The Role of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Rural Smallholder Farmers’ Response to Climate Change: Case Study of Nkomazi Local Municipality, Mpumalanga, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-284
Author(s):  
Nomcebo R. Ubisi ◽  
Unathi Kolanisi ◽  
Obert Jiri
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Climate Indicators ◽  
Local Municipality ◽  
Droughts And Floods ◽  
Negative Impacts

Climate change and variability have direct negative impacts on rural smallholder farmers. These impacts involve extreme climatic events such as excessive temperatures, prolonged droughts and floods which affect people’s livelihoods. This study was conducted in Nkomazi Local Municipality, Mpumalanga, South Africa. The main objective of the study was to investigate indigenous weather and climate indicators used by smallholder farmers and the role of indigenous knowledge in their farming systems. The research used qualitative methods, including focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The findings indicated that farmers observed animal behaviour, plants, atmospheric indicators and human ailments to predict weather.

scholarly journals KNOWLEDGE ON ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS OF RAMANATHAPURAM DISTRICT- A STUDY

2021 ◽  
pp. 18-19
Author(s):  
Radha. M ◽  
G. Sivakumar
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Environmental Hazards ◽  
School Students ◽  
Droughts And Floods

This study is described to learn Knowledge on environmental hazards to the Secondary School Students.Environmental hazards are increasing due to both natural and man induced activities ever than before.A hazard is any types of threat or danger to human lives,livelihoods,economy,and society in the modern societies.Natural hazards like floods,droughts, landslides, cyclones etc. cannot be eliminated.Therefore,impact of hazards especially droughts and floods could have been reduced as they could forecast well and prepared for it. But at present indigenous knowledge is not used for forecasting due to various reasons such as change in lifestyles, technology, climate change etc.The secondary school students were found to possess substantial knowledge on environmental issues and good attitudes towards the environment.However they have moderate awareness on environmental issues and promote environmental awareness as they teach any related environmental topics given the significant role of knowledge in fostering environmental hazards among students.

The Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Adaptation to Climate Change in the Northern Mountain of Vietnam

2022 ◽  
pp. 24-44
Author(s):  
Manh Nguyen The ◽  
Mokbul Morshed Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Farmer Perceptions ◽  
Mountainous Regions ◽  
Key Informant ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Negative Impacts

Climate change has adversely affected the indigenous farmers in the mountainous regions not only in Vietnam but also in other countries. This chapter provides the indigenous farmer perception and use of indigenous knowledge to adapt to climate change. The authors reviewed many previous studies related to the indigenous farmer application of indigenous knowledge to adapt to climate change and combined with the data of 362 randomly selected indigenous farmers in Vietnam by using surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. They have found that indigenous farmers were aware of climate change and the negative impacts of climate change on their life both in Vietnam and in many other countries such as India, Bangladesh, and the USA. Furthermore, indigenous farmers have used different indigenous knowledge to adapt to climate change. This chapter also suggested that policymakers should consider indigenous farmer perceptions and indigenous knowledge when designing and formulating climate change policies for indigenous farmers in the future.

Climate Change Grounded on Empirical Evidence as Compared with the Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers in Vhembe District, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 683-698
Author(s):  
Zongho Kom ◽  
Nthaduleni S. Nethengwe ◽  
Sylvester Mpandeli ◽  
Hector Chikoore
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Climate Indicators ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Vhembe District

In South Africa, the smallholding-farming system is a dominant economic activity in rural communities. This study examines smallholder-farmers’ perceptions in regards to climate changes, in comparison with evidence from meteorological data from 1980–2015, across Vhembe District; data from a questionnaire and recorded meteorological were used. The results reveal that, farmers’ perceptions of climatic conditions are consistent with meteorological details on climatic change. In other words, the study, showed that, farmers’ perceptions using climate indicators, mirror meteorological data. It was concluded that it is imperative for farmers to understand issues such as, temperature and rainfall patterns in order to identify adaptive strategies to the negative impacts of climate.

scholarly journals Human Beings and Safety: The Role of Community Safety Structures in the Fight Against Crime, Msinga Local Municipality, Dundee, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-32
Author(s):  
S. B. Singh ◽  
L. M. Zondi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Community Safety ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Violent Crimes ◽  
Local Municipality ◽  
Building Community

This article analyzes the significant role played by community safety structures in Msinga Local Municipality. The motivation behind this study was based on safety within the selected community, considering the increase in violent crimes there. It is rooted in the National Developmental Plan (NDP) of attempting to build safer communities by 2030, by building community participation in community safety. In ensuring that the aim of this study was achieved, a mixed method research design was used, which assisted the researcher to focus on both contesting the existence of community safety structures and exploring their significance in Msinga Local Municipality. Overall, the finding of this study revealed that community safety structures play a vital role in preventing crime within Msinga Local Municipality.

scholarly journals Adoption and the Role of Fertilizer Trees and Shrubs as a Climate Smart Agriculture Practice: The Case of Salima District in Malawi

Environments ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
pp. 122
Author(s):  
Frank Musa ◽  
Judith Kamoto ◽  
Charles Jumbe ◽  
Leo Zulu
Keyword(s):  
Land Tenure ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Tobit Model ◽  
Degraded Soil ◽  
Smart Agriculture ◽  
Trees And Shrubs ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

Fertilizer trees and shrubs can improve degraded soil and avert the impacts of climate change on smallholder farmers in Malawi. This paper analyses the roles of fertilizer trees and shrubs and factors that determine adoption, as well as the intensity of use of fertilizer on trees and shrubs in maize-based farming systems using the Tobit model. A household survey involving 250 smallholder farmers was conducted in Salima district, Malawi. The analysis shows that adopters of fertilizer trees and shrubs considered fertility improvement, shade, source of food and erosion control as main roles of fertilizer trees and shrubs. The Tobit model shows that households with relatively more land are more likely to adopt fertilizer trees and shrubs than those with small land sizes. Adoption is higher among farmers who had been exposed to fertilizer trees and shrubs for longer periods than others had. Land tenure, education and availability of labor also influence the adoption of fertilizer trees and shrubs. Results further show that household and farm characteristics and availability of extension services explain the current adoption rates of tree-fertilizer technologies. Our findings can guide effective targeting of farmers to ensure higher adoption and sustainability of fertilizer-tree and shrub technology for climate-smart agriculture among the smallholder farmers.

scholarly journals Perceptions of Climate Change and Drivers of Insect Pest Outbreaks in Vegetable Crops in Limpopo Province of South Africa

Climate ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mutondwa Masindi Phophi ◽  
Paramu Mafongoya ◽  
Shenelle Lottering
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Dry Spells ◽  
Pest Outbreaks

Vegetable production is a source of income for smallholder farmers in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Vegetable production is constrained by the negative impacts of climate change and pests. This study assessed farmers’ awareness of climate change, farmers’ knowledge of insect pests and factors that influence insect pests’ prevalence. The data were collected using quantitative and qualitative methods. The data were subjected to descriptive and bivariate analysis. About 84.5% of smallholder farmers were aware of climate change. Late rainfall (24.4%), long dry spells (15%) and increased drought frequency (19.4%) were highlighted as dominant indicators of climate change by farmers. Aphids (22.2%), Bagrada hilaris (12.5%) and Spodoptera frugiperda (10.2%) were the most prevalent insect pests within the Vhembe District. Warmer winters, dry spells and high temperatures were perceived by farmers to influence insect pests’ prevalence within the district. It can be concluded that farmers are aware of climate change and climatic factors influencing pest prevalence within the district. Pest risk maps are needed to improve the preparedness of the government and farmers in controlling insect pests under changing climates.

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