Arunachal Pradesh, a state in the extreme north-east of India (bordering Bhutan to the west, Tibet to the north and Myanmar to the east), has great ethno-cultural diversity, with 26 major and 110 minor sub-tribes. The region is well-known for its rich eco-cultural heritage, as well as the wealth of traditional ecological knowledge amongst farmers. As agriculture is the main livelihood activity in the region, it is vital that the production systems are managed efficiently. The Apatani tribe in the Apatani plateau situated in the central western part of Arunachal Himalaya, through traditional irrigation systems locally called as Bogo, has been successfully managing their agro-ecosystem for many years.
When traditional knowledge and practices developed over centuries are shared within the tribe who work on the land together, it clearly supports sustainable agro-ecosystem management in this region. The Apatani are known for their system of rice and fish cultivation (Aji-ngyii) in the valley, which produces enough rice to export from the region after meeting local needs. This is a highly evolved indigenous farming system, the energy and economic efficiency of which is very high partly due to effective irrigation practices.
