Shillong, Aug 24: Indigenous fishing wisdom of Khasi tribes could hold the key to bridging the state’s massive fish production deficit, a new study has shed light.
Published in the Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge (August 2025), the study documents 34 unique Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) practices—from community fishing festivals and bamboo-crafted traps to piscicidal plants and innovative preservation methods—that have long ensured food security for tribal communities in Ri-Bhoi district. Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITKs) preserves ancient wisdom and beliefs to ensure efficient utilization and conservation of fish resources in hill farming
Despite Meghalaya’s abundant rivers, springs, and ponds, the state meets only 45% of its annual fish demand, forcing it to depend heavily on imports from Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Long transport chains inflate prices and reduce freshness, making protein-rich fish less accessible to poor households.
The research team from ICAR-NEH, Umiam, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR Umiam and ICAR RC for NEH Regional Center, Lembucherra, Tripura found that Khasi villagers use eco-friendly methods like Milletia pachycarpa roots to draw fish to the surface, Khwai-kynjlom rods baited with earthworms for catching Channa species, and Khoh-nam bamboo traps set against water currents. For preservation, they rely on Tympan-smoked fish with a shelf life of six months and Tung Dung, a nutritious preparation of crushed dried fish mixed with vegetables and preserved in bamboo tubes. The primary data was gathered from the local fishermen, experienced individuals, and village elders of 75 villages in three administrative blocks of Ri Bhoi district.
In many Khasi villages, fishing is celebrated as a yearly community festival. Everyone contributes piscicidal plants like Milletia pachycarpa and Zanthozylum alatum, combining food gathering with social bonding, rituals, and cultural traditions. Piscicidal plants are those plants which are used to poison the fish in the river or stream to be able to catch them since time immemorial.
Children use simple bamboo rods with earthworms stitched using needle grass (Khwai-kynjlom), women deploy conical bamboo traps (Jakhoi) in shallow streams, and larger collective gears like Kroh dams trap migrating fish. Knowledge flows across generations and genders, keeping traditions alive.
Some plants kill fish outright, while others, like Zanthozylum alatum, simply stun fish, bringing them to the surface without affecting edibility. Local knowledge ensures safe, effective use.
Villagers employ sour ant larvae, wasp larvae, honey bee larvae, caterpillars, and earthworms as natural bait. Fruits and leaves from wild trees (Prunus nepalensis, Viburnum foetidum) are also used, blending tradition with recreation, especially in local fishing competitions.
The Tympan, a rectangular wooden structure hung above the kitchen stove, doubles as a smoking rack, keeping fish edible for six months or more. Tung Dung—a mix of crushed dried fish with pumpkin, papaya, yam stems, or banana plantains—is sealed in bamboo tubes with white ash or bamboo vinegar for up to two months. Women play a central role in these preservation practices, highlighting their contribution to food security.
Unlike modern gears that risk overfishing, Khasi methods ensure year-round protein access. Farmers note that industrial gear erodes fish diversity and raises costs, while traditional systems remain community-regulated and eco-friendly.
Researchers say that if integrated wisely, these timeless practices could transform Meghalaya into a hub of sustainable aquaculture, preserving biodiversity, empowering local communities, and ensuring protein security for generations to come.
However, researchers warn that this treasure trove of knowledge faces extinction as modern fishing gear expands. Traditional fishermen fear overfishing, rising costs, and eroding diversity. “The need of the hour is to combine advanced technologies with traditional practices for expansion in unused water bodies,” the study notes.
Experts argue that blending ITKs with modern aquaculture could boost adoption rates among tribal farmers, who are often reluctant to embrace purely modern methods. Indigenous knowledge provides long-term baselines for stock assessments, species behavior, habitat conditions, and customary management systems—all vital for climate-resilient, low-cost fish farming.
If integrated wisely, researchers say, ITKs could be a “panacea” for the region’s fisheries sector, ensuring sustainable production, preserving biodiversity, and empowering resource-poor tribal farmers.
Also Read: Crickets in Chorus: Study uncovers hidden biodiversity in Meghalaya’s forests
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