scholarly journals Livelihood Sustainability Under Environmental Change: Exploring the Dynamics of Local Knowledge in Crop Farming and Implications for Development Planning in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 154-180
Author(s):  
Emmanuel K. Derbile ◽  
Alfred Dongzagla ◽  
Francis Dakyaga
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Change ◽  
Local Knowledge ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Development Planning ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Knowledge Systems ◽  
Endogenous Development ◽  
Crop Farming ◽  
Wa Municipality ◽  
Soil And Water

The relationship between environmental change, local knowledge systems and livelihood sustainability has received increased scholarly attention over the past few decades. However, the inter-linkages and emerging dynamics of knowledge systems in response to environmental change is still a grey area. This paper explores the dynamics of local knowledge systems for adapting crop farming to environmental change in the Wa Municipality, northern Ghana. The study employed a mixed methods research approach to collect data from four farming communities. Qualitative data was collected through in-depth interviews of Key Informants and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with women, men and youth groups involved in farming. This was complemented by a household survey that targeted 200 farmers. The results show that farmers have resorted to integration of indigenous and new external knowledge systems for diversifying crop varieties and soil and water conservation strategies for adapting crop farming to environmental change, particularly, climate change and soil degradation. Drawing on the results, the paper advocates that Development Planning (DP) should emphasize an Endogenous Development (ED) approach and promote pro-poor approaches to crop diversification and integrated soil and water conservation for achieving inclusive environmental and livelihood sustainability in smallholder agriculture in the Wa Municipality and country at large.

scholarly journals Local knowledge and practices towards the ecological restoration of selected landscape in Atok, Benguet, Philippines

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
LEILA LANDICHO ◽  
Maria Theresa Nemesis Ocampo ◽  
Rowena Esperanza Cabahug ◽  
Maryanne Abadillos ◽  
Russel Son Cosico ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Restoration ◽  
Local Knowledge ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Forest Conservation ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Evenness Index ◽  
Conservation And Management ◽  
Soil And Water

Abstract. Landicho LD, Ocampo MTNP, Cabahug RED, Abadillos MG, Cosico RSA, Castillo AKA, Ramirez MAJP, Laruan KA. 2021. Local knowledge and practices towards the ecological restoration of selected landscape in Atok, Benguet, Philippines. Biodiversitas 22: 2785-2794. This study argues that local ecological knowledge and practices contribute to forest conservation and management efforts. This argument is based on the research conducted in upland communities in Atok, Benguet, Philippines. Interviews, farm visits, and focus group discussions revealed that the local communities have been dependent on the forest resources within the watershed in their agricultural production activities. These local communities employed their knowledge and practices towards restoring the ecological state of the watershed. These include the integration of trees on the farm, planting of Alnus japonica for soil and water conservation, the establishment of structural soil and water conservation, maintenance of communal forests, and awareness building among the youth on forest conservation and management. A moderate level of biodiversity and evenness index were in the conservation of giant tree ferns. A very low (0.9718) diversity index and a very high (0.825) evenness index were recorded in the farm lots, while a very low (0.437) diversity index and moderate (0.421) evenness index were measured in the communal forests. On the other hand, high soil organic matter contents of 6.49% and 5.86% were recorded both at the community and farm lots, respectively. Results imply the need to sustain the use of local knowledge and practices in combination with the technological interventions from academia and research institutions to enhance the ecological restoration of forest landscapes.

scholarly journals Effects of Soil and Water Conservation Measures on Soil Quality Indicators: The Case of Geshy Subcatchment, Gojeb River Catchment, Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melku Dagnachew ◽  
Awdenegest Moges ◽  
Asfaw Kebede ◽  
Adane Abebe
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Quality Indicators ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Land Resources ◽  
Soil Quality Indicators ◽  
Volumetric Soil Water Content ◽  
River Catchment ◽  
The Status ◽  
Soil And Water

Land degradation is a global negative environmental process that causes the decline in the productivity of land resources’ capacity to perform their functions. Though soil and water conservation (SWC) technologies have been adopted in Geshy subcatchment, their effects on soil quality were limitedly studied. The study was conducted to evaluate the effects SWC measures on soil quality indicators in Geshy subcatchment, Gojeb River Catchment, Ethiopia. A total of 54 soil samples (two treatments–farmlands with and without SWC measures ∗ three slope classes ∗ three terrace positions ∗ three replications) were collected at a depth of 20 cm. Statistical differences in soil quality indicators were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) following the general linear model procedure of SPSS Version 20.0 for Windows. Means that exhibited significant differences were compared using Tukey’s honest significance difference at 5% probability level. The studied soils are characterized by low bulk density, slightly acidic with clay and clay loam texture. The results revealed that farmlands with SWC measures had significantly improved soil physical (silt and clay fractions, and volumetric soil water content (VSWC)) and chemical (pH, SOC, TN, C : N ratio, and Av. phosphorus) quality indicators as compared with farmlands without SWC measures. The significantly higher VSWC, clay, SOC, TN, C : N ratio, and Av. P at the bottom slope classes and terrace positions could be attributed to the erosion reduction and deposition effects of SWC measures. Generally, the status of the studied soils is low in SOC contents, TN, C : N ratio, and Av. P (deficient). Thus, integral use of both physical and biological SWC options and agronomic interventions would have paramount importance in improving soil quality for better agricultural production and productivity.

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