Understanding the relevance of indigenous knowledge on climate change adaptation among mixed farmers in the Ngono River Basin, Tanzania

Abstract

Climate change poses major threats to people and ecosystems. In many areas, climate change impacts have affected the availability of basic necessities including freshwater, food security, and energy. Developing countries are more adversely impacted by climate change and are less prepared to cope with its impacts. Over the years, local communities in these countries have been using their local based knowledge commonly known as indigenous knowledge (IK) to adapt to any form of uncertainty including climate change. This article assesses the IK used by the mixed farmers in Tanzania to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The study that informed this article was conducted in Missenyi and Muleba Districts, Kagera Region along the Ngono River Basin in Tanzania. It employed different techniques and methods to gather information from both primary and secondary sources including focus group discussions, key informant interviews, observation and desk reviews. The findings revealed that local communities within the basin have developed a sophisticated body of knowledge to withstand impacts of climate change. This knowledge is socially constructed and embedded within the socio-cultural context of the local communities. The findings further established that IK is mostly used in a situation of long drought season, infestation of diseases and pests for both livestock and crops as well as during occurrence of strong winds. In such circumstances, most oft-cited adaptation practices used include farming and grazing in wetlands, growing of drought resistant crops, using locally made pesticides, and grain storage, to mention but a few. The article recommends that despite the fact that some IK seems to be helpful at the local level, it is necessary that local communities are assisted in their adaptive strategies so that they can respond to climate change effectively and enhance their resilience.

Keywords:

• indigenous knowledge
• climate change
• adaptation
• mixed farmers

Acknowledgments

I am grateful for the financial support from the German Academic Exchange Service that helped me to conduct this study successfully. I also would like to thank the anonymous reviewers whose comments enriched this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 A recently released IPCC report illuminates that there are still debates going on and conclusions regarding local communities and the knowledge they hold.

2 Key informant interview with Village Chairman, Mbale Village.

3 FGD with villagers in Kabingo Village.

4 FGD with villagers in Bugorora Village.

5 FGD with villagers in Kabingo Village.

6 Key informant interview with extension staff of Bugorora Ward.

7 Key informant interview with one villager in Buchurago Village.