Indigenous knowledge on 'siella' and its role in the farming systems of northern Ghana

In sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda, there is declining soil fertility and limited on-farm use of inorganic fertilizers due to poverty and limited subsidies for inorganic fertilizer use. Thus, integration of soil fertility improving tree species (SFITs) in farming systems remains a plausible option to sustaining soil productivity. However, knowledge of the effects of many of the locally growing farmer perceived soil fertility enhancing tree species on to soil chemical and nutrient contents are thus still lacking, and this has constrained decisions on their adoption and scaling up. The objectives of this paper were to identify farmers' preferred soil fertility improving tree species in agropastoral communities of Kyeizooba subcounty Bushenyi district, and characterize their litter content and assess their effect on selected soil chemical properties. Semistructured questionnaires were administered to 333 randomly selected agropastoral farmers. Litter and soils under canopy soils were sampled from three different environments: Under canopy radius (A), canopy edge (B), open pasture land up to thrice the canopy radius (C). Results revealedEucalyptusas the most common tree species on livestock farms, followed byErythrina abyssinica. The highest litter content was recorded forMarkhamia lutea(240 g/cm2under its canopy) followed byCroton macrostachyus(90 g/cm2), and 19 g/cm2Erythrina abyssinica. Nitrogen was higher (P=.02) inErythrina abyssinicalitter, K and carbon inCroton macrostachyuslitter (P=.03). These results give evidence that of soil improversErythrina abyssinica,Croton macrostachyus, andMarkhamia luteamay positively affect soil fertility. Farmers' indigenous knowledge and or valuation of important tree species can be relied on, and thus, their indigenous knowledge need to be incorporated during identification of tree species for promotion in farming systems.

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Are non-market benefits of soybean production significant? An extended economic analysis of smallholder soybean farming in Upper West region of northern Ghana

Agriculture & Food Security ◽

10.1186/s40066-020-00265-7 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Francis Akabo Asodina ◽

Faizal Adams ◽

Fred Nimoh ◽

Emmanuel A. Weyori ◽

Camillus Abawiera Wongnaa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Economic Analysis ◽

Financial Analysis ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Well Being ◽

Northern Ghana ◽

Smallholder Farming ◽

Ancillary Benefits ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Soybean Production ◽

Smallholder Farming Systems

Abstract Background Traditional cost–benefit analysis of soybean production tends to largely focus on financial benefits to farmers, and less so on non-market co-benefits in sustaining smallholder farming systems. Relying solely on the standard financial analysis undermines the actual benefit of soybean production, which often results in ineffectual policy designs. An economic analysis that incorporates key non-pecuniary co-benefits of soybean production provide vital insight that contributes to improving productivity and overall economic well-being of farmers. Cross-sectional data were collected from 271 farmers to estimate the overall economic benefit of soybean that captures both market and non-market attributes in three major producing districts (Sissala-West, Wa-East, and Dafiama-Busie-Issa (DBI)) of Ghana. Results When non-market co-benefits were omitted, soybean production was not profitable (−Gh¢103.10/ha or −US$22.91) in DBI while Sissala-West and Wa-East had modest profit margins. However, the financial analysis changed dramatically when an average non-market value of Gh¢345.69 (US$76.82) was incorporated in the analysis. The soybean system was, therefore, financially viable for all the districts when the non-market attributes of the crop were considered. Conclusions The findings demonstrate the importance of the non-pecuniary benefits of soybean in smallholder farming systems for policy decision-making. For instance, farmers’ motivation for soybean production is closely linked to those ancillary benefits like the biological nitrogen fixed in the soil for cultivation of other crops. Similarly, crop administrators and policy makers’ support for conservation agriculture and green environment is tied to these non-market co-benefits.

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Herd/Flkock Structure and Culling Patterns in Rural Livestock Farming Systems in Northern Ghana

Discovery and Innovation ◽

10.4314/dai.v16i1.15658 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Author(s):

KT Djang-Fordjour ◽

K Oppong-Anane ◽

SY Annor

Keyword(s):

Farming Systems ◽

Northern Ghana ◽

Livestock Farming ◽

Livestock Farming Systems

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Aspects of indigenous knowledge and protection in small-scale farming systems: A challenge for advancement

Indilinga African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems ◽

10.4314/indilinga.v4i2.46957 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

Author(s):

MD Magoro ◽

M Masoga

Keyword(s):

Indigenous Knowledge ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Small Scale

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Understanding Indigenous Farming Systems in Response to Climate Change: An Investigation into Soil Erosion in the Mountainous Regions of Central Vietnam

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app10155091 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (15) ◽

pp. 5091

Author(s):

Chuong Van Huynh ◽

Tung Gia Pham ◽

Tan Quang Nguyen ◽

Linh Hoang Khanh Nguyen ◽

Phuong Thi Tran ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Indigenous Knowledge ◽

Erosion Rate ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Geographical Information ◽

Soil Erosion Rate ◽

Central Vietnam ◽

The Impact

Soil erosion is a considerable concern in the upland areas of Central Vietnam. This situation is most serious in regions, where the terrain is sloped and subjected to heavy rainfall. Our research was conducted in a mountainous area, belonging to Central Vietnam, the area of Song Kon commune in the Dong Giang district. The objective of this study is first to estimate the impact of soil erosion risk in these areas, and second to assess the capacity of farming systems which are based on indigenous knowledge (IK) to respond to soil erosion. Our data were collected by Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and processed using Geographical Information System (GIS) methods. We then interpreted this research using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) in order to calculate the soil erosion rate. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) were also used as measurements to compare the difference of land surface covers between different farming systems. The results showed that the lowest soil erosion rate was found in the narrow valley regions, which are populated by both agricultural and residential areas. On the other hand, soil erosion was extremely high in the more northerly quadrant of our research area. Our findings also indicate that local farmers are highly aware of soil erosion, which has positively influenced the adoption of adaptation measures (AMs) in their agricultural activities. The most common AMs are as follows: changes in cropping patterns, the adjustments of their planting calendars, the use of native varieties, and intercropping methods. These AMs are mediated by the cultural observances of the local ethnic minority peoples in relation to their IK. We have concluded that when farmers apply IK in their farming systems, the soil erosion rate tends to decrease as compared with non-indigenous knowledge (NIK) practices. We hope to bring a better understanding of the processes that shape farmers’ AMs and thereby to develop well-targeted adaptation policies that can then be applied at the local level. Our findings may be instrumental in future adaptation planning and policies in regard to climate change, and that they will help to increase awareness not only in matters of the soil erosion but also in other interconnected aspects of climate change in these areas.

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Indigenous knowledge system weather forecasts as a climate change adaptation strategy in smallholder farming systems of Zimbabwe: Case study of Murehwa, Tsholotsho and Chiredzi districts

African Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.5897/ajar2013.7205 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 1067-1075 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

G Soropa ◽

S. Gwatibaya ◽

K Musiyiwa ◽

F Rusere ◽

G. A. Mavima ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Indigenous Knowledge ◽

Climate Change Adaptation ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Adaptation Strategy ◽

Smallholder Farming ◽

Weather Forecasts ◽

Smallholder Farming Systems ◽

Indigenous Knowledge System

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

Journal of Asian and African Studies ◽

10.1177/0021909619874824 ◽

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.

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