Reviving Bharatiya Krshi Jnana: Leveraging Indian Knowledge Systems for Revival of Traditional Agriculture via Digital Rural Libraries

Purpose: The foremost objective of this research is to draft a comprehensive framework which not only safeguards Traditional Agricultural Knowledge (TAK) but also revives TAK through Bhāratīya Kṛshi Jñāna that is getting gradually affected due to modernization, the loss of knowledge and the digital gap. By adopting the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) Division as the ecosystem and the principles—Paramparā, Dṛṣṭi, and Laukika-prayojana—it studies how digitalization via Digital Rural Libraries (DRLs) can create synergy between ancient wisdom and modern sustainable agriculture.Scope: The framework's scope is a five-phase journey (planning, content creation, digitization, dissemination/training, and monitoring/scaling) of 27 IKS Research Centers, 17 Teacher Training Centers, and 7 Bhasha Kendras. The main work is on the documentation of oral and written TAK practises, TAK texts through multilingual dissemination, and rural India access through an inclusive manner, thus implementing National Education Policy (NEP) ‍‌2020.Findings: The model based on IKS, which is proposed, has the potential to mitigate the issues of loss of knowledge from one generation to another and dependence on chemicals by setting up local, offline-capable DRLs that are user-friendly. It allows for the revival of more than 1,000 TAK methods, the possibility of reducing chemical usage by 40%, creation of hybrid innovations, and increase in climate resilience, while at the same time, providing marginalized farmers with the means of access through the voice-enabled, local-language interfacesSocial Implications: The framework, by giving the power back to rural communities, especially women, SC/ST groups, and smallholders, is a means of social justice, cultural revival, and economic self-reliance. It is a vehicle for the education system that is free from colonial influences, diminishes the gap between rural and urban areas, and aids in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (for instance, Zero Hunger, Climate Action), thus, TAK is repositioned as a means for fair and resilient agrifood ‍‌systems.