Indigenous Agricultural Practices Research Articles

Piper agroforestry in the Indian Himalayas: indigenous peoples’ practices, policies and incentives

BackgroundIndigenous populations across the world play a significant role in sustainable land management and conservation of biodiversity. However, indigenous agricultural practices are rarely studied in depth and remain poorly documented in many regions of the world. Documenting such practices and identifying policies and incentives that affect them can unlock their potential for better land management and biodiversity conservation.MethodsWe undertook household surveys and focus group discussions to document indigenous practices and the values of trees in Piper (Piper betle) agroforestry practiced by the ethnic Khasi (Pnar) community in the Indian Eastern Himalayas. We also undertook an in-depth vegetation sampling to quantify variations in phytosociology and tree diversity with stand age in Piper agroforestry and nearby native forests. In addition, we undertook strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis and a desk review to identify policies, market support structures and incentives affecting cultivation of Piper, a cash crop of global importance.ResultsUnlike in shifting cultivation, indigenous people do not fell trees in the Piper agroforestry; instead, they allow trees to regenerate naturally and also enrich by planting tree seedlings in the gaps. Depending on the stand age, 30–49 tree species were recorded in the Piper agroforestry compared to 39 in nearby natural forests. While tree density was higher in the natural forests, greater species richness, diversity and basal area was recorded in > 25 years old Piper agroforestry stands. However, landholders do not have legally transferable or heritable rights to the land or trees.ConclusionIt is concluded that the Piper agroforestry provides a pathway for averting land degradation due to shifting cultivation, biodiversity conservation and improving livelihoods of the indigenous community. Although existing policies are supportive, Piper agroforestry is not currently benefiting from incentives and market support structures. We recommend implementation of policies, market support structures, incentives and payment for ecosystem services so that indigenous communities can benefit from the global ecosystem services they provide.

An intermediate level of disturbance with customary agricultural practices increases species diversity in Maya community forests in Belize

Across the planet, Indigenous societies control, use, and manage large tracts of tropical forest that are crucial for combating climate change. Here we investigate whether customary Indigenous agricultural practices can increase forest species diversity using swidden (aka, slash-and-burn) agriculture. We examine the community lands surrounding two Q’eqchi’ Maya villages in southern Belize using high-resolution multispectral imagery that we collected with drones, ground truth data related to land use and history, and a plant and tree biodiversity survey. We use computational methods including simulation and Bayesian modeling to analyze the relationship between spectral diversity, forest diversity, and landscape disturbance. Our key result, replicated in both villages, is that the highest level of spectral diversity (a proxy for forest diversity) is associated with an intermediate level of forest disturbance. In conclusion, we suggest that concepts from complex adaptive systems can provide an important conceptual framework for understanding how ecosystem enhancement can emerge from customary Indigenous land use practices.

Distribution of Soil Nutrients and Ancient Agriculture on Young Volcanic Soils of Ta‘ū, American Samoa

Soils and agriculture are inextricably linked, in the past as well as today. The Pacific islands, which often represent organized gradients of the essential soil-forming factors of substrate age and rainfall, represent excellent study systems to understand interactions between people and soils. The relationship between soil characteristics and indigenous agricultural practices are well documented for some locations, but there is a paucity of data for much of the region. Given the extent of ecological adaptation that has been documented, specifically for Hawai‘i, new Pacific datasets are expected to provide important insights into indigenous agricultural practices. To contribute to this discussion, we analyzed patterns in soil chemistry and vegetation in the Manu‘a islands of American Samoa. Soils were sampled along transects that crossed through precontact settlement zones in the upland of Fiti‘uta on Ta‘ū island, a location characterized by young (<100 ky) volcanic substrates and very high (>3800 mm y−1) annual rainfall. Soils were analyzed for several soil fertility properties that have been proposed as predictors of intensive rainfed tuber production in Hawai‘i and Rapa Nui. Surveys of remnant economic plants were conducted to assess patterns of past land use. Soils demonstrated moderate values of soil fertility as measured by pH, base saturation, exchangeable calcium, and total and exchangeable phosphorus, despite the high rainfall. Previously identified soil fertility indicators had some application to the distribution of traditional agriculture, but they also differed in important ways. In particular, low exchangeable calcium in the soils may have limited the agricultural form, especially the cultivation of tubers. Significant shifts in both soil parameters and remnant economic crops were documented, and alignment suggests cropping system adaptation to soil biochemistry. Archaeological samples combined with surveys of relict vegetation suggest that agroforestry and arboriculture were key components of past agricultural practices.

Strengthening adaptive capacity of rural farming communities in Southeast Asia: Experiences, best practices and lessons for scaling-up

This article highlights the experiences, contributions, and lessons generated from the ten selected APN capacity development programmes implemented from 2011-2019 and focused on enhancing the resilience and adaptive capacity of rural farming communities in Southeast Asia. These capacity development projects employed varying strategies and approaches. Some projects centred on training and building the technical capabilities of service providers, while others have directly trained and built the capacities of the farming communities. Some projects emphasised the promotion of nature-based and sustainable farming techniques such as agroforestry, conservation farming, rainwater harvesting, and indigenous agricultural practices that helped farming communities cope and adapt to climate change impacts. At the core of these capacity development programmes are collaboration and partnerships that were built and institutionalised among different sectors, such as academia, local government units, and the farming communities. These multisectoral collaborations hastened the project implementation and generation of project outputs and gave way to the sustainability of the project initiatives. These projects have generated numerous outputs that paved the way for enhanced social and human capital development of various stakeholders, science-based decision-making by policymakers; adoption of sustainable farming techniques and technologies; and knowledge generation and advancement of science. More importantly, these projects have developed a model for enhancing the adaptive capacity and resilience of rural farming communities in Southeast Asia.

Indigenous people's perception of indigenous agricultural knowledge for climate change adaptation in Khumbu, Nepal

IntroductionThere is a dearth of empirical work on indigenous people's perception of the effectiveness of indigenous agricultural knowledge and practices for climate change adaptation, especially in the mountain region. Existing scholarships in Nepal are concentrated on people's perception of climate change and verifying the effects of socio-economic variables on adopting adaptation strategies. There is a lack of application of a socio-psychological model to scrutinize subjective and cognitive factors influencing adaptation.MethodsThis study aims to utilize the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) to provide insights into the risk perception of climate change and the perception of adaptation efficacy of indigenous agricultural knowledge and practices. A randomly sampled questionnaire survey and focus group discussions were conducted in five villages in the Khumbu region of Nepal.Results and discussionThe results indicated that indigenous peoples had observed changes in seasonality, a decrease in snowfall frequency, and an increase in rainfall, posing a significant threat to their lives and livelihood. The perception of adaptation efficacy assessment disclosed that indigenous knowledge is effective in adapting to changing climatic conditions. It was found that the knowledge has been evolving and remains dynamic and relevant even in the backdrop of climate change. However, there is a lack of formal recognition of indigenous knowledge by the government authorities. Hence, the study's findings accredit the significance of indigenous knowledge. From the viewpoint of the generational succession of knowledge and devising cost-effective climate change adaptation strategy, it indicates a dire need for its incorporation into local climate policies and action plans.

Indigenous agricultural knowledge: A neglected human based resource for sustainable crop protection and production

Indigenous knowledge, developed over generations and owned by communities or individuals within a community, offers alternative strategies and perspectives on resource management and use. However, as emphasized in the contemporary agricultural history of Ethiopia, the most effective indigenous agricultural knowledge has not been well documented and some of them are replaced by modern techniques. This study was therefore conducted to assess and document community-based techniques to control pests and diseases and the practical implications of indigenous farming techniques. A focus group discussion, key informant interviews and semi-structured questionnaires were conducted with 150 farmers. The result showed that a substantial number (92%) of the farming community uses indigenous based plant protection measures. Indigenous farmers (92%) splash liquids made of cow urine to control the adverse effect of fungi. Farmers are also using different seed selection methods for next season planting. About 29% of the farmers do single head-based seed selection prior to mass harvesting, 34% are collected as “Qerm” and 45% select their seeds during threshing. Indigenous farming knowledge varies with the natural feature of the growing location and cropping system, including the rainfall pattern, soil fertility status, crop, and weed type. The observed positive effect of indigenous agricultural practices on crop production substantiates the need to include these essential approaches in the cultivation system along with the modern agronomic techniques. This might reduce the dependency on expensive and pollutant agricultural inputs. However, sociodemographic factors such as educational level, marital status and farming experience have been found as a determinant factor that influences utilization of indigenous farming knowledge. It can be therefore inferred that documenting indigenous knowledge and proving its applicability scientifically could contribute to organically oriented agricultural production and consequently reduce agriculture's contribution to environmental pollution.

Climate change adaptation in agriculture: Learning from an international labour mobility programme in Australia and the Pacific Islands region

Climate change is expected to seriously affect agricultural livelihoods and food security in all Pacific Island countries. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation contends that, to adapt, both ‘modern’ and Indigenous agricultural practices and knowledge are needed. A challenge lies in combining agricultural knowledge systems and enabling adaptive knowledge to be shared amongst Pacific Islanders. Opportunities to integrate different types of agricultural knowledge (including ‘modern’ and Indigenous) are needed. This paper argues that international labour mobility programmes provide an avenue for knowledge exchange that can support climate change adaptation in agriculture. It presents empirical evidence from research with 33 Pacific Islanders who grow crops in their home countries and were employed in Australia’s Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP). We demonstrate how SWP participation opened new possibilities for climate change adaptation in agriculture in the Pacific Islands. Adaptive knowledge stems from SWP workers’ exposure to different agricultural skills and ideas in Australia, combined with their knowledge and experience of crop production in their countries of origin. SWP participation created opportunities for workers to draw on different agricultural skills and knowledge on return to the Pacific Islands. The ability for SWP workers to then exchange adaptive knowledge with other Pacific Islanders is enabled by their social relationships, the likes of which an official agricultural extension officer might not have to the same degree. So far, such adaptive agricultural knowledge and skills exchanges are serendipitous. There is scope to explicitly build climate change knowledge exchange into agriculture-focused international labour mobility schemes.

Profile Characteristics of the Farmers Followed Indigenous Agricultural Practices in Rayalaseema Region of Andhra Pradesh

The study was conducted with an Ex-post facto research design in Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh to identify the profile characteristics of the farmers followed indigenous agricultural practices in major three crops (paddy, groundnut and red gram). Data were collected from a randomly selected 180 farmers from two districts i.e. Ananthapur and Kurnool of Rayalaseema region by personal interview method. The results revealed that majority of the respondents are middle aged (60.00%), illiterates (37.78%), semi-medium farmers (36.11%), had medium farming experience (52.22%) with medium family size (77.78%), family income (41.11%), extension contact (47.77%), mass media exposure (45.56%), innovativeness (41.67%), fatalism (63.89%), social participation (55.56%), achievement motivation (41.11%), scientific orientation (44.45%), economic orientation (62.22%), market orientation (59.45%) and attitude towards indigenous agricultural practices (50.56%).

Human and hutia (Isolobodon portoricensis) interactions in pre-Columbian Hispaniola: The isotopic and morphological evidence

There are certain animal candidates for which researchers have long speculated as having been managed, or possibly domesticated, by indigenous peoples in the pre-Columbian Caribbean, the primary candidate being some members of a group of caviomorph rodents known as hutia (Capromyinae). This study comprises an isotopic and morphological investigation of the potential management of an extinct species endemic to Hispaniola, the Puerto Rican hutia (Isolobodon portoricensis). For comparisons, isotopic analysis was conducted of bone collagen samples examining carbon (∂13Cco) and nitrogen (∂15N) values of I. portoricensis with two other species of endemic hutia, guinea pig (Cavia porcellus), Antillean slider (Trachemys stejnegeri), rhinoceros iguana (Cyclura cornuta) and edible rat (Brotomys sp.) from four sites in the Dominican Republic: El Flaco, El Carril, El Cabo and La Entrada. This data was compared to human and dog collagen values available from El Flaco to assess similarities between these groups. Osteometric data was recorded for hutia mandibles, allowing for body mass estimations (n = 230). The findings suggest that some Isolobodon portoricensis specimens possessed carbon (δ13Cco) values similar to humans and dogs at El Flaco, possibly associated with the consumption of agriculturally produced maize. This research does not indicate whether domestication or management of this species was occurring, at least not in a systematic way. Concurrence with palaeoenvironmental and zooarchaeological data from the region in which El Flaco and El Carril are located indicate that indigenous agricultural practices may have affected populations of hutia, perhaps by attracting them and supporting them within anthropogenic mosaic landscapes. The data also suggests that some degree of either purposeful feeding or scavenging from human agricultural plots was occurring and supports some degree of commensalism between humans and Puerto Rican hutia at these sites.

Indigenous Agricultural Practices among Tribal Farmers on Lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh

Indigenous Agricultural Practices among Tribal Farmers on Lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh

Enhancing integration of Indigenous agricultural knowledge into USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service cost-share initiatives

Agricultural management practices drawn from Indigenous agricultural knowledge (IAK) have supported people in the North American desert Southwest for thousands of years. Techniques developed and refined from generation to generation through careful observation and innovation have enhanced the sustainability and resilience of these delicate agroecosystems over millennia. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recognized the contributions of IAK practices to Environmental Quality Incentives (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Programs (CSP) in the 2010 <i>Indigenous Stewardship Methods and NRCS Conservation Practices</i> (ISM) handbook. However, during fiscal year 2017 2% of EQIP and CSP contracts went to American Indian farms, which make up 2.9% of the total farms in the United States. NRCS would need to award nearly 400 more contracts to Indigenous farms to achieve proportional representation. This suggests significant potential exists for expanding American Indian participation in these conservation programs but barriers to their participation remain. For example, agriculturalists who wish to employ IAK management practices must go through an ad hoc process defined in the 2010 ISM handbook. This adds further complexity to the application process, in which applicants must navigate unique land tenure/ownership issues and tribal/federal interactions. Here we present examples of Indigenous conservation practices embedded in agricultural systems of Hopi dryland farmers, the La Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa wild rice (<i>Zizania palustris</i>) harvesters, and Menominee tribal foresters to demonstrate the compatibility of IAK practices with NRCS conservation outcomes and to argue for full inclusion of Indigenous agricultural practices into something equivalent to the NRCS Field Office Technical Guides. Expansion of Indigenous agriculturalists and producers in NRCS programs can help preserve important ecosystems and help support Indigenous cultures and time-tested concepts of stewardship. Incorporation and support of IAK practices is beneficial to all stakeholders because expansion of partnerships between the NRCS and Indigenous agriculturalists and producers will help expand Indigenous conservation and agriculture practices and further the NRCS mission of “Helping People Help the Land.”

REFRAMING INDIGENOUS FARMING IN THE AGE OF NEOLIBERAL AGRARIAN CHANGE: LESSONS FROM SABAH, MALAYSIA

ABSTRACT This paper discusses the influence of neoliberal agricultural policy on the changes in agricultural practices amongst the indigenous farmers in Kota Belud, Sabah, Malaysia. As the main rice-producing area in Sabah, the agriculture sector in Kota Belud is significantly changing. However, why such changes have occurred and what do these changes mean to the practices of indigenous farmers are largely unknown. Based on semi-structured and in-depth interviews with farmers and local leaders in Kampung Piasau, Kota Belud, this paper demonstrates the main factors identified as having the greatest impact on the agricultural sector in Kota Belud. The influence of privatisation and free-market economy has brought about modernisation in the farming sector, leading to the erosion of collective values and social capital that farmers have long practised. This influence also has promoted the notion of neoliberal policies that 'modern' society and agriculture are more rational than indigenous agricultural practices, a rationale that is built around 'western' logic rather than tradition. However, research findings do not fully support this notion as some informants expressed strong confidence towards the need to revitalise traditional farming practices in paddy cultivation activities, although many of them are no longer practised. Overall, the influence of neoliberal agricultural policy has brought significant changes to the farming community in Kota Belud. Some are desired, and some are less desired changes, but all affect the process and purpose of agrarian change.

Indigenous Agricultural Practices and Adaptation Strategies Among Rural Farmers to Climate Change Incidence in Southwest, Nigeria

The prediction of climatic changes has the potential to severely affect rural farmers’ livelihoods, resulting in food insecurity, among other consequences. This study aimed to assess the indigenous agricultural practices and adaptation strategies among rural farmers to climate change incidence in Southwest, Nigeria. Primary data on the socio-economic characteristics, farming activities of rural farmers that contribute to climate changes, indigenous adaptation practices and factors influencing the adoption of these adaptation strategies in the study area. Multistage sampling techniques were used for the study. Two (Oyo and Ogun) of the six states in southwest Nigeria was selected purposively for the study Structured interview guide was used to elicit information from the rural farmers. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results revealed that above half (51.4%) of the respondents were between 41-60years age range. The mean age of rural farmers was 53.5years. 69.2% were married, 75.6% were Yoruba, 72.3% had formal education, and 63.2% of the rural farmers had between 11 - 25years of farming experience with the mean farming experience of 22years. The main farming activities that contribute to climate changes were bush burning, continuous farming activities, overgrazing and use of fertilizer application. Majority (85.7%) of the respondents utilize multiple/intercropping farming, 82.3% utilize resistant varieties and 81.1% utilize mulching as indigenous adaptation strategies. Factors influencing the adoption of these adaptation strategies were shifting in planting date, access to extension service and training and indigenous knowledge practice. Regression result reveals that age, sex, household size and educational level were factors influencing the adoption of these adaptation strategies at 1%, 5% and 10% in the study area. The study concludes that various adaptation strategies were used by the rural farmers in response to altered farming resulting from experienced environmental degradation due to or similarly situated to events associated with climate change. It is therefore recommended that most of the strategies/practices currently used by rural farmers should be improved upon to ensure appropriate sustainable agricultural development in the country. Keywords: Indigenous, Agriculture, Practices, Adaptation, Strategies, Climate Change, Southwest; DOI: 10.7176/JEES/10-7-03 Publication date: July 31 st 2020

Assessing the knowledge level of tribals farmers on recommended indigenous agricultural practices in millets

Assessing the knowledge level of tribals farmers on recommended indigenous agricultural practices in millets

Biodiversity conservation through indigenous agricultural practices: Woody species composition, density and diversity along an altitudinal gradient of Northern Ethiopia

AbstractThe greatest human impact on the forest ecosystems such as loss of forest area, habitat fragmentation, and soil degradation leads to decline biodiversity. These impacts can be addressed by ...

Cochasquí (Ecuador): An Andean Agricultural Calendrical Centre Oriented Towards the Heliacal Setting of the Southern Cross

This study develops a conceptualisation of the origin and historical sequencing of the ramped platform pyramids at Cochasqui Archaeological Park, Ecuador, and is intended to stimulate further interdisciplinary research in the fields of archaeology, ethnohistory, ethnoastronomy and archaeoastronomy. Through analysing ethnohistorical sources on indigenous agricultural practices in the Andes, a hypothesis is developed as to the purpose for which these ramped pyramids were built, and why these ramps most likely are not remnants of the construction phase. The pyramids at Cochasqui demonstrate that a high level of social organisation and agricultural knowledge was already flourishing in pre-Inca societies in Ecuador.

Endogenous Forest Development Paradigm: Challenging Current Forest Conservation Practices in Ghana

The centre of Ghana development is land that plays a vital role. This article focused mainly on the rapid land degradation and deforestation due to bush fires, poorly managed grazing, farming and agricultural conversion, current forest/woodland governance systems and major policy gaps that were identified. A combination of methods used included: Extensive study of secondary literature/reports/programmes/write-ups (from 1999-2004), key informant interview: a one-on-one interview with Government Officials, 7 responsible for forest management, Forestry, Commission and Traditional Institutions (men-10, women-5), elders-6, and functionaries-4 living in the community, phased assertion. The study recommend Forest Management System needs to be evolved that includes the management and development of sacred groves, shrines, sacred bodies and natures, and totems; associated with indigenous agricultural practices and seeds, indigenous agro-ecological management practices, indigenous tree and vegetation management practices, indigenous livelihood developments and human activity systems which are both enhancing and militating against biodiversity conservation and development encourage and systematically develop traditionally protect areas/plants/animals (TPAs). Attention should be paid to conservation of: 1) sacred groves; 2) burial grounds and spiritual lands; 3) sacred water bodies and fauna; 4) totemic animals; 5) traditional cultural practices; 6) farming systems; 7) traditional crop varieties; 8) home gardens; 9) graze-lands and rest lands; 10) wild fruits supply systems.

Indigenous technologies of organic agriculture: A review

Agro-chemicals based farming is not sustainable in consonance with economics, ecology, equity, energy and socio-cultural dimensions. Indigenous agricultural practices, which are based on natural and organic methods of farming offer several effective, feasible and cost effective solutions to most of the basic problems being faced in conventional farming system. though agricultural production has continued to increase, but productivity rate per unit area has started to decline. The entire agricultural community is trying to find out an alternative sustainable farming system, which is ecologically sound, economically and socially acceptable. Huge quantity of crop residues/animal wastes is available on a farm. the common practice is to burn it which creates environmental pollution and loss of nutrients. Proper recycling can produce excellent quality compost in 3–4 months, depending upon the climatic conditions and method of composting. organic farming systems viz; Natural farming, Biodynamic farming, Rishi Krishi, Panchagavya Krishi, Permaculture, Homa Farming etc. are popular and being practiced by a large number of farmers in India and the abroad.

Indigenous Agricultural Practices followed for Paddy Cultivation in Ariyalur District of Tamil Nadu

Paddy is the major crop in Ariyalur District of TamilNadu as it occupies an area of 24, 143 ha. Indigenous Agricultural Practices (IAPs) are the accumulated skill of the particular community and are unique and in harmony with the nature. An attempt was made to explore the IAPs adopted in paddy cultivation in two blocks viz., Thirumanur and T. Palur through Rapid Rural Appraisal, Personal interviews and also to work out the grand adoption percentage of IAPs in paddy cultivation. Data were collected from 120 respondents belonging to eight villages using proportionate random sampling method. The study revealed that there were 38 IAPs categorized under six cultivation practices and the highest adoption percentage was arrived for hand weeding (100%), trimming of field bunds (100%), summer ploughing (87%), sheep penning (85%) and shaking of seedling before transplanting (83%). The Grand Adoption percentage of IAPs in paddy at Ariyalur district was only 35 per cent and there is an ample scope to promote IAPs as a measure of sustainable agriculture by merging with other practices aiming at higher yield and income without harming environment.

Rationality of Documented Indigenous Technical Knowledge on Coconut Cultivation in Coastal Farming System of Tamil Nadu

The study was conducted in all the twelve coastal districts of Tamil Nadu with 240 farmers as respondents. The selection of farm respondents was on the basis of their awareness and adoption of indigenous technologies in agriculture, based on personal interview method. The association of farmers with the development agencies working in the study area was also considered as a criterion for the selection. Twenty farmers representing each block of twelve districts in Tamil Nadu with a total of 240 respondents have been identified and assisted in the collection of information on indigenous agricultural practices. On consultation with an expert committee of extension scientists, the identified items were sent to 60 scientist of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University for testing the rationality. The findings of this study revealed that out of 14 indigenous technologies on coconut cultivation, one was found to be irrational. The rational items had higher awareness and adoption. The identified practices being rooted in the rural culture of Tamil Nadu could be easily disseminated through extension system, which may assist in developing ecofriendly agricultural practices and creation of new farming systems for the benefit of resource poor farmers in coastal areas of Tamil Nadu.