Kunapajala: An Ancient Solution for Modern Sustainable Agriculture

The intensive farming practices prevalent today have led to significant environmental degradation. This includes soil deterioration and widespread chemical dependence from fertilisers and pesticides. The over reliance on chemical inputs has hardened the soil, reduced fertility, and polluted air and water, posing threats to soil, plants, and ultimately human health.

In response to these challenges, there is a growing imperative to adopt eco-friendly agricultural methods. Kunapajala, a traditional organic formulation rooted in India’s ancient wisdom, specifically from Indian knowledge systems like Vrikshayurveda, offers a time-tested and promising alternative for sustainable crop production and a safe agroecosystem.

What is Kunapajala?

Kunapajala, a name derived from the Sanskrit words ‘Kunapa’ (meaning “smelling like a dead body” or “stinking”) and ‘Jala’ (meaning “water”), is a traditional and fermented liquid organic manure. Its preparation involves the fermentation of animal or fish remains. Historically, its earliest records are found in documents such as ‘Vrikshayurveda’ (circa 1000 AD) by Surapala and ‘Lokopakara’ (circa 1025 AD) by Chavundaraya.

While early texts provided general methods, they often lacked specific quantities of ingredients. Over centuries, modifications emerged, incorporating ingredients like flesh, bone marrow, brain, blood, excreta of animals (such as boar, deer, pig, sheep, goat, rhinoceros, cow, porpoise, cat, birds, elephant, chicken, rats) and fish.

Modern preparations also include milk, ghee, honey, cow dung, cow urine, rice husk, oil cakes (like sesame or mustard), sprouted black gram or green gram, jaggery, and plant leaves (for herbal variants). During fermentation, complex molecules like proteins, fats, and carbohydrates are broken down into simpler, readily available forms for plants. Traditionally, Kunapajala was used to nourish soil and boost plant health.

Why it Matters Today?

Kunapajala is a rich source of various macro and micronutrients, beneficial microorganisms, and plant growth-promoting hormones. It also contains enzymes, and vitamins, all crucial for plant growth and development. Studies have shown that it enhances soil health by improving chemical and biological properties. This includes increased NPK content, macronutrients, micronutrients, enzymatic activity, and soil microbial count.

For instance, it can improve available nitrogen due to N-fixers and enhanced organic matter mineralization, and increase phosphorus availability through Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria. It also enhances root growth and rhizosphere activity due to increased nutrient availability and uptake.

Application of Kunapajala significantly improves crop growth and yield attributes, such as plant height, number of branches, leaf area index, dry matter production, number of fruits per plant, fruit length, girth, and average fruit weight. Foliar application, in particular, allows plants to absorb nutrients faster than through soil application.

It also contributes to disease resistance and can deter harmful insects, with certain ingredients like honey, milk, neem, and Clerodendron infortunatum providing antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antifeedant effects. Moreover, Kunapajala is an eco-friendly, innovative, pollinator-friendly, and low-cost plant stimulant that can reduce the need for conventional fertilisers and pesticides.

Traditional Wisdom Meets Modern Needs

In the context of growing environmental concerns and a shift towards organic products, Kunapajala aligns perfectly with modern agroecology and regenerative farming principles. It embodies a holistic approach to sustainable agriculture by fostering biodiversity and biological cycles. As an indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) formulation, it promotes the recycling of animal waste and other organic materials into valuable agricultural inputs, thereby contributing to a circular economy.

The technology can serve a dual purpose of sustainable animal waste management and an alternate mode of nutrient cycling in agriculture. It’s a promising low-cost microbial technology that supports sustainable intensification in agroecosystems by recycling bio-waste into essential plant nutrients.

Barriers & Revival

Despite its immense potential, Kunapajala and similar traditional organic formulations have historically met with negligence from agricultural scientists, only to be experimented with by social workers and mathematicians. There is a recognised need for more scientific research to standardise its quality analysis, raw material quantities, doses, application timing, and methods.

Concerns such as the potential for pathogen transfer, although mitigated by cooking and fermentation, require ongoing attention. Additionally, keeping an eye on issues like heavy metal contamination in animal manures is necessary for ensuring safety.

However, there is a re-emerging interest, especially among organic farmers and researchers. Studies are now confirming its efficacy on various crops, from okra and gladiolus to chickpea and rice. Initiatives like India’s Swachh Bharat Mission and Startup India are creating a supportive environment for waste management innovations, including traditional practices like Kunapajala. For broader acceptance and commercial use, Kunapajala formulations would need to adhere to modern organic certification processes.

Conclusion

Kunapajala, as India’s oldest documented manure, represents a powerful example of how ancient indigenous innovations can address contemporary agricultural challenges. Its confirmed benefits in improving soil health, enhancing plant growth and immunity, and fostering an eco-friendly agroecosystem make it a vital tool for sustainable food production. By reviving and scientifically validating such traditional practices, we can move towards a healthier, more resilient, and sustainable future for agriculture and our planet.