Indigenous knowledge and science-based predictors reliability and its implication for climate adaptation in Ghana

<div><p>The difference between indigenous knowledge and western science continues to be a central theme in the social studies of science. This paper investigates the use of climate knowledge in climate adaptation activities. The analysis is based on a case study of indigenous experts involved in practical operations dealing with risk of avalanches in an area particularly vulnerable to avalanches in northern Norway. We find that indigenous knowledge held by local area experts and western science overlap. From this we develop two lines of argument. Firstly that assemblages of climate adaptation is produced as collaborative guesswork related to coupling and negotiation of different types of knowledge in a decision context. Secondly, we discuss what such a practice means for the understanding of the relationship between climate knowledge and climate policy. By following different assemblages of climate knowledge we point to an alternative way of understanding a process of policy shaping in relation to climate adaptation: a sideways policy shaping process where what gets included or excluded and what is considered internal or external to a decision making context becomes evident.</p><div> </div></div>

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Indigenous Knowledge: Sources, Potency and Practices to Climate Adaptation in the Small-Scale Farming Sector

Journal of Earth Science & Climatic Change ◽

10.4172/2157-7617.1000431 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

Author(s):

Goodlet Owusu Ansah ◽

Lawrencia Pokuah Siaw

Keyword(s):

Indigenous Knowledge ◽

Climate Adaptation ◽

Small Scale ◽

Knowledge Sources

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Integration of indigenous and scientific knowledge in climate adaptation in KwaZulu- Natal, South Africa

Change and Adaptation in Socio-Ecological Systems ◽

10.1515/cass-2017-0006 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Myuri Basdew ◽

Obert Jiri ◽

Paramu L Mafongoya

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Indigenous Knowledge ◽

Scientific Knowledge ◽

Oral Tradition ◽

Climate Adaptation ◽

Weather Forecasting ◽

Scientific Information ◽

Climate Information ◽

Subsistence Farmers ◽

Kwazulu Natal

AbstractIndigenous knowledge has for generations assisted rural subsistence farming communities adapt to climate change and make daily decisions regarding agriculture. This study was conducted in the rural community of Swayimane, uMshwathi Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The main objective of the research was to determine the indigenous indicators used by rural farmers, identify the means through which seasonal climate information is disseminated and assess the strengths and weaknesses of indigenous and scientific knowledge. The other objective of the research was to evaluate the integration of indigenous and scientific weather forecasting. The research used 100 questionnaires which were administered to the subsistence farmers of the community. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were conducted with small groups of individuals. Results showed that majority of the indigenous indicators related to rainfall and seasonal predictions. Also, seasonal scientific climate information was mainly disseminated via television and radio. Local farmers highlighted that indigenous knowledge was essential in predicting seasonal changes and rainfall and scientific knowledge was not trusted. Indigenous knowledge is transmitted by oral tradition, from generation to generation and mainly among the elderly, and, thinly, to the younger generation. Scientific information was thought to be too technical and difficult to comprehend. It can be concluded that subsistence farmers were open to the integration of scientific and indigenous weather forecasting. They highlighted that it would improve decision making concerning their agricultural activities.

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Assembling climate knowledge. The role of local expertise

Nordic Journal of Science and Technology Studies ◽

10.5324/njsts.v2i2.2151 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 18 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jøran Solli ◽

Marianne Ryghaug

Keyword(s):

Indigenous Knowledge ◽

Climate Adaptation ◽

Local Area ◽

Western Science ◽

Decision Context ◽

Social Studies Of Science ◽

Shaping Process ◽

The Social ◽

Climate Knowledge ◽

The Difference

<div><p>The difference between indigenous knowledge and western science continues to be a central theme in the social studies of science. This paper investigates the use of climate knowledge in climate adaptation activities. The analysis is based on a case study of indigenous experts involved in practical operations dealing with risk of avalanches in an area particularly vulnerable to avalanches in northern Norway. We find that indigenous knowledge held by local area experts and western science overlap. From this we develop two lines of argument. Firstly that assemblages of climate adaptation is produced as collaborative guesswork related to coupling and negotiation of different types of knowledge in a decision context. Secondly, we discuss what such a practice means for the understanding of the relationship between climate knowledge and climate policy. By following different assemblages of climate knowledge we point to an alternative way of understanding a process of policy shaping in relation to climate adaptation: a sideways policy shaping process where what gets included or excluded and what is considered internal or external to a decision making context becomes evident.</p><div> </div></div>

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Local institutions and indigenous knowledge in adoption and scaling of climate-smart agricultural innovations among sub-Saharan smallholder farmers

International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management ◽

10.1108/ijccsm-07-2018-0055 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 270-287 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Clifton Makate

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Indigenous Knowledge ◽

Climate Change Adaptation ◽

Climate Adaptation ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Local Institutions ◽

Content Type ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Smart Agriculture

Purpose The purpose of this study is to discuss how enhancing the role of local institutions (LI) and incorporating indigenous knowledge (IK) in climate change adaptation planning can improve adoption and scaling success of climate-smart agriculture innovations. Design/methodology/approach A review of relevant literature from sub-Saharan Africa was used to answer the study research questions. Findings Embracing IK and LI in climate change adaptation projects can enhance adoption and scaling success of climate-smart agriculture innovations in smallholder farming. Such efforts will improve: information gathering and dissemination, mobilization of resources, establishment of useful networks with relevant stakeholders, capacity building farmers on various fronts and provision of leadership in climate adaptation programs. Practical implications Fully embracing IK and LI can improve the scaling of climate-smart innovations only if development partners recognize IK systems that are to be transformed and build on them instead of trying to replace them. Also, participatory approaches in scaling innovations will enhance input from rural people in climate change adaptation programs. Originality/value Development interventions aimed at taking proven effective climate-smart innovations to scale must, therefore, engage local communities and their indigenous institutions as active stakeholders in designing, planning and implementation of their climate adaptation programs.

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