LOCAL APPLICATION OF THE TECHNIQUE TECHNIQUES OF FOOD CONSERVATION AND STORAGE 38

LOCAL APPLICATION OF THE TECHNIQUE

Technique: TECHNIQUES OF FOOD CONSERVATION AND STORAGE Local name: Dhakwali, Kwanda, Sajoli, Tomri Site: Uttarakhand, INDIA Location Click the globe to see the techinique on Google Map Continent: Asia Country: India Site: Uttarakhand Coordinates: Lat: 30.06 Long: 79.01 Description of the local variant of the technique Rice storage practices Grains or seeds are stored soon after threshing, cleaning and sun drying for at least 2 days. The seed for next year’s crop is stored separately in smaller storing devices locally called Dhakwali, Kwanda, Sajoli and Tomri. Except Tomri (hollow dried Bottle-gourd), which is used to store seeds only, all others are made-up of a small variety of Bamboo, called Ringal. These storing devices are made locally by some especially skilled persons, and are in use since time immemorial. Although people now are shifting to wooden and iron boxes called Kothar and Munch or barrel made of tin due to unavailability of these implements and skilled persons, but still most of the people in the hills are still using these traditional storing devices.  Sun drying The grain to be used for food is kept separately in the bigger utensils to avoid mixing. Before storing, grains are spread over the canvas for Sun drying. After proper drying crop is stored in freshly repaired, cleaned and polished utensils. The last year’s crop is taken out and kept in separate bag or Kwanda and the utensil is repaired for the damages (if any) done by the rodents or other animals and pests. Utensils are polished by hand with a mixture of red soil, straw and cow dung; if possible the mixture is made by cow urine (which is anti-fungal in nature). After polishing and Sun drying these utensils are keptinside the house. Big utensils are repaired and polished inside the house only, because it is not possible to take them out due to their large size. The lid of the pot after pouring the grains inside is sealed with the help of cow dung and red soil to prevent the dust and moisture. The grain stored through this method remains fresh year after year if kept away from direct moisture and rodents. Survival prospects Images Deepening TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUE DATA Technique TECHNIQUES OF FOOD CONSERVATION AND STORAGE Icon Cathegory F - Energy and resources management Identification code F4 Other Local applications of the technique RELATED TECHNIQUES Author: IPOGEA, www.ipogea.org Other authors: Reference: Project "Knowledge, health and food for all" coordinated by the ONG Ricerca e Cooperazione ( www.ongrc.org )