Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and Adaptation of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) in Nigeria

Abstract

This review is focused on Indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) and adaptation of climate smart agriculture (CSA) in Nigeria. Specifically, this paper discusses the role of indigenous knowledge in farmers’ perception of climate change; indigenous knowledge used by farmers in responding to climate change; challenges in applying IKS in CSA adaptation and opportunities to integrate indigenous knowledge and CSA into extension education. The impacts of climate change are observed at various spatial scales; from local to global and are a threat to global environmental sustainability, particularly its consequent risks to indigenous communities and their livelihoods. Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) offers an integrative approach to adaptation within the context of agriculture that involves services to farmers and farm activities with the intention of creating greater resilience of farming systems in the face of environmental change and reducing the environmental effects. The concept of CSA is new and still evolving, howbeit, many of the practices that make up CSA already exist worldwide and are currently used by farmers to cope with various forms of risks. To foster CSA using IKS, it calls for in-depth analysis of successfully completed and on-going practices as well as their relationship with current and future agricultural and environmental outlook. IKS can help to achieve food security and broaden agricultural development in this time of a changing climate and rising food demand.