1.  There was consensus on the potential utility of managing tea gardens through ancient and medieval techniques based on Vrikshayurveda. It was disclosed that many tea gardens have already been converted into “Organic”. Active participation of several tea planters in the conference indicated renewed interest in managing tea gardens organically. The Asian Agri-History Foundation (AAHF) and the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) will provide technical support to tea planters, whenever needed.  

2. Participants commended the initiative taken by Mr Bhupendra Singh, Manager, Deckiajuli Tea Estate, Sonitpur, Assam in developing innovative practices to control red spider mite and tea mosquito bug, the two dreaded pests of tea. This new knowledge being generated at the level of tea planters should be exchanged.

3.  Considerable information on indigenous technologies practiced by farmers is now available with all agricultural institutions in the country. It is high time that management of institutions take positive steps to validate indigenous technologies by allocating research funds.

4.  Postgraduate students should be encouraged to undertake research to validate traditional practices. For validation research on tea, Tea Research Association and the Tea Research Station at Tocklai, Assam should be involved.

5.  Participants acknowledged the richness of Assam in having many medicinal and aromatic plant species. It was recommended that AAU develop a project researching key aspects of medicinal and aromatic plants in collaboration with AAHF. The Vice-Chancellor, AAU expressed willingness to fund such a project.

6. Frequent reference was made to “Dakor Bachan” (The Sayings by Dak), which captures the wisdom of farmers in proverbs compiled by Dak in the 8th century AD. It was recommended that Dakor Bachan be translated into English by AAHF. Similarly, sayings popular with Haryana farmers, which have been compiled by Mr Kuldeep Singh Dhanda, should be translated into English by AAHF.     

7. The term “plantation crop” usually cannotes a large, well-managed, well-marketed enterprise. Examples of plantation crops frequently mentioned are tea, coffee, rubber, and coconut. There are other plants such as bamboo and Flemingia semialata that harbor the lac insect, which contribute substantially to the economy of the country. These should also be categorized as “plantation crops”.