Traditional ecological knowledge comprises of a component of local knowledge of species, environmental phenomenon, beliefs and practice in the way people carry out activities related to resource use within ecosystems. Interest in traditional ecological knowledge has been growing in recent years, partly due to recognition that such knowledge can potentially contribute to biodiversity conservation, maintenance of ecological processes and development of sustainable resource use strategies. The present paper looks into such knowledge of an ethnic community named Kurichiya in Wayanad District of Kerala in the traditional classification of paddy fields (Vayal), traditional knowledge associated with its sustainable utilization and management strategies to utilize physical and human resources for rice cultivation.