Indigenous and
scientific knowledge: some critical comments
Arun Agrawal
The distinction between indigenous and Western/scientific knowledge can present
problems for those who believe in the significance of indigenous knowledge for
development. This article examines some of the contradictions and ironies involved in
accenting the importance of indigenous knowledge, with a view to eliciting a dialogue on
the subject. The last part of the article tentatively explores a number of possible ways out
of the dilemma.
Traditional tree-
crop practices in Sri Lanka
Hemanthi Ranasinghe
The wide range of traditional tree-crop practices in Sri Lanka offers exciting prospects for
the further development of agroforestry throughout the country. The deteriorating land-to-
people ratio and the ever-declining per capita availability of agricultural land has made
agroforestry a promising solution to present-day problems. This article describes several
types of traditional tree-crop practices in Sri Lanka.
Learning from craft
taxonomies: development and a Yoruba textile tradition.
Norma H. Wolff
Bolanle Wahab
The resilience of Yoruba indigenous hand-woven cloth industries has been proven again
and again, as forces of change have tested the readiness of weavers to adapt to shifts in
taste, competition from outside markets, changing technologies, and the lure of modern-
sector occupations. Although the textile taxonomy presented in this article is preliminary
and still in progress, it is an example of indigenous knowledge in action, where choices
are constantly being made on the basis of contemporary tastes and markets.
Popularizing science education in developing
countries through indigenous knowledge
Siaka Kroma
Enrolment and retention in science and mathematics courses are still unacceptably low in
many developing countries. This is due in part to a disjunction between the course content
encountered in schools and the local knowledge of students. In this article it is argued that
science and mathematics would be more popular if course content reflected the indigenous
knowledge of local communities.
Regenerating
Agriculture
Author: Jules Pretty
Reviewer: Paul Terweel
This book may be seen as 'the definitive work on sustainable agriculture' for the next ten
years, according to Paul ter Weel who has been reviewing it for the Monitor. The book is
intended for all those who work with farmers, including development organizations,
NGOs and extension agencies, in short, for anyone active in the field of rural
development. A brief discussion of the book follows.
Spatial crop growth
variability in Western Niger: the knowledge of farmers and researchers
J.P.A. Lamers
P.R. Feil
A. Buerkert
For centuries, communities in the West African Sahel have practiced agriculture which is
based on the transfer of cropping knowledge and experience from generation to
generation. In the past decade, researchers have studied soil microvariability and
subsequent crop growth differences in the major staple, pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum
[L.] R. Br.). A household survey was carried out in Western Niger together with an
extensive literature search of baseline studies in the region, in order to determine whether
indigenous knowledge related to crop growth variability can be combined with scientific
knowledge with a view to sustaining soil fertility and millet production. This study
illustrates the potential and limitations of local knowledge for the management of soil
microvariability and millet growth in Niger.
Ethnoveterinary
medicine practices in the Northwest Province of Cameroon
Ngeh J. Toyang
Mopoi Nuwanyakpa
Chritopher Ndi
Sali Django
Wirmum C. Kinyuy
In Cameroon as well as in most developing countries (especially in Africa), disease
remains one of the principal causes of poor livestock performance, leading to an ever-
increasing gap between the supply of, and the demand for, livestock products. The ever-
declining provision of animal health services has resulted in the resurgence of a number
of epizootic diseases, undermining the economic efficiency of livestock production in
Africa. After elaborating on the nature of orthodox veterinary medicine and
ethnoveterinary medicine, the authors propose a complementary approach.