The significance of indigenous weather forecast knowledge and practices under weather variability and climate change: a case study of smallholder farmers on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro
Loading...
Date
2016-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, Premier Publishers
Abstract
his paper discusses the implication of indigenous knowledge-based weather forecasts (IK-BFs) as a tool for reducing risks associated with weather variability and climate change among smallholder farmers on the south eastern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in Moshi Rural District of Tanzania. Participatory research approaches and household surveys were used to identify and document past and existing IK-BF practices. Local communities in the study transect use traditional experiences and knowledge to predict impending weather conditions by observing a combination of locally available indicators: plant phenology (40.80%),
bird behaviour (21.33%), atmospheric changes (10.40%), insects’ behaviour
(7.20%), environmental changes on Kilimanjaro, Pare and Ugweno mountains (4.80%), astronomical indicators (4.8%), animal behaviour (4.00%), water related indicators (3.73%) and traditional calendars (2.93%). The study established that 60% of farmers use and trust IK-BFs over modern science-based forecasts (SCFs). Although about 86.3% of respondents observed some correlation between IK-BFs and SCFs, and 93.6% supported integration of the two sets of information, the nature and extent of their correlation is not yet established. We none the less recommend that IK-BFs be taken into relevant national policies and development frameworks to facilitate agro-ecological conservation for use and delivery of effective weather and climate services to farming communities
Description
Keywords
Indigenous knowledge, weather forecast, smallholder farmers, climate change and variability
Citation
Chengula F, Nyambo B (2016). The significance of indigenous weather forecast knowledge and practices under weather variability and climate change: a case study of smallholder farmers on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. International Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 2(2): 031-043.