Under this heading the international network presents news of the activities of the various global, regional
and national indigenous knowledge resource centres. Please see for the addresses of the various centres:
Addresses IK Resource centres.
CIKARD
A grant awarded to CIKARD by the Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research has
provided the resources needed to complete the onerous task of establishing a computerized database that
includes bibliographical citations, keywords and abstracts for all of the nearly 4,000 documents in
CIKARD's documentation unit. It is anticipated that much of this task will be completed by June
1994.
CIKARD currently is enjoying the presence of two Fulbright scholars. Dr. Joseph Massaquoi, former
Dean of Engineering, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, will complete his six-month visit
and return to Freetown in late February, where he expects to complete the task of organizing the Sierra
Leone Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge. Dr. Lindela Ndlovu, Dean of Agriculture, University
of Zimbabwe, arrived for a two-month visit in mid-January. Dr. Ndlovu, an expert on animal nutrition, is
using the CIKARD Documentation Unit to examine literature on indigenous approaches to animal
breeding and management. He is doing this in connection with his research project on indigenous
approaches to the production of small ruminants in arid and semi-arid zones in Africa.
Dr. Massaquoi and Dr. Warren presented papers on indigenous knowledge at the annual meeting of the
African Studies Association, which was held in Boston in December 1993. They were part of a panel that
discussed the role of indigenous knowledge for sustainable development in Africa. Other papers were
presented by Derek Mulenga, Gisele Morin-Labatut and André Lalonde.
Dr. Warren participated as a facilitator in a Ford Foundation-sponsored workshop on 'The role of
indigenous organizations in sustainable development', which took place at the African Resource Centre
for Indigenous Knowledge (ARCIK) in Ibadan in December 1993. Dr. Warren and Dr. Titilola, research
coordinator for ARCIK, spent ten days in early January on an IDRC-funded tour that took them to the
Burkina Faso Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (BURCIK) in Ouagadougou, and enabled them
to meet in Bamako (Mali) and Dakar (Senegal) with individuals interested in establishing national centres
in those countries.
CIKARD is expecting four visitors for a month in April, 1994. All are directors of IK study groups in
Nigeria: at the University of Ibadan (Dr. Egunjobi), at Ibadan Polytechnic (Mr. Wahab), at Obafemi
Awolowo University (Dr. Amusan), and at NISER (Dr. Titilola). The visits are sponsored by the
USAID-funded Iowa-Nigeria University Development Linkages Project. The directors will complete an
analysis on educational policy for the purpose of introducing indigenous knowledge case studies into the
curricula of educational institutions in Nigeria, including K-12 schools, universities, and training institutes
for extension workers. It is anticipated that the outcome of the analysis will be a useful model for other
countries. The directors will also use materials of the documentation unit to develop case studies that can
be introduced into existing curricula at three Nigerian training institutes.
The annual CIKARD lectures were held on 3 and 4 February, 1994, on the general theme of indigenous
technology for sustainable development. Dr. Massaquoi presented case studies of current indigenous
off-farm technologies. Dr. Clark Erickson, Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania,
presented case studies from the past, such as the waru waru irrigation systems that
characterized some of the farming systems in the Andean region prior to Spanish contact--systems that are
currently being rehabilitated.
Bibliographies and monographs on indigenous knowledge are still available through CIKARD. A list of
publications can be obtained on request. (See section
Communications-Publications)
CIRAN
CIRAN operates under the auspices of the Netherlands organization for international cooperation in higher
education (Nuffic). We are grateful to Nuffic for guaranteeing the production of the Indigenous
Knowledge and Development Monitor in 1994. But distribution to all subscribers free of charge
requires other financial support as well.
The publication of the first issue in 1994 of the Indigenous Knowledge and Development
Monitor is an appropriate occasion for reflection. CIRAN began producing the Monitor in February,
1993. An IDRC-funded special issue followed in June, and the third issue appeared in December.
Including the reprinting of the first issue, a total of 11,500 copies of the Monitor were distributed in 120
countries in 1993.
The Monitor has been very well received among academics, policy-makers and development workers who
believe that indigenous knowledge has a contribution to make to sustainable development. In 1993 a
number of international organizations--including FAO, UNDP, IDRC, SAREC, and the World Bank--
showed their interest in local knowledge by publishing in this field. CIRAN joined their ranks when it
started the publication of the newsletter of the international network for indigenous knowledge and
development, and launched the Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor.
In the second half of 1993 various contacts were either established or intensified for the purpose of
consolidating CIRAN's position as a facilitating and supporting agency. Possibilities for joint action were
explored. Various agencies were contacted or visited, such as ISNAR (The Hague), SAREC (Stockholm),
the CGIAR network, UNDP (New York), UNIFEM (New York), IWTC (New York), UNESCO (Paris),
ORSTOM (Paris), AIT (Bangkok), IIED (London), South-North Network Culture & Development
(Brussels), UNRISD (Geneva), ILO (Geneva), and the ASEAN secretariat (Jakarta). UNDP (New York),
in particular the Sustainable Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Group, has shown interest in
the field of local knowledge as it relates to sustainable development. CIRAN's efforts to identify potential
areas for cooperation have been greatly helped by Dr. F.M. von Mallinckrodt (SANE/UNDP), who
distributed copies of Monitor 1(2) and 1(3) to 124 UNDP resident field representatives.
Contacts were also intensified with the Third World Network (TWN), after Mr. Martin Khor Kok Peng
informed CIRAN that TWN has decided to assign high priority to developing a research programme on
indigenous knowledge in the fields of agriculture, medicine, forestry and biodiversity. The secretariat of
TWN is located within the Consumer's Association of Penang (CAP), Penang, Malaysia. CAP, which acts
as a clearing house for indigenous knowledge in Malaysia, and TWN are prepared to work with CIRAN
to further promote local knowledge as indispensable to sustainable development.
In 1994 CIRAN will explore possibilities for cooperation with the European Union and with various EU-
funded programmes, projects and networks. CIRAN will undertake this effort in close cooperation with
the Leiden Ethnosystems and Development Programme (LEAD) of Leiden University in the
Netherlands.
CIRAN's international IK database now contains more than 2500 records with information on institutions
and individuals in various disciplines and of different backgrounds in 120 countries. The first draft of a
directory entitled 'Expertise on indigenous knowledge: participants of the international network for
indigenous knowledge' is finished but is not yet available. The funds must still be found for producing
the final version of the directory.
LEAD
The new three-year project entitled 'Indigenous knowledge systems for sustainable agriculture in
developing countries: Towards an alternative approach to food shortage reduction in Kenya and Indonesia'
is now underway. It is supported by the European Commission in Brussels. The project is a joint effort of
LEAD (Leiden, The Netherlands), NMK/KENRIK (Nairobi, Kenya), UNPAD/INRIK (Bandung,
Indonesia) and MAICH (Chania, Crete). (See
also IK&DM 1(3), section Communications-Research)
The objectives of this major project on IK&D are to document and analyze indigenous
agricultural knowledge systems in the tropics and subtropics in terms of local perceptions, practices,
skills, and technologies; and to revitalize those systems for incorporation into systems of agricultural
decision-making. (See section Communications-Calls)
In addition to creating an updated bibliography on indigenous agricultural knowledge systems, the project
will result in a new computerized databank that will make information in this field more readily
accessible for purposes of research, policy planning and policy implementation.
LEAD is among the organizations supporting the international conference entitled 'Adaptation and
development: interdisciplinary perspectives on subsistence and sustainability development in developing
countries', which is being organized by INRIK of the Universitas Padjadjaran in Bandung (Indonesia).
(See section Communications-Conferences)
Recently, LEAD began further collaboration with TOOLNET in Amsterdam in order to make E-mail
facilities available in developing countries where access to the INTERNET is still rather expensive.
TOOLNET plans to provide a low-cost E-mail alternative. Further information on LEAD/TOOLNET can
be obtained from:
Dr. Wim H.J.C. Dechering, LEAD, Institute of Cultural and Social Studies, University of
Leiden, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands.
Tel: +31-71-5273469/5273472. Fax: +31-71-5273619. E-mail: decherin@rulfsw.LeidenUniv.nl
ARCIK
In early January, 1994, Dr. S.O. Titilola (ARCIK) and Prof. D.M. Warren (CIKARD) went to Burkina
Faso, Mali and Senegal to identify individuals and institutions currently working on IK and development
issues and to establish contact with them for discussion purposes. The trip was part of the IDRC-funded
project 'Building indigenous capacity in West Africa'. A workshop is scheduled for mid-June, 1994, in
ARCIK/NISER.
On 15-17 December, 1993, a workshop was held under the title 'Strengthening indigenous Nigerian
organizations for self-reliant development'. The workshop was attended by development workers, NGO
representatives and extension agents, among others.
REPPIKA
Reppika Coordinator Dr. Evelyn Mathias-Mundy attended several workshops and symposia:
BRARCIK
In cooperation with various government and non-government organizations, BRARCIK is preparing a first
draft for a national symposium entitled 'Indigenous knowledge and sustainable development', to be held
in the second half of 1994. The symposium's objectives include the preparation of an action plan for
BRARCIK and the appointment of sectoral coordinators. Like the other IK resource centres, BRARCIK
plans its activities in accordance with the action
plan of the international network for indigenous knowledge and development. The
Brazilian Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge (BRARCIK) is located within the Center for
Indigenous Studies 'Miguel A. Menèndez' (CEIMAM) of the University of Sao Paulo State
(UNESP). (See IK&DM 1(3), section
Communications-IK Resource centres)
One of the activities of UNESP/CEIMAM involves the Guarani of Mato Grosso do Sul State. The 30,000
people of the Guarani community live in 19 Indian villages. The average population density is between 80
and 90 people per square kilometre. In Dourados it is approximately 300/km2. The major problems faced
by the Guarani people are: shortage of land, soil erosion, insufficient production of basic foods, lack of a
food surplus for the market, increased scarcity of timber and firewood, and lack of potable water. In order
to make a living the Guarani work under inhumanly hard conditions on nearby farms. If the circumstances
of the Guarani do not improve, the community's social cohesion will weaken and the Guarani community
will eventually disappear.
The UNESP/CEIMAM programme is an attempt to offer the Guarani appropriate alternatives for land
utilization and health by training development agents on a formal and informal basis. It is important to
mention that these training programmes start only after extensive discussions with the Guarani. The
Guarani themselves set the programme's priorities.
UNESP/CEIMAM also plans to start a project of participatory technology development in cooperation
with a women's association. The aim is to develop an agro-ecosystem that permits more intensive use of
the land. The system should combine the production of local food crops, small livestock, and native trees
for fruit and firewood, all in accordance with the traditional practices of the local community. More
specifically, the project has the following objectives: to secure self-sufficiency in food production on a
sustainable basis, to develop ecologically appropriate agricultural practices, and to foster self-reliance.
The overall UNESP/CEIMAM aim is to have the Guarani themselves act as agents for development, and
to harmonize the relationship between received knowledge and Indian knowledge--in other words to
establish an interface between Indian communities and the surrounding society.
BURCIK
From 3 to 6 January, BURCIK was delighted to welcome Dr. Warren (CIKARD) and Dr. Titilola
(ARCIK), who were making a West African tour. Beyond the very informative discussion people at
BURCIK had with Dr. Warren and Dr. Titilola on the subject of IK, the visit served to stimulate local
effort in the direction of establishing a West African network for IK. BURCIK conveyed the wish that the
Monitor will also be published in French.
CIKO
The Cameroon Indigenous Knowledge and Development Organisation was established in February 1994.
A national workshop will be held later this year. The exact dates and programme have not been set
yet.
The programme of CIKO will cover the application of IK to development in 12 areas, which include
women in development, animal and human health, and natural resource management. (See also IK&DM 1(3), section Communications-
Networks)
Several individuals have already agreed to act as national sectoral coordinators. More information about
them can be obtained from: CIKO, P.O. Box 170, Buea, South West Province, Cameroon.
Tel: +237-322690. Fax: +237-322514/430813.
The coordinators are now putting together directories of resource persons in their sectors; they are
identifying both research institutes and individual researchers. They are also preparing inventories of
known IK practices in their sectors. The aim will be to form task forces for writing proposals.
GHARCIK
As part of its ongoing work in the field of indigenous knowledge, GHARCIK is currently conducting the
following two research projects.
In the traditional system of ruminant production in Ghana, plantain, cassava and yam peels are used
locally (especially in forest areas) as feed for household ruminants. Dr. S.O. Apori, (animal nutritionist at
the School of Agriculture, University of Cape Coast) is currently studying the limitations of these peels
for use as feed for sheep and goats.
The use of herbs in human medicine is an accepted practice in Ghana. However, the use of herbs in
animal health care has not received national recognition. There is evidence, however, that local herbs are
used for preventing and curing disease in livestock. Dr. A. Annan-Prah (veterinarian in the School of
Agriculture, University of Cape Coast) is currently collecting and testing local herbs believed to have
preventive and therapeutic effects on common livestock diseases in Ghana.
INRIK
INRIK is very busy organizing an international seminar entitled 'Adaptation and development: interdisciplinary perspectives on subsistence
and sustainability development in developing countries'. This seminar will officially inaugurate
INRIK as the first centre for IK in Indonesia.
KENRIK
Grace Wambui and Patrick Maunda attended several seminars. Reports will be published in the next issue
of the Monitor.
MARCIK
A report will be published in the next issue.
PHIRCSDIK
The USAID-backed Foundation for Philippine Environment (FPE) has committed itself to publishing the
proceedings of the Philippine National Symposium on 'Indigenous knowledge for sustainable
development', which was held in June, 1992. The cost of publication will be shared with the International
Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR). Reppika and Phircsdik are jointly coordinating the effort, and
IIRR and Reppika will edit the proceedings and make them camera-ready. The printed proceedings are
expected to appear in the third quarter of 1994. The topics covered in the proceedings are: indigenous
knowledge systems in agriculture, environment and natural resources, fisheries, ethno-veterinary medicine,
ethnomedicine, education, and the development of indigenous leadership with emphasis on contributions
to sustainable development.
RIDSCA
One of the main events of the recent period was an international symposium that included a national
conference on the importance and contributions of traditional agriculture. (See section Communications-Conferences)
The development project for indigenous communities in the State of Puebla is still going on. The project
has seven components, including services in support of production. A general analysis was made of the
whole region where the project is being conducted. The result was a large report on the region's
ecological, social, technological, political and cultural characteristics. Six studies of regional agriculture
are being conducted as preparation for programmes of research, extension and training. Fifty-two training
events (courses, workshops, and fieldtrips) have taken place at local levels for the benefit of farmers. The
topics these have dealt with include organic methods for producing coffee (farmers rejected integrated
pest control and other recommendations), soil and water conservation, fruit production, and organic and
conventional methods of growing vegetables. Technical teams have been trained for working in the
region. They will perform the activities of research extension and training.
One of the ways to link teaching, research and extension with the activities of farmers is through
CEICADAR's approach to regional planning. Such plans call for working with peasant farmers in
indigenous areas; documenting, testing and recommending local production practices; and adapting these
practices to the advances of modern technology. CEICADAR has eight such plans for regions in the
States of Michoacan, Chiapas, Oaxaca and Puebla. Each year an annual report is published on the
activities that have taken place.
CEICADAR has placed emphasis on women's participation in the rural development process, and on
enhancing local decision-making processes through the 'participant-action' research method. Projects and
training are conducted in indigenous communities through the 'Women and peasant family program'.
The 'Strategies for genetic improvement of corn and beans program' is promoting the use and
improvement of local seeds. The idea is that farmers take part in the genetic improvement of local
varieties and that they themselves produce the seeds in small-scale enterprises.
RIDSCA is documenting all these programmes.
SARCIK
The board of the Institute for Indigenous Theory and Practice confirmed on 25 February 1993 the
appointment of the management committee of the South African Resource Centre for Indigenous
Knowledge (SARCIK). Members had been put forward by participants in a workshop on indigenous
knowledge. The committee members are: Dr. Carl Albrecht (Indigenous Plant Use Programme,
Department of Pharmacology, University of Stellenbosch); Rudewaan Arendse (Independent Development
Trust); Janet Barker (Environmental Evaluation Unit, University of Cape Town); Prof. Morris Cohen
(Institute for Indigenous Theory and Practice); Margaret Crawford (Cape Flats Distress Association); Dr.
Felix Dakora (Botany Department, University of Cape Town); Alewijn Dippenaar (Rural Foundation); Ed
February (Palaeobotanist, South African Museum); Dr. Nigel Gericke (Traditional Medicines Programme
for South Africa); Prof. Bruce McKenzie (Botany Department, University of the Western Cape); Hans
Normann (Institute for Indigenous Theory and Practice); and Tami Sokutu (ANC Environmental
Desk).
The management committee met for the first time on 2 February 1994 to discuss procedures and the tasks
of the Resource Centre. Alewijn Dippenaar was elected as acting chairperson, and Hans Normann as
coordinator. The committee decided to meet quarterly and to investigate ways in which their research and
interests might find links with the tasks of SARCIK.
A workshop on 2 November 1993 preceded the meeting of the management committee. The objectives of
the workshop were:
SLARCIK
The past period SLARCIK has been busy preparing the national seminar on 'Indigenous knowledge and
sustainable development'.
URURCIK
Since its establishment in October 1993, URURCIK has conducted ten workshops throughout the country
that provide training in eco-beekeeping. The last workshop was held on 5 and 6 February, 1994, in
Durazno, a city in the middle of the country. The workshops have introduced members of agrarian
cooperatives and other participants to the concepts and specific technologies of indigenous
beekeepers.
The workshops and previous work done at CEDESUR have resulted in an impressive supply of slides that
can be used in various contexts for teaching eco-beekeeping. Luis Cordoba, a graduate student of the Vet
College of Uruguay and a specialist in agriculture, has been in charge of the programme. He was
technical advisor to several organizations, and has conducted research and published widely on topics
related to his speciality. The concern of URURCIK at this moment is to mobilize financial resources for
making this material systematically available to other national centres and networks.
Through CEDESUR, URURCIK is also supporting research on the evaluation of agricultural extension
and development projects. The aim of the study is to develop a conceptual framework for evaluating
projects, and to test that framework by applying it to six development projects recently carried out in
Uruguay. Key concepts in this conceptual framework include: the degree to which capacity-building
activities are included, the sustainability of results, the degree to which local (indigenous) institutions are
used, and the use of formative evaluation systems. The research is sponsored by the Technology and
Social Change Program (TSC) of Iowa State University (ISU), USA. Research results will be presented at
the TSC annual meeting to be held in April of 1994 at ISU. (Those interested please check with: Dr. Eric
A. Abbott, Chair of TSC, Iowa State University, 204 B Hamilton Hall, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA. Fax:
+1-515-2945108. E-mail: A4.EAA@ISUMVS.BITNET)
VERSIK
This secretariat continues to conduct a research project related to the documentation and study of
knowledge possessed by local farmers (crops and livestock) of Trujillo State, Venezuela. At this stage, it
is focussing on 'the farmer as experimentalist'. It is also working to consolidate the network of people in
Venezuela who are working with IK.
A recent innovation has been the involvement of students. Students collected information regarding the
local knowledge possessed by the farmers among their relatives (e.g. parents, grandparents). It is
important to mention that the idea of involving students came mainly as a result of VERSIK's visit to
India last October. In India they had the opportunity to exchange ideas with the team of people who work
under the coordination of Dr. Anil Gupta at the Indian Institute of Management, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad.
VERSIK had particularly valuable contact with Mr. Kirit Patel and his co-researchers. Their experiences
are very interesting--not only with the involvement of students, but also with the incorporation of
indigenous knowledge into curricula at different levels of the education system. Another very enrichening
experience during the visit to India was the splendid opportunity we had to exchange ideas with Dr.
Winin Pereira and his family.
One of the coming events at VERSIK that is important to mention is the opportunity VERSIK will have
for talking with Dr. Michael Warren (CIKARD Director, Iowa, USA) and his wife, who will be visiting
us for several days in May. VERSIK really look forward to that visit.