 cm was recorded in T2(Sept) planting, while it was lowest in T4(Jan) planting (17.65 cm). The highest number of leaves per plant was recorded in T2(Sep) planting with 8.25 followed by T1(July) planting with 8 numbers. The highest leaf length (18.37 cm) was recorded in T2 (Sept) planting followed by 17.82 cm T5(March)and 17.62 cm T3(Nov) planting respectively.
 The bulb length was found to be highest in September planting (T2) with 1.6 cm and the lowest was recorded in T3 (Nov) with 1.4 cm. The highest bulb yield per hectare 30.16q was obtained from T3 (Nov) planting and the lowest 17q was found in T4 (Jan)planting. From the present investigation it can be concluded that for better vegetative growth and higher yield of Chinese onion, the optimum time of planting is the month of September.

STATUS OF ELT AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL IN KARBI ANGLONG DISTRICT: A DISCUSSION

English language teaching (ELT) should be effective for all concerned at the secondary level to meet its objectives so that in higher levels the learners as well as teachers would carry out the process without constraints. Keeping view of the above, a study is conducted amongst the secondary institutions of Karbi Anglong District of Assam. In this regard, 50 institutions are surveyed to find out the status of ELT through field investigation, interviews with both learners and teachers. The survey found out some observations that reveal a very poor status of ELT at secondary level that consequently affects the teaching of English at the senior secondary and undergraduate levels. This article discusses the status of ELT at the secondary level and the reasons behind its weakness in the said region. It analyses how the teachers of undergraduate institutions face trouble to deal with the students coming out of those secondary schools. It also tries to find out the reasons, and puts forward suggestions and recommendations to develop the present status of ELT.

Impact of different land uses on soil organic carbon stock in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, India

Impact of different land uses on soil organic carbon stock in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, India

Effectiveness of skill training of rural youth programme implemented by KVKs

Five Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of Assam, viz., Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Baksa, Udalguri and Karbi Anglong were purposively selected for the study on the effectiveness of Skill Training of Rural Youth (S.T.R.Y.) programme implemented by KVKs in Assam, as it was conducted through these five KVKs in the first phase. A sample size of 120 respondents was selected by using purposive sampling technique and by taking 80% of the trainees trained under each of the selected KVKs. The data were collected by means of personal interview schedule and through personal observation for critical skills. The statistical tools, viz., frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Pearson product moment correlation coefficient, t-test and chi-square test were employed for analyzing the collected data. Majority (62.50%) of the trained youths had medium level of training effectiveness. Out of ten independent variables considered under study, six variables, viz., annual income, achievement motivation, learning motivation, economic motivation, motivation to transfer learning and self-efficacy were found to have a significant and positive relationship with training effectiveness.

Farmers’ Preference and Adoption of Rice Varieties Grown in Hill Region of Assam Based on Varietal Attributes

Aims: The present study was undertaken to enlist the rice varieties grown in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, India and to identify the most preferred varieties and the preference criteria as perceived by the rice growers at individual level.
 Place and Duration of Study: Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Karbi Anglong, Diphu in the district of Karbi Anglong, Assam, between April 2018 and March 2019.
 Methodology: We included 30 farmers who were non-respondent in the main study and 90 farmers in the main study. We used Participatory Rural Appraisal, Personal Interview Method and Interview Schedule.
 Results: The study revealed that 18 rice varieties are normally grown by the farmers of Karbi Anglong for lunch and dinner making. Among 18 rice varieties Gaya, Ranjit, Agarsali, Bordhan, Basuri are the five most preferred rice varieties respectively. There are twelve quality parameters which were identified by the non respondent rice growers based on which farmers prefer a particular rice variety. The quality parameter in accordance with their preference are yield, suitability to land situation, duration, taste, planting time flexibility, after cooking quality, disease and pest resistance, fertilizer requirement, market demand, hunger chasing, draught resistance and cold resistance.

Indigenous Knowledge and Ethno-medicine as an Effective Source of Treatment: A Study on the Karbis of Karbi Anglong, A

The healthcare system of the tribal people is immensely associated with their religious beliefs, along with the interference of soul, spirit and deity. Their daily livelihood is dependent upon a number of natural resources. In this regard, the traditional healthcare practice of the concerned people deserves special attention. The present study has been done on the Karbi tribal group of Karbi Anglong, Assam. The Karbi people had a strong belief on different supernatural powers and its impact on their health. Meanwhile, particularly in the cases of reproductive mother-child health, a number of faunal resources are also used by them. Thus a number of locally available plant and animal resources bear a special resemblance in the context of their traditional medical practices. It has the prime objective to reveal the relationship between traditional cultural practices, environmental resources and indigenous knowledge of the healthcare system among the Karbi people.

Geochemistry of meta‐mafic and meta‐tonalite‐trondhjemite intrusives from Jaintia and Karbi Anglong hills of Shillong Plateau, North East India: Implications on the evolution of the Proterozoic Shillong Basin

We present the whole‐rock and mineral chemical data of the Khasi meta‐mafic/basic‐trondhjemite intrusives (KMI) and meta‐tonalite‐trondhjemite (MTT) that coevally emplaced the Proterozoic Shillong Group (SG) of Shillong Plateau, northeast (NE) India and discuss their petrogenetic‐tectonic origin. The calc‐alkaline to tholeiite KMI are compositionally transitional between hornblende‐gabbro; hornblende‐diorite and minor‐hornblendite. They show Ta–Nb troughs and strong decoupling large‐ion lithophile/high field strength elements (HFSE) signature consistent with subduction zone‐related basic magmas. The calcic to calc‐alkaline, low‐Al2O3, and I‐type metaluminous Fe‐hedenbergite‐trondhjemite (KMT) exhibits similar trace and rare earth elements (REE) distribution to the KMI. The MTT on the other hand are depleted in trace elements and REE, and correspond with the I‐type granitoids, and are comparable to Proterozoic to Phanerozoic tonalite‐trondhjemite‐granodiorites. Gentle negative sloping of REE in KMI ([La/Lu]CN = 4.04 to 6.35) with moderate LREE, suggests partial melting or, fractional crystallization from a transitional source between garnet and spinel lherzolite. Although almost a flat pattern ([La/Lu]CN = 3.70 to 4.05) for MTT entails a high degree of partial melting from sources similar to Archaean Mafic Composite or Archaean Tholeiite. Trace elemental modellings ([Sr/Y] vs. Y and [La/Yb]N vs. YbN) for MTT infer low pressure (<15 kbar) and high degree partial melting of >50% in equilibrium with 10% garnet +90% amphibole residue. A relatively flat REE pattern with some elevated HREE of MTT compared to KMI suggests for depleted source. Bimodal plutonism and the prevalence of meta‐dacite‐rhyolite in SG invokes for tonalite‐trondhjemite‐dacite setting of a continental arc or, active continental margin tectonic setting. Emplacement of KMI initiated in a temporary relax‐extensional phase and MTT in a compressional regime. This is possibly caused by an over‐thickened crust later subjected to orogenic collapse, exhumation‐metamorphism, and decompressional melting. This event might have taken place between 1.0 to 0.5 Ga during the Pan‐African Orogenic crustal growth, linked to the amalgamation of Gondwana.

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COVER PHOTOS: 1. ICEMR staff conduct a community survey in Karbi Anglong, Assam, India. Photo Credit: Pradyumna Kishore Mohapatra 2. Microscope slides at an ICEMR laboratory in Zambia. Photo Credit: Jiří Pasz 3. Nurses receive training from the Sub-Saharan Africa ICEMR. Photo Credit: John Githure 4. An MRI console at Ispat General Hospital in India during scanning of a patient. Photo Credit: Praveen Sahu 5. A community health worker in Myanmar administers a malaria rapid diagnostic test. Photo Credit: Malla Rao 6. Children play near an ICEMR study site along Rio Azul in Acre, Brazil. Photo Credit: Alessandra Fratus

Making it work: women, land and labour in West Karbi Anglong, Assam

ABSTRACT The article seeks to understand how the deepening logic of neoliberal governmentality transforms the lives, labour and access to resources such as land, for women in West Karbi Anglong, Assam, Northeast India. It explores new forms of social (in)equality and mobility in gender relations and community dynamics in Sixth Schedule districts, tracing the evolving conjuncture between community, state and the market. We approach this question in two ways: first, how the neoliberal market rationality reconstitutes and is reconstituted by existing customs of inheritance, patterns of labour, notions of community and belonging, and gender relations; second, the strategies that women adopt in a context where forms of women’s work and modes of access to resources such as land are going through rapid changes. The aim is to encourage critical reflections on women’s access/rights to land and their labour in the Sixth Schedule areas, and what changes with the neoliberal turn.

Performance of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) Variety Megha Turmeric-1 in Various Districts of Assam

Aim: An experiment was conducted in the farmers’ field of various locations representing four agro climatic zones of Assam to assess the performance of Turmeric variety Megha Turmeric-1.
 Place and Duration of the Study: The study was conducted by the Krishi Vigyan Kendras of Karbi Anglong, Udalguri, Barpeta, Darrang, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar and Sonitpur under Assam Agricultural University.
 Results: The study revealed that the plant was 175.24 cm tall with 10 numbers of leaves on main shoot. Additionally, the leaf lamina length and width were found to be 54.08 cm and 15.18 cm respectively from the study. The leaf disposition was erect with distant venation and wavy leaf margin. Moreover, the rhizomes were found to have distant inter nodal pattern along with tertiary rhizomes. The crop recorded higher yield 249.63 quintal per hectare against the local varieties in all the locations.
 Conclusion: From the study, it can be inferred that the farmers may adoptMegha Turmeric-1 over their local varieties for better yield and returns.

Power and functions of the Sarkari Gaon Burah in Karbi Anglong district of Assam

The Sarkari Gaon Burah (Village Headman) is playing a crucial role in the administrations of Village. It is the institution of Village administration system each and every corner of Northeast and as well as main land India. It is the bridge between village and district administrative setup. Gaon Burah system was prevailed since ancient period in India by various names such as in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other Northern states it is known as Mukhia or Gaon Pradhan. In Assam it is known as Gaon Burah or Bor-Gaon Burah etc. Among the Karbi’s of Karbi Anglong district Gaon Burah’s are known as ‘Sarthe’ (Village Head) and Sarkari Gaon Burah’s are known as “Rong Asar”. In village whatever things or work (Socio-cultural) have to do or done all are under the guidance of Gaon Burah. Every village has a Gaon Burah but the Sarkari Gaon Burah may be one in for area of one village or may be in more than one i.e. some cases one Sarkari Gaon Burah for area of 5/6 villages. Sarkari Gaon Burah and its power and functions for the development of the village are very important. I

Ethnoveterinary practices amongst tribal pig farmers in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, India

Folk traditional knowledge and practices are very rich and popular among the tribal farmers in different agricultural practices. The community based cross-sectional study was carried out to know about pig farming pattern, ethnoveterinary knowledge and practices among various tribal pig farmers in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, India. Various field data pertaining to pig management were collected through personnel interview, pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires and field visits. This study attempted to evaluate the potential use of medicinal plant and its by-products as feed ingredients and traditional folk medicine. A total of 40 species of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants were recorded which are principally used to cure various major and minor ailments like fracture, parasitic infestation, maggoted wound, diarrhoea, fever etc. Use of locally available feed ingredients will help in exploration of forest resources, minimize production cost. The present study recorded a total of 21 wild plant species which are used for feeding pigs with most frequently used species belonging to Broussonetia papyrifera, Colocasia esculenta, Alternanthera sessilis etc. The study will help the farmers, environmentalist, researcher and other stakeholder to identify, document, familiarize and better understanding of the distribution of rich medicinal plant in the hill region.

Tourism potentials in the Karbi Anglong autonomous council districts (KAAC) of Assam

Tourism in common is referred to the movement of people outside their residence and visiting places beyond geographical boundaries of a country. It is considered as one of the largest industries in terms of foreign exchange earnings and employment generation. It is also an effective tool for bridging different cultures and communal conflicts. Many countries have embraced tourism as it serves the purpose of solving various economic and socio-cultural developments. The study area under Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council districts of Assam, India have been blessed by nature with bountiful natural beauty, rare flora and fauna, ethnic culture, heritage, unique cuisine, customs, fairs & festivals, mesmerizing waterfalls and appealing hills. Major part of the tourism resources available in the districts have not been tapped, remained untouched and undiscovered so far. The study area has the potential to be one of the major tourism hubs in Assam as well as North-East India. In the present context, this paper tried to examine and highlight the various tourism potentials and resources available in the study area which has remained undiscovered and unexplored till date.

Sustenance of Food Security Through Natural Resources and Traditional Weekly Markets during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study on the Tribal Villages of Karbi Anglong District of Assam

Karbi Anglong district of Assam is a zone of diversified natural resources and multicultural tradition. The present article highlights their traditional weekly markets or Hats (which is locally termed as Hithi), organised and participated by the Karbi tribal people as well as their traditional number system and practices of barter system. Such markets are either conducted weekly or fortnightly. Primary data related to the present study has been collected through field works with the help of anthropological methods. The prime objective of the present study is to find out how indigenous knowledge, locally available natural resources and traditional economic organisations have collectively sustained the daily livelihood of the marginal areas, through the traditional markets as well as through the age-old barter system, under the acute threat of COVID-19 pandemic. It has been found that such traditional markets are the platform for the Karbi people of the rural areas, to channelise their local production and to generate a scope of earning for themselves under the lockdown phases of COVID-19 pandemic.

Production and Marketing Practices of Ginger Cultivation in Karbi Anglong District, Assam

Ginger is one of the important commercial crops grown in Assam. The present study estimated the impact of socio-economic variables on the revenue generated from the sales of ginger products using the OLS regression. The findings revealed that household size, educational qualification, and production (t) had a positive impact on increasing the net income of the farmers. Moreover, the gap between direct communication and market availability encouraged the local traders to act as the dominant pillar in controlling price. Hence, infrastructural support and proper linkage among the actors are vital for advocating a sound marketing system. Also, an efficient support system needs to be implemented by the government or NGOs to improve the ginger marketing framework.

Significance of Non-Timber Forest Produces with a Special Reference to Banana Plant in the Animistic Religious Practices: A Micro Study on the Karbis in Karbi Anglong, Assam

Every culture irrespective of its simplicity and complexity has its own concept of religious belief and practices. The Karbis are the early settlers of Karbi Anglong district, Assam. Most of them are animistic regarding their religious belief and practices in daily livelihood. The present study examined the use of minor forest products in religious practices of the Karbis. It discussed the significance of NTFPs, with a special reference to the banana plant, as used in a number of their rituals. The data were collected through empirical fieldwork by applying appropriate anthropological research methods. It has been found that different forest resources are immensely important in the cultural and religious practices of the studied people. In this regard, different NTFPs and banana plants are inseparable in such rituals and cultural traditions.

Soil moisture-based winter–spring drought variability over West Karbi Anglong region, Assam, Northeast India using tree-rings of Pinus kesiya

Drought is increasingly becoming more frequent and intense over Northeast India (NEI). To understand the drought variability over the region, we developed a 151-year (1868–2018 CE) long tree-ring width chronology of Pinus kesiya from Assam, NEI. The correlation analyses of tree-ring width chronology with temperature, rainfall, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and soil moisture were conducted. The tree-ring chronology showed significant positive correlation with previous October through current year March rainfall and negative correlation with mean temperature of March–June. Similarly, we observed positive correlation with NDVI and soil moisture for April–May and January–April, respectively. Soil-moisture being the most significant variable for winter-spring (January to April), was reconstructed since 1868. This reconstruction accounted for 23.3% of the variance of the observed soil moisture in the calibration period of 1982–2018 CE. The years of soil moisture deficit (drought) and wet soil moisture conditions were identified based on the percentile distribution. The major droughts and famines that occurred in India during the late 19th and early 20th century were observed in the reconstruction. This study adds additional input towards agricultural planning and management in NEI.

Isolation and Characterization of the Mycofloral Diversity in Traditional Assamese Alcoholic Fermentation from India

Background: Different communities in the state of Assam produces particular fermented and non-fermented products like rice beer, sweets and snacks etc. using rice as a substrate. Traditionally, important alcoholic beverages harbour a myriad of microbes including contaminants. The starter culture is made of rice and herbal combinations and believed to act as inoculants for brewing. Methods: Seven districts of Assam viz., Jorhat, Sivasagar, Golaghat, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Majuli and Karbi Anglong were surveyed and starter culture samples were collected during 2019-20. Yeasts and fungal isolates were isolated on culture media and systematically studied to identify by both morphological and molecular means. Study was carried out at Department of Plant Pathology, Assam Agricultural University. Result: Sixteen yeast isolates and two filamentous fungi from rice beer and starter cultures were isolated. Morphological and molecular identification of the isolates revealed that they belong to four different genera and five species of filamentours saccharifying agents Aspergillus oryzae and A. niger and yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomycopsis fibuligera and Candida tropicalis.

Speed thrills but kills: A case study on seasonal variation in roadkill mortality on National highway 715 (new) in Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape, Assam, India

Animal-vehicle collision on the roads is a major cause of mortality of a wide range of animal taxa both within and around protected areas. This study has been conducted in the National Highway 715 (new) covering a continuous stretch of 64 km that passes through Kaziranga National Park (KNP) of Assam (India). The area falls between the boundary of KNP on its north and North Karbi Anglong Wildlife sanctuary on the south. The survey concentrated on the mortality study of four groups of vertebrates viz., amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals resulting from collisions with vehicles from October 2016 through September, 2017. A total of 6036 individual roadkills were registered, belonging to 53 species, 23 other taxa and 30 families of vertebrates, with herpetofauna being the most affected group followed by birds and mammals. The study evaluated seasonal variation in the overall roadkill pattern with highest mortality in the monsoon season 38.27% (n = 2310) and with peak casualties starting with the onset of rainfall (February and March) and during monsoons (July and August). The amphibian mortality was also found to be highest during the monsoon with 43.28% (n = 1575) of kills, as compared to the other three groups. NH-715 (new), therefore serves as a challenging passage for the animals, forming a major barrier for the faunal component of the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscape. This study thus tried to reflect the often overlooked issue of roads and highways in terms of direct mortality of animals due to traffic and thereby can be helpful in understanding the seriousness of the situation and identifying prospective measures to be taken for sustainable coexistence of both animals and human.

Ecological niche modeling for reintroduction and conservation of Aristolochia cathcartii Hook.f. & Thomson (Aristolochiaceae), a threatened endemic plant in Assam, India

Aristolochia cathcartii Hook.f. & Thomson is a medicinal plant species native to Assam (India). Karbi people have traditionally used the plant to treat a variety of ailments. The population stock of this species has been rapidly depleting in its natural habitats due to over-utilization, habitat fragmentation, and other anthropogenic activities. Extensive field surveys were carried out to investigate the population status of A. cathcartii in various forest areas of Assam’s Karbi Anglong district. In 20 km of transects, a total of 36 quadrats were observed. A. cathcartii density, frequency of occurrence, and abundance were recorded to be 0.65, 17.8, and 3.81, respectively. Ecological niche modelling was used to identify suitable habitat for the reintroduction and conservation of this plant in Assam in order to prevent its extinction in the future. The maximum entropy distribution modelling algorithm was used to identify suitable areas and habitat for the species’ reintroduction and conservation. Primary data on the occurrence of A. cathcartii was gathered from the natural habitat of Karbi Anglong district, Assam, for modelling. The model identified various forest areas in northeastern India that have suitable climatic conditions for plant reinforcement.