This section offers an excellent opportunity to reach all the
participants in the international network for indigenous
knowledge and development. Books and papers covering all
aspects of indigenous knowledge are announced and reviewed. To
help us improve the quality of this section we are inviting
all writers, publishers and distributors to send review copies
to the editor.
Readers are invited to send titles of interesting periodicals,
books, and other material. We cannot guarantee, however, that
all publications will be announced.
L. Jan Slikkerveer, Gerard J. van den Broek, Barend van
Heusden en René Jorna. The expert sign:
semiotics of culture; toward an interface of ethno- and
cosmosystems. pp. 370. ISBN 90-6695-089-7. DSWO
Press, Series SAS, Pieter de la Court building, P.O. Box 9555,
2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands. Tel: +31-71-273795/3794. Fax:
+31-71-273619.
This book focusses on the interrelationship between expert
systems, culture and semiotics from a variety of perspectives,
ranging from anthropology to archaeology and from philosophy
to computer science. As a result of its interdisciplinary
character, the book demonstrates that expert knowledge is
found in every culture. This leads to the conclusion that
expert systems are found not only in computer programs in
Western, or cosmopolitan society, but also in more
traditional, non-Western societies which do not depend on
computers.
The meaning and applicability of the various types of expert
systems, either cosmosystems or ethnosystems, is elucidated
from a semiotic perspective, which proves to be relevant not
only for understanding expert systems, but also for
understanding the epistemological interconnectedness of
semiotics and social sciences.
The Community Forestry Unit of the FAO has produced several
publications that focus specifically on local knowledge:
Walter de Boef, Kojo Amanor and Kate Wellard (eds) 1993
Cultivating knowledge; genetic diversity, farmer
experimentation and crop research. pp. 224. ISBN 1-
85339-207-3 hb œ22.50. ISBN 1-85339-204-9 pb œ8.95. IT-
Publications Ltd, 103/105 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4HH,
UK. Tel: +44-71-4369761. Fax: +44-71-4362013.
The international debate on biodiversity has resulted in
renewed interest in the role that farmers and local
communities play in the management of natural resources and
crop genetic diversity. Local varieties of crops developed by
farmers have made a great contribution to genetic resources
for plant breeding in the North. In recent years it has become
apparent that local crop diversity in the South is threatened
by the promotion of modern varieties promising higher yields.
This book presents new approaches and concepts in the field of
conservation and the development of local crops.
Case studies from Africa, Latin America and Asia address these
issues from different angles, examining the significance of
local knowledge, and documenting new approaches and
methodologies. The book looks at the policy issues raised by
the expansion of agribusiness and the need to consider the
interests of small-scale farmers. It places farmers at the
centre of crop development and genetic diversity and, through
this focus, challenges the dominant models in formal crop
research.
The authors come from a variety of backgrounds, from plant
breeders to anthropologists, international researchers to NGO
development workers and lobbyists, and present a number of
different views and perspectives on the subject.
J.H.A.M. Brouwers 1993. Rural people's response to
soil fertility decline: the Adja case (Benin). pp.
157. ISSN 0169-345X. Wageningen Agricultural University, P.O.
Box 9101, 6700 HB Wageningen, The Netherlands.
This dissertation examines rural people's knowledge regarding
changing conditions, such as decreasing soil fertility and
increasing population. It explores how farmers, who depend on
rainfed agriculture and are confronted with an ever-increasing
population, react. The study presents the case of an ethnic
group, the Adja, who live in Southwest Benin.
The author concludes that Adja farmers have a rich body of
knowledge related to agriculture. But this knowledge is also
related to other phenomena (e.g. religion, social struggles
and diversity, access to resources, migration) and is in a
continuous process of change. The author also concludes that
researchers may be able to sustain ongoing Adja experiments by
elaborating on a broader set of methodologies for interactive
and shared learning. The ability of researchers to enlarge
their discursive analysis by incorporating a view of practical
activities as applied by farmers seems an important
prerequisite for fruitful collaboration. In addition,
adaptative performances of farmers might be understood and
discussed by researchers if they are willing to acknowledge
dimensions other than agriculture.
D. Cooper, R. Vellve and H. Hobbelink (eds) 1992.
Growing diversity: genetic resources and local food
security. ISBN 1-85339-119-0 pb œ9.95. ISBN
1-85339-123-9 hb œ19.95. GRAIN-IT Publishers, 103-105
Southampton Road, London WC1B 4HH, UK.
The farmers' role in the management of genetic resources has
been undermined by the 'Green Revolution' approach to
agricultural development. This book documents experiences of
those working to turn that tide, and reports on what farmers
and their support agencies have achieved in terms of
developing crop varieties tailored to their needs. (ILEIA
Newsletter 9-2.)
Norman Uphoff 1992. Learning from Gal Oya:
possibilities for participatory development and post-Newtonian
social science. Cornell University Press, Ithaca and
London. ISBN 0-8014-2589-1.
The first two-thirds of this book present a description of a
remarkably successful experiment with a run-down irrigation
system in Sri Lanka in the 1980s. The author and his Sri
Lankan colleagues worked with local farmers and officials
using 'institutional organizers'. They were constantly aware
of what the farmers had to teach them. The second part of the
book is a sophisticated analysis that marks an important
advance in development thinking.
Quote: 'This new appreciation of what social science can and
should contribute to improving human welfare comes from the
many inspiring farmers there who showed where existing ideas
and expectations could be wrong. They learned from each other
as well as from us, and all of us can learn from them.'
Monographs
Lok Swasthya Parampara Samvardhan Samithy has
published several monographs on healthcare and plant
sciences:
Indigenous transitions of healthcare systems:
Mieke van Hemert 1993. Green and grey below sea-level:
an access guide to environment and development organisations
in The Netherlands. pp. 84, 14,8x21cm. ISBN 90-
801592-1-2. Europe: DFL 20. Other countries: US$ 15 (including
shipping costs). Both ENDS, Damrak 28-30, 1012 LJ Amsterdam,
The Netherlands. Tel: +31-20-6230823. Fax: +31-20-6208049.
This guide provides an overview of the labyrinth of groups,
organizations and institutions in The Netherlands that are
engaged in the field of environment and development. It is
intended particularly for organizations and persons who are
looking for specific information, funds or ways to enhance
cooperation and dialogue.
B. Rajasekaran and Michael B. Whiteford 1993. Rice-
crab production in south India; the role of indigenous
knowledge in designing food security policies.
Food policy Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 237-248.
Most indigenous food production systems are dynamic and
complex, reflecting generations of careful observations of the
agro-ecological and socio-cultural environment. Harvesting
crabs from the bunds of rice fields is one of the several food
production systems practised by resource-poor people in rice
farming systems in south India. Local people possess an in-
depth knowledge of the crabs and their ecology. Crabs, in
turn, contribute significantly to the protein intake of
resource-poor households. This article discusses the impact of
crab consumption on food expenditure as well as analysing
certain socio-cultural factors which influence the catching
and consumption of crabs. Factors threatening the existence of
the rice-crab production systems are also enumerated. Finally,
policy guidelines to conserve the autochthonous rice-crab
production system are suggested.
Uly Matzigkeit 1990. Natural veterinary medicine:
ectoparasites in the tropics. Tropical Agroecology
No. 6., pp. 183, US$ 25. Verlag Josef Margraf, Scientific
Books, P.O. Box 105, W-6992 Weikersheim, Germany.
Huge amounts of chemicals have been used in attempts to
eradicate insects and other carriers of livestock diseases.
But in vain. The environment is polluted and the targeted
species have developed resistance to pesticides.
This book offers an alternative based on indigenous knowledge
of plant-derived pesticides and repellents. The first part
describes numerous species of ticks, mites, flies and lice
that attack livestock. For each species it recommends natural
control measures, most using local plants derived from
scientific literature.
The second part of the book focusses on the plants themselves.
It details the botany, distribution, habitat, propagation and
pesticide uses of 21 plants. It also briefly lists the
distribution and application of more than 40 other plants.
The author's aim is to benefit small farmers by intensifying
the use of cheap, local resources, reducing livestock losses
and minimizing environmental damage. Development professionals
and researchers will find this a useful compilation. (Dr.
E. Mathias-Mundy)
Martha Johnson 1992. LORE capturing traditional
environmental knowledge. pp. x + 190. ISBN 0-88936-
644-6. CA$ 14.95
IDRC/Dene Cultural Institute. IDRC, P.O. Box 8500, Ottawa,
Canada K1G 3H9. Tel: +1-613-236 6163. Fax: +1-613-238
7230.
Can Western science gain from an understanding of indigenous
traditional knowledge? How should this knowledge be gathered?
How can it make a difference by managing our natural
resources?
This book presents alternative approaches to these critical
global concerns. It is a record of an event that was hosted by
the Dene Cultural Institute in July 1990. Aboriginal and non-
aboriginal researchers from around the world were brought
together at Fort Good Hope in Canada's Northwest Territories
to discuss an issue of pressing mutual concern: the
preservation of traditional environmental knowledge.
LORE provides a forum to further the concept that traditional
environmental knowledge is science. This book can be important
for anyone interested in health and the survival of our
planet.