Abstract:

The Eastern Himalayan belt is the centre of origin for a number of crops, including rice. This study explored the customary laws and farming practices of Lepcha and Limbu communities, and what they mean for the design of mechanisms to protect traditional knowledge (TK) at national and community levels. It was conducted in five villages in Kalimpong (District Darjeeling, West Bengal state) and two villages in the neighbouring state of Sikkim. The participatory action research entailed village meetings, focused group discussions, semistructured interviews and household surveys, and involved a range of stakeholders.