Content
About this brief
The role of indigenous knowledge in climate adaptation: experiences with farmer perceptions from climate change project in Sedumbwe Agricultural Camp of Southern Zambia
Brief about:
Journal Article (2017)
Written by:
Other researchers:
Indigenous knowledge from elders and farmers on extreme weather must be integrated and considered alongside expert knowledge seasonally, and Zambian agriculture policy must consider this knowledge.
This research is significant as it shows the value of indigenous knowledge and how there are alternative ways to predict the weather for an agriculture season.
Key findings
- Indigenous weather prediction is not far from the actual rain situation in a particular season
Proposed action
- Indigenous knowledge must be integrated with expert knowledge
Experts make predictions for what the weather would be, for the upcoming season, but it should be examined alongside indigenous knowledge predictions to assess accuracy. Indigenous knowledge on extreme weather should be collected before commencement of rain every season. This can be done in three steps.
- First, elders who hold indigenous knowledge need to be identified and mapped
This can be achieved by going to the villages and understanding and recording who holds the knowledge.
- Second, indigenous knowledge on predicted extreme weather can then be seasonally harvested by first holding focus group discussions up to 10 elders and farmers from the study area
And then, with a survey (aiming for 600 elder farmers)
- Lastly, after knowledge is collected, then a seasonal meeting where the indigenous knowledge for the upcoming season is reported to the experts should be held
They can then decide how the knowledge can be integrated into the conventional weather forecast systems.
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Acknowledgements
Thank you to iDE Global
These insights were made available thanks to the support of iDE Global, who are committed to the dissemination of knowledge for all.
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The role of indigenous knowledge in climate adaptation: experiences with farmer perceptions from climate change project in Sedumbwe Agricultural Camp of Southern Zambia
Cite this brief: Chisanga, Kafula. 'The role of indigenous knowledge in climate adaptation: experiences with farmer perceptions from climate change project in Sedumbwe Agricultural Camp of Southern Zambia'. Acume. https://www.acume.org/r/the-role-of-indigenous-knowledge-in-climate-adaptation-experiences-with-farmer-perceptions-from-climate-change-project-in-sedumbwe-agricultural-camp-of-southern-zambia/
Brief created by: Dr Kafula Chisanga | Year brief made: 2022
Original research:
- A. B. M., Chisanga, K., & T. H., ‘The role of indigenous knowledge in climate adaptation: experiences with farmer perceptions from climate change project in Sedumbwe Agricultural Camp of Southern Zambia’ 7(9) (pp. 94–101) http://137.63.168.4/handle/20.500.12260/55. – http://137.63.168.4/handle/20.500.12260/55
Research brief:
Indigenous knowledge from elders and farmers on extreme weather must be integrated and considered alongside expert knowledge seasonally, and Zambian agriculture policy must consider this knowledge.
This research is significant as it shows the value of indigenous knowledge and how there are alternative ways to predict the weather for an agriculture season.
Findings:
Indigenous weather prediction is not far from the actual rain situation in a particular season
Advice:
Indigenous knowledge must be integrated with expert knowledge
- Experts make predictions for what the weather would be, for the upcoming season, but it should be examined alongside indigenous knowledge predictions to assess accuracy. Indigenous knowledge on extreme weather should be collected before commencement of rain every season. This can be done in three steps.
First, elders who hold indigenous knowledge need to be identified and mapped
- This can be achieved by going to the villages and understanding and recording who holds the knowledge.
Second, indigenous knowledge on predicted extreme weather can then be seasonally harvested by first holding focus group discussions up to 10 elders and farmers from the study area
- And then, with a survey (aiming for 600 elder farmers)
Lastly, after knowledge is collected, then a seasonal meeting where the indigenous knowledge for the upcoming season is reported to the experts should be held
- They can then decide how the knowledge can be integrated into the conventional weather forecast systems.