Use of Information Communication Technologies for Documenting Indigenous Farming Knowledge for Improved Preservation, Access and Use in Kilifi County, Kenya

Abstract

This study purposed to use information and communication technologies for documenting indigenous farming knowledge for improved preservation, accessibility and use in Kilifi County, Kenya. The objectives that guided this study were to assess the awareness and perception of the study community regarding use of ICTs in preservation and management of indigenous farming knowledge, to explore available ICTs tools that can capture and document indigenous farming knowledge, to advance the important role a library repository could play in preservation, management, storage and dissemination of indigenous farming knowledge and to identify barriers and concerns related to IFK preservation, accessibility and use. The outcome of this research is a knowledge asset of captured indigenous farming experiences, processes, and insights to contribute to a pool of indigenous farming knowledge for learning and scaling up preservation and public utilization. This study was conducted in all the seven Sub Counties in Kilifi County namely Malindi, Magarini, Kilifi North, Kilifi South, Ganze, Kaloleni and Rabai where a sample size of ninety eight respondents that was derived using Krejcie and Morgan formula n=X2NP (1-P)/e2 (N-1) +X2P (1-P) that is used when a population is more than ten thousand (10,000) were targeted. The research instruments that were used included questionnaires, interview schedule, personal observation, storytelling and focus group discussions which were recorded using information and communication technology resources such as video recording to come up with a knowledge asset of indigenous farming knowledge experiences for uploading into the County of Kilifi Public Library repository was realized. Cronbach’s alpha was used to test the validity of the instruments. Secondary data was collected from County of Kilifi Demographic Reports, Kilifi County Development plan, County Government of Kilifi Agricultural Sector Development Programme and reputable databases. Data analysis involved the use of inferential statistics using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and tables of means and standard deviation which were used to present the data. The findings of the study are that indigenous farming knowledge is very valuable and has assisted the community in food security and needs to be passed down to the younger generation. Farmers’ awareness and perception of the role of ICT in preservation of IFK is very good and agreed that if IFK is not documented, it may disappear as they died. The farmers were aware of ICTs tools to capture, document and disseminate indigenous farming experiences for improved preservation and accessibility in Public Libraries in Kilifi County including mobile phones, radios, television, computers, internet, memory cards, social media technologies, iPads and flash discs can be used. The Sub County Agricultural Officers and Librarians have the qualification and experience required to collaborate with the Kaya Elders (Farmers) to document and preserve the IFK for posterity. The public library repository can be a knowledge asset in the preservation, management and dissemination of documented indigenous farming experiences and provide free access to indigenous knowledge information resources, providing places for access to researchers of indigenous knowledge, training users on accessing indigenous knowledge resources and allowing farmers to observe indigenous knowledge practices by offering demonstration site in the library compound. However, there were barriers and concerns including climate change, use of certified seeds instead of indigenous seeds, its accessibility, government introduction of early maturing seeds due to prolonged drought, people’s perception of it being primitive knowledge, its none documentation and inaccessibility, poor preservation, knowledge gaps left by dying indigenous knowledge owners that were noted that can be surmounted by documenting indigenous knowledge practices, creating awareness on indigenous knowledge resources, mentorship (the old passing knowledge to the young), creating platforms to allow access to indigenous knowledge as well as creating indigenous knowledge databases, mainstreaming it into our formal education, building awareness on indigenous farming knowledge, community based indigenous knowledge maintenance, creating national indigenous knowledge inventories and securing intellectual property of indigenous farming knowledge. The study recommended  indigenous farming knowledge be incorporated to scientific farming knowledge by embedding it in ICTs tools such as mobile phones, and social media technologies that will enhance its accessibility and mainstreaming with scientific knowledge, educating people on value of indigenous farming knowledge by public libraries’ embracing their role of creating awareness through creation of more platforms including indigenous farming knowledge databases and revamping public libraries to become viable indigenous farming knowledge assets by empowering the public libraries in acquiring, preserving, managing and disseminating IFK in the form of books, audio visual resources, technical skills, human skills, demonstration gardens and adult education learners and double their effort in creating the necessary awareness for them to achieve their intended purpose.