at the same time it is mandatory to acknowledge and recognize the differential knowledge in the community while reviving interest in traditional knowledge the vertical and horizontal stratification operating in a given society defines the access to various resources including cultural and natural resources the approaches of organic farming and leisa are potential alternative systems and more environmentfriendly forms of agriculture which provides scope to create links between traditional and scientific knowledge systems the promotion of organic farming and its standards needs to respect the traditional ecosystems and knowledge of the farmers it is important to assimilate strategies that combine traditional knowledge and modern sciencebased practices to achieve sustainable and equitable use and development such changes would require a shift in research and development approaches towards farmeruserled participatory development which is right now being practised among developmental agencies