Hans A.M. de Kruijf
Guus W. von Liebenstein
Akke W. Tick
One of the topics of the 13th International Plant Protection Congress was indigenous knowledge systems.
Papers and poster presentations focused on the role of indigenous knowledge systems in plant protection, as
an important resource base for sustainable development. The present article presents
some general impressions from the symposium.
Introduction
The 13th International Plant Protection Congress, held from 2-7 July, 1995 in The Hague (the Netherlands),
focused on 'Sustainable crop protection for the benefit of all'. The Congress addressed modern crop
protection issues in a practice-oriented, integrative manner. Crop protection problems and technical solutions
from different parts of the world were compared and discussed by representatives from agro-industry, the
chemical industry, governments and NGOs. This was the first time that the International Plant Protection
Society offered the opportunity to present views on the role of indigenous knowledge systems.
The symposium 'Indigenous knowledge systems' was held on 4 July, 1995. Its major aim was to initiate a dialogue and to bridge the gap between indigenous knowledge systems and Western science and technology. The focus was on the interface between 'indigenous' and 'scientific' crop protection knowledge as equal and complementary systems. This session was attended by over one hundred Congress participants.
The symposium was convened by Prof. Hans de Kruijf (National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection, the Netherlands) and Drs Guus von Liebenstein (Nuffic-CIRAN, the Netherlands). Experts on indigenous plant protection from India, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, Cameroon, Brazil, Chile, the United Kingdom and the USA were invited to contribute their experience and ideas in papers and poster presentations**1. Unfortunately, the specialists from Indonesia and Ethiopia were unable to attend due to technical problems and illness.
Opening
In his opening speech Prof. De Kruijf welcomed all the speakers and participants, and thanked the
Directorate General for International Cooperation of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its
financial support, which made it possible to invite experts from various countries in the South.
De Kruijf stressed the importance of indigenous knowledge in environmental and resource management, and the danger of overlooking indigenous knowledge systems as a dynamic resource base for sustainable development. He asked the speakers to make it clear in their presentations that there is still a wealth of knowledge and practices related to indigenous plant protection, and that this resource base is a powerful asset for countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Indigenous knowledge systems and Western science and technology
Dr D.M. Warren (USA) started his presentation, 'The interface between, and
the integration of, indigenous knowledge systems and modern technologies', with an overview of the
research and other activities related to indigenous knowledge which have been carried out in the past
decades. He noted that since the first use of the term indigenous knowledge, a true evolution has taken
place, bringing with it a change of approach.
During the early years, interest in the role of indigenous knowledge in development focused on the knowledge itself and how it could be used in transects and taxonomies. Today there is recognition for the crucial role that indigenous knowledge plays in decision-making, the manner in which indigenous organizations facilitate the identification and prioritization of community problems, and the importance of searching for solutions which result in local-level experimentation and innovation.
In Warren's view, recorded indigenous knowledge systems can be compared and contrasted with the counterpart global knowledge system, with a view to uncovering mechanisms for evaluating the strengths and weakness of each system. This interactive flow has already resulted in mutually beneficial exchanges of knowledge that have enhanced the capacity of the formal agricultural research system to solve priority problems identified within the community. Both multilateral and bilateral donor agencies are now recognizing the role of indigenous knowledge in sustainable development.
Dr Atte (Nigeria), also spoke on the co-existence of indigenous knowledge and Western science and technology in his presentation on 'Nigerian systems of traditional knowledge and modern systems'. He explained in a vivid and convincing manner how in his country modern--colonial--systems of thought and life, exist alongside the traditional knowledge systems. Both systems can be found in all sectors of society, including agriculture, the economy, political organizations, culture, education, technology and even lifestyle.
Although from colonial times onwards the introduction of 'modern' systems has neglected the traditional or indigenous knowledge, technology, resources and expertise of the people, some 80% of the Nigerian population rely on indigenous knowledge systems. In various sectors, Atte explained, people have not adopted the modern system, because they cannot afford it and because it is unsustainable. In terms of modern development, Nigeria is today in retreat. The country cannot pay its debts or fully implement the IMF-designed policies. As a result it has nowhere to go, but to return to its indigenous knowledge and resource potentials. Thus indigenous knowledge continues to provide the building blocks for development in Nigeria, while seeking cooperation with modern knowledge for the mutual benefit of the two systems.
Recalling the presentation by Dr Warren, he also told the audience about the international network for indigenous knowledge and development and its instrument for exchanging information: the Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor.
Dr Ngwasiri (Cameroon) spoke of the upsurge in the number of activities related to indigenous knowledge in his home country. For example, in the first half of 1995 four conferences were organized. He also explained that the Cameroon Indigenous Knowledge Organization (CIKO), which he heads, is presently targeting several ministries with a view to realizing CIKO's programme. For this reason, various sectoral coordinators are actively stimulating indigenous knowledge activities in forestry, human and animal health, soils, wildlife, communication, gender issues, non-agricultural technologies, linguistics, political organizations, education, economics, trade, environmental science, animal production, culture and the law.
Plant protection
No comprehensive global survey of the literature on indigenous plant protection has yet been carried out, Dr
Warren said, but there are many examples of indigenous plant protection practices and knowledge. All the
speakers presented examples and frameworks from different parts of the world, which focused on various
aspects of plant protection.
Examples from Latin America
'Indigenous pest management systems among Latin American farmers' was the topic of the presentation
given by Dr Altieri (Chile), programme coordinator of the UNDP-sponsored Sustainable Agriculture
Network (SANE).
Dr Altieri explained that traditional farmers in Latin America have inherited and developed complex farming systems based on diversified cropping patterns, animal integration and low-input management. The ecological interactions and biological synergisms which result from such complexity provide mechanisms by which these farming systems can 'sponsor' their own soil fertility, productivity and crop protection. The knowledge which farmers have of soils, plants, bio-indicators and animals is likewise complex, and in some cases this knowledge has formed the basis for the development of innovative and effective pest management tactics which differ quite markedly from 'modern' techniques. Dr Altieri presented several examples of these pest management tactics, illustrated by means of slides.
Like the previous speakers, Dr Altieri stressed the importance of combining traditional and modern systems, to form the agricultural approach of the future. He concluded by stressing that this approach must be based on mutual cooperation between farmers and scientists.
In his presentation entitled 'Scheme for the integration of traditional knowledge and new technology for plant protection systems in Brazil', Dr Suzuki issued a warning: in the rural areas of his country, indigenous knowledge related to crops is rapidly being lost, and this has had enormous consequences nationwide. He suggested that in order to reverse this trend, it is important not only to safeguard threatened crop knowledge, but also to ensure that existing resources are properly used. In this regard, Dr Suzuki stressed the necessity of using plants to control other plants on the basis of indigenous knowledge, and testing the results by means of modern scientific experiments.
Further, Dr Suzuki told the audience something about his current research on the survival and interaction among higher plants. A Contact and Rhizospheric Transference System (CRTS) has been developed, which makes use of the natural signalling agents of plants.
These studies on selected species assessed from working areas could result in a low-cost technique for sustainable crop protection, based on plant biodiversity. Dr Suzuki presented the results of a number of experiments with weeds and soil/plant pathogen control and nutrition effects.
Examples from Africa
Dr Ngwasiri (Cameroon) talked about indigenous plant protection in his country, where farmers operate in
different ecological zones. Over the years they have developed a wide variety of plant-protection techniques,
which have proved not only very effective but also affordable and sustainable. Through careful observation,
the farmers have discovered that certain trees have crop-protection qualities.
Other indigenous plant-protection methods in Cameroon include:
Dr M.A.T. Poswal (South Africa) opened his presentation, 'The contribution of folk medicine to the evolution of natural plant protection in South Africa' with the following statement: 'Traditional medicine is a major form of health care, often supplementing and complementing orthodox Western medical practices'. In South Africa, he said, various plant species are utilized in traditional medicine to treat diseases of fungal, bacterial or viral origin.
The essence of Poswal's message was that not only are indigenous plants valuable for medicine, they have proved their worth in the area of pest management, ethnoveterinary medicine and natural plant protection as well. For this reason, it is important to test plants for all these uses.
Examples from Asia
In his presentation, Dr M. G. Chandrakanth took the participants back to ancient India,
explaining that several of India's most ancient texts--the 5th-century 'Varahamihira' and 'Brihathsamhitha';
the 9th-century 'Vriksha Ayurveda' of 'Lokofpakakra', and the 13th-century 'Vriksha Ayurveda' of
Sarangadhara Samhitha'--contain recommendations for plant-protection practices based on indigenous
knowledge. These texts provide information on an integrated approach to controlling crop pests and diseases
through soil, seed, plant and environmental treatment. They contain such things as prescriptions for seed
treatment, and prophylactory measures for disease and pest control. Dr Chandrakanth presented the results
of experiments aimed at validating a number of the more successful indigenous systems of pest and disease
control highlighted in these ancient texts. Combining various cattle products, such as urine, milk and dung,
can be quite effective in the control of certain widespread diseases.
Indigenous rights
Dr Posey (UK) was the final speaker at the symposium. His presentation, 'Valuing indigenous knowledge
systems: Traditional resource rights for plant genetic resources', stressed the need for
caution in recording indigenous knowledge, since knowledge of any kind is invariably linked to values and
rights.
He explained to the audience that the concept of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) has been proposed in order to help local communities to establish and exert their own value systems over biogenetic resources, thereby expressing their claim to self-determination. Dr Posey stated that IPR is not capable of providing mechanisms for protection and compensation, since communal and diachronic characteristics are not recognized--or recognizable--under international law. Traditional Resource Rights (TRR) must replace IPR as a much broader, rights-based system for indigenous communities.
Conclusion
Judging by the input and level of presentations, and the number of participants, it may be concluded that the
organization of the symposium 'Indigenous knowledge systems for plant protection' was a success. The
conveners are grateful to the organizers of the 13th International Plant Protection Congress for the
opportunity to hold the symposium. We hope that the 14th International Plant Protection Congress, to be
held in 1999 in Jerusalem**2, will also feature an indigenous knowledge
symposium.
There are still four years to go until the next Congress, during which time major efforts must be made to develop mechanisms and instruments which can bridge the gap between indigenous knowledge systems and Western science and technology, as well as to initiate cooperation between researchers and farmers who, using their own knowledge, can reinforce the impact of farming-systems research, integrated pest management and participatory rural appraisal.
The science and technology of indigenous knowledge systems are rooted in the ecology, culture and economy of local communities and provide a model for development. Indigenous and Western science and technology are not mutually exclusive, but rather complementary. Their combined use can render development more cost-effective and equitable, as well as more sustainable.
If indigenous knowledge continues to be eroded, developing countries will become impoverished. Fortunately, there is a growing interest in indigenous knowledge, as exemplified by the growth in indigenous knowledge resource centres, NGOs and CBOs (community-based organizations). Joint efforts should be undertaken by researchers, farmers and other users, planners and development practitioners to increase the input of indigenous knowledge in sustainable development. The Indigenous Knowledge Symposium of the 13th International Plant Protection Congress will undoubtedly result in new initiatives in this direction.
Prof. Dr Hans A.M. de Kruijf
National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection
Bureau for International Cooperation
P.O. Box 1
3720 BA Bilthoven
The Netherlands
Tel: +31-30-749111
Fax: +31-30-742971
Drs Guus W. von Liebenstein
Director CIRAN
Nuffic-CIRAN
P.O. Box 29777, 2502 LT The Hague
The Netherlands
Tel: +31-70-4260321
Fax: +31-70-4260329
E-mail: Lieb@nuffic.nl
Drs Akke W. Tick
Editor Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor
Nuffic-CIRAN
P.O. Box 29777
2502 LT The Hague
The Netherlands
Tel: +31-70-4260324
Fax: +31-70-4260329/4260399
E-mail: ikdm@nuffic.nl
Remarks
* This article is based on the various presentations, abstracts, and drafts of papers for the symposium. De
Kruijf, Von Liebenstein and Tick are responsible for any misinterpretation of the message put forward by
the authors/speakers. The copyright of the knowledge itself, remains with the respective author/speaker.
* When the necessary funds are available, the full proceedings will be published. More information can be obtained from Drs G. W. von Liebenstein.
Endnotes
**1 This article is confined to the papers actually presented.
**2 More information on the International Plant Protection Congress 1999 can
be obtained from:
Prof. Dr David Rosen
Department of Entomology
Faculty of Agriculture
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
P.O. Box 12
Rehovot 76100
Israel