TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: INTEGRATING ORGANIC AGRICULTURE AND PERMACULTURE

Abstract

Traditional knowledge, rooted in centuries of local experience, plays a pivotal role in promoting sustainable agriculture by maintaining ecological balance, conserving natural resources, and enhancing resilience. Indigenous practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, agroforestry, and natural pest control align closely with modern sustainable approaches like organic farming and permaculture, which emphasize biodiversity and ecological harmony. These traditional methods offer valuable solutions to challenges like climate change, soil erosion, and biodiversity loss. Integrating traditional wisdom with scientific advancements fosters context-specific, low-input farming models suited to local ecological and cultural conditions. Additionally, preserving and documenting this knowledge empowers rural communities and safeguards cultural heritage. This paper examines the relevance, challenges, and opportunities of traditional knowledge in sustainable agriculture, advocating for its integration into policies and education to achieve global food security and environmental sustainability.