Publications

Bibliography on local crop development.ODI

Available from: Robert Tripp, Overseas Development Institute, Portland House, Stag Place, London SW1E 5DP, United Kingdom. Fax: +44-171-3931699. 'Local Crop Development' is the name of an annotated bibliography produced jointly by the Centre for Genetic Resources in the Netherlands (part of the Centre for Plant Breeding and Reproductive Research, CPRO-DLO), the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) in Rome, and the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) in London. The bibliography has four sections:


All entries include an abstract. The bibliography is indexed by crop, country and subject. The publication has been sent to organizations and libraries in developing countries. ODI has 75 copies available for distribution to organizations in developing countries that have not already received a copy. If you would like a copy for your organization or library, contact: Robert Tripp

Robert Chambers (1997) Whose reality counts?

Putting the first last. pp. xx + 297. £3.25 or US $ 6.50. Available from Intermediate Technology Publications, 103-105 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4HH, United Kingdom. Tel: +44-171-4369761, Fax: +44-171-4362013, and in USA from: Women, Ink, 777 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017. Tel. + l- 212-687-8633, Fax: +1-212-661-2704. This long-awaited and profoundly exciting sequel to 'Rural development: Putting the last first' focuses on the experience derived from the growing global network of development practitioners who use Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques to understand emic (insider) approaches to problem-identification and solution-seeking. The PRA experience, now documented in every corner of the globe, indicates that the realities of local people are 'local, complex, diverse, dynamic and unpredictable'. Unfortunately, the analytic capabilities of local people (including the nonliterate)--which enable them to map, rank, score, diagram, appraise, analyse, and plan--continue to be largely unrecognized, overlooked, and ignored by many development practitioners. Chambers eloquently analyses how professionalism and power continue to dominate the top-down transfer-of-technology development paradigm and presents mechanisms to change the paradigm. Development practitioners must engage in self-critical awareness that explores the powerful evidence generated by PRA. This evidence can provide the basis for participatory interaction and decision-making and for the empowerment of local communities in their own development processes. Written for both academics and practitioners, this text will prove to be as important a landmark in development policy and practice as 'Rural development' has been since it was published in 1983. (D.M. Warren)

Agriculture and cosmovision

Bertus Haverkort, Wim Hiemstra, David Millar and Stephan Rist (eds) (1996) Agriculture and cosmovision. pp. 70. Availabe from COMPAS, c/o ETC, PO Box 64, 3838 AB Leusden, The Netherlands. Tel: +31-33-4943086, Fax: +31-33-4940791. E-mail: office@etcnl.nl A report entitled 'Agriculture and cosmovision' is one of the results of the first phase of the Compas project. The report contains summaries of papers produced by the project partners as well as documents from a workshop held in Cochabamba, Bolivia, in April 1996. There are contributions from Bolivia, Peru, Mexico, Sri Lanka, India, Ghana, Norway and the Netherlands. The coordinators, Bertus Haverkort and Wim Hiemstra, welcome readers' reactions to the report. Compas is a platform for intercultural dialogue on the relationship between agriculture and a people's vision of the cosmos ('cosmovision'). Compas aims to bring together people with different backgrounds--from partner institutions, development organizations, and various academic fields--to share experiences and exchange ideas about this type of indigenous knowledge. The ultimate aim is to enrich and supplement indigenous knowledge systems that will support farmers during a transition to sustainable agriculture. The Cosmos project has also produced a video film. For information about it, see the section 'Films and audio-visual devices'. For further information about the project, contact: Bertus Haverkort, COMPAS, c/o ETC, PO Box 64, 3838 AB Leusden, The Netherlands.

The stars we know: Crow Indian astronomy and lifeway.

Timothy P. McCleary (1997). The stars we know: Crow Indian astronomy and lifeway. pp. xv + 127, paperback, US $ 9.95 ISBN 0-88133-924-5. Published by Waveland Press, Inc. PO Box 400, Prospect Heights, Illinois 60070, USA. Tel. +1-847-634-0081, Fax: +1-847-634-9501. E-mail: info@waveland.com This study of Crow Indian astronomy was conducted from late l993 through early l996 on a Crow reservation in Montana and Wyoming. The study is based on the Crow Astronomy Project, which was carried out by the tribally-controlled Little Big Horn College. It provides an opportunity to compare and contrast the Crow view of the cosmos with that of other ethnic groups. The Crow have detailed knowledge of many heavenly bodies. They know the cycles and movements of the stars, the sun, the moon, and certain planets. Their interpretations of these cosmic phenomena have shaped the principles by which the Crow live, providing a link between celestial wisdom and Crow values and ethics. Contemporary Crow elders relate their knowledge of the origins and organization of the universe, and tell stories of constellations that have special religious significance and histories. The study shows that Crow knowledge of the regular movements of celestial bodies provided information important for hunting and for camp movements. This knowledge continues to provide the basis for the spiritual and moral needs of the Crow people. 'The nightly, seasonal, yearly, and infinite turnings in the celestial sphere all provide a richness of knowledge to the trained eyes of the Crow.' (p. 109) This is an exciting addition to the growing field of ethno-astronomy and is highly recommended. (D.M. Warren) D. Michael Warren, Layi Egunjobi, Bolanle Wahab (eds) (1996) Indigenous knowledge in education. pp. 170. US $20. ISBN 978-332331-2-1. Ibadan: University of Ibadan. The proceedings can be obtained from: D.M. Warren, CIKARD, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA. Tel: +1-515-294-6058, Fax: +1-515-294-0938. E-mail: dmwarren@iastate.edu This book presents the proceedings of the Nigeria workshop on the integration of indigenous knowledge into the education curriculum. The book rests on the premise that the existing Nigerian education system (which typifies the African situation) has failed to accommodate the fact that there was an indigenous foundation upon which the borrowed western type of knowledge could be built. This failure has had a negative effect on all aspects of development. The application of indigenous knowledge is important not only for self-reliance, but IK also serves as a sound basis for technological take-off. The need to integrate IK into the country's education system at all levels, and how this may be accomplished, is a theme that runs through the papers assembled in this book. The book therefore recommends itself to policy-makers and practitioners in the education sector, as well as to researchers who study indigenous knowledge systems.

Indigenous knowledge in education

D. Michael Warren, Layi Egunjobi, Bolanle Wahab (eds) (1996) Indigenous knowledge in education. pp. 170. US $20. ISBN 978-332331-2-1. Ibadan: University of Ibadan. The proceedings can be obtained from: D.M. Warren, CIKARD, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA. Tel: +1-515-294-6058, Fax: +1-515-294-0938. E-mail: dmwarren@iastate.edu This book presents the proceedings of the Nigeria workshop on the integration of indigenous knowledge into the education curriculum. The book rests on the premise that the existing Nigerian education system (which typifies the African situation) has failed to accommodate the fact that there was an indigenous foundation upon which the borrowed western type of knowledge could be built. This failure has had a negative effect on all aspects of development. The application of indigenous knowledge is important not only for self-reliance, but IK also serves as a sound basis for technological take-off. The need to integrate IK into the country's education system at all levels, and how this may be accomplished, is a theme that runs through the papers assembled in this book. The book therefore recommends itself to policy-makers and practitioners in the education sector, as well as to researchers who study indigenous knowledge systems.

What Variety!

What Variety! An assessment of the potential for increasing agricultural crop diversification. April 1996. £ 1.50. Produced by Farmers' World Network as part of its development education programme, The Arthur Rank Centre, National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Warks CV8 2LZ, United Kingdom. Tel: +44-1203-696969, Fax: +44-1203- 696900. This April 1996 publication, one in a series produced by the Farmers' World Network, reports on how genetic diversity is being lost all over the world, and examines the lessons learned in the South concerning the importance of diversity as a tool for sustainability. It also contains information about the Heritage Seed Programme and features such topics as on-farm feeds, special crops providing cover for game, and home-grown energy. The aim of the Farmers' World Network is to make the British farming community more aware of the problems of developing countries and the relationship between European and third-world agriculture, and to foster links with like-minded farmers and people engaged in agricultural business around the world.

Living with the floods, survival strategies of char-dwellers in Bangladesh

Hanna Schmuck-Widmann (1996) Living with the floods, survival strategies of char-dwellers in Bangladesh. pp. 103. ISBN 3-923020-18-X. FDCL. Text 6. DM 9.80. In the English and German language. The book is available from ASA-Programme of the Carl-Duisberg-Gesellschaft e.V., Lützowufer 6-9, D-10785 Berlin, Germany. Tel: +49-30-254820, Fax: +49-30-25482217. Bangladesh is situated in the largest river delta in the world. The three main rivers--the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna--are continuously altering their courses. From June to September, the monsoon period, the rivers burst their banks and flood up to 30 per cent of this low-lying country. The Flood Action Plan is a project by which the seven largest countries of the world (the G7 group), in cooperation with the Bangladesh government, are attempting to find solutions to this major problem. The book is based on research that was done during 1994 and 1995. It offers good insight into the everyday lives of the people living on the islands known as 'chars', and into the way these people manage crisis. The 'chars' are made up of sediment deposit, which can be washed away in less than a year or remain stable for decades. Most of the char-dwellers are farmers who can detect minute changes in the river and land. The author describes this local knowledge and also discusses the river construction projects which are destroying the basis of agriculture, which is the main activity of the char-dwellers.

Understanding tribal life and culture in India.

Dr Patnaik (1996) Understanding tribal life and culture in India. INDISCO Guidelines for Extension Workers (2). pp. 60. ISBN 92-2-110113-4. ILO. The publication can be obtained from ILO Publications, International Labour Office, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland. The aim of the INDISCO Programme is to strengthen the basis for development by improving the position of indigenous and tribal peoples. This second edition in the series of INDISCO Guidelines was prepared by the anthropologist Dr Patnaik. The author reports that there are more than 400 distinct ethnic communities in India, not counting the many sub-tribes scattered throughout the country. Demographically, only Africa has more tribal communities than India. Among them are nine tribal groups with more than a million members each. The author provides insight into their economic life, social and political organization, religious life, educational level, and health and nutrition status. The second part of the publication offers recommendations for interacting with local people. This is a very useful and practical guide for health workers and anyone else who works with tribal people in India.

Indigenous peoples and sustainability: Cases and actions.

IUCN Inter-Commission Task Force on Indigenous Peoples (1997) Indigenous peoples and sustainability: Cases and actions. pp. 364. U$25. ISBN 90 5727 0110. Available from International Books, Alexander Numankade 17, 3572 KP Utrecht, The Netherlands. Fax: +31 30 2733614. E-mail: i-books@antenna.nl This is one of very few books which succeeds in substantiating the links--both in theory and contemporary practice--between indigenous knowledge, sustainability and development. It does this in a manner that is significantly beneficial to academic and practitioner alike. The book is both realistic and extensive, and can be prescribed as required reading for all students of indigenous knowledge, sustainability, and development. This book explains in detail the need for two basic policy frameworks for IK. First, governments or NGOs that become involved in projects initiated by indigenous peoples must do so on the basis of respect for the indigenous communities, and partnerships on an equal footing. Second, if sustainability is to be managed successfully, projects conceived and implemented by indigenous peoples must be given financial and political support. The first section of the book contains 13 chapters and 12 appendices under the heading 'A guide to action'. In Part 1 of the first section, the authors answer three questions: who are indigenous peoples; what is meant by sustainability; and what is the role of indigenous peoples in sustainability. They then explain how indigenous peoples conserve and manage sustainability, and how these systems are being threatened. Part 2 presents principles that guide indigenous peoples and community-controlled sustainability, and principles that should underlie equitable relationships, and argues that people's rights should guide efforts to support indigenous peoples and sustainability. Part 3 is a guide for action: how to enhance community control over the documentation of indigenous knowledge, and community control in research, and how to incorporate equitable relationships into sustainable strategies. The 12 appendices include the global network of indigenous knowledge resource centres, and the UN draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. The second section presents 16 case studies under the heading 'Case studies in natural resource management, traditional knowledge and practice, and sustainable development'. The case studies fall into four categories: Intellectual property rights, Indigenous practice and knowledge, Indigenous encounters with modern management practices, and Creation of new cooperative structures. The principle authors are the well-known Oxford-based Darrel Posey and Graham Dutfield. (Herman Els)

Ewé: the use of plants in Yoruba society

Pierre Fatumbi Verger (1995) Ewé: the use of plants in Yoruba society. pp. 744. Published by Companhia das Letras, Sao Paulo. Sponsored by Odebrecht Organization, Sao Paulo. Available from: Editora Schwarcz Ltda., Rua Tupi, 522, 01233-000 Sao Paulo SP, Brazil. Tel: +55-11-826-1822, Fax: +55-11-826-5523. Up to now Yoruba medicine has not been well documented. This book will certainly help to enrich and make accessible the information currently available on Yoruba health and healing systems. Information on traditional medicine as practised in Nigeria is the exclusive preserve of practitioners and their families and friends. Only by staying long enough within the culture and making friends with diviners and healers can a person obtain authentic information about Yoruba mysteries. The author lived in Yoruba country for over 40 years and interacted with local medical practitioners. During his stay he studied the ecosystem and developed a keen interest in the medicinal uses of certain bioresources and in the interface between beliefs and medicine. The first part of the book describes the plants that are used, listing them by local name and scientific name. This section reflects the rich ethno-botanical experience of the author, who believes that the efficacy of plants is enhanced by the use of incantations. These must be spoken before the plants can do their work. Incantation is a unique aspect of traditional Yoruba medicine, and it must be done correctly. After laying a theoretical foundation for the language of incantations, the author provides in the second part of the book remedies for healing the body of pain, itching, swelling, infertility and sexually transmitted disease. Remedies are also given for problems related to pregnancy and birth. Yoruba medicine deals with a wide range of life crises, varying from illnesses to misfortunes and social conflicts, all of which are discussed in the book. (Samuel A. Osunwole)

The Philippines, participatory development framework for indigenous peoples.

Huseyin Polat and Manuela Tomei (1996) The Philippines, participatory development framework for indigenous peoples. pp. iii-vii + 102 ISBN 92-2-110273-4. Second edition. UNDP. The publication can be obtained direct from ILO Publications, ILO, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland. Within the framework of the International Year of the World's Indigenous People, the International Labour Office (ILO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) undertook a joint mission to the Philippines. Their main purpose was to help the government incorporate into the current process of economic reform and democratization a strategy for increasing indigenous peoples' participation in national economic and political life. During the mission, information was gathered about the indigenous and tribal communities living in the Philippines. A demographic and socio-economic profile was drawn up which includes these communities' level of education and skills, present employment, sources of income, and immediate needs. The findings and recommendations of the mission are published together with this report.

Sistemas de producción arícola y tecnologías de control de premnotryupes lathitorx en el almacenamiento tradicional de papa.

Zacarías Revollo Peredo (1995) Sistemas de producción arícola y tecnologías de control de premnotryupes lathitorx en el almacenamiento tradicional de papa. Caso de la comunidad de Wankani, provincia Arque. Serie Técnica 35. Agroecología Universidad Cochabamba. Programa de Formación, Investigación e Interacción Social. Available from: Agroecologia Universidad Cochabamba, Av. Petrolera Km. 4 1/2, Fac. de Agronomía. Casilla 3392. Cochabamba, Bolivia. Tel: +591-42-52601, Fax: +591-42-52602. This publication--in the Spanish language--is a summary of a research project which was coordinated by the University of Cochabamba and the Prosana Project of the state Arque. Research was conducted among the Wankani of the Andes region. The main activity of these people is agriculture. Their main crop is potatoes, and their methods of cultivating the variety Premnotypes are described. At present the Wankani make heavy use of pesticides. Researchers analyzed three potato varieties as well as the production process, and explored possibilities for growing potatoes in the region using more natural methods of pest control.

A participatory systematization workbook.

Daniel Selener (ed) (1996) A participatory systematization workbook. Documenting, evaluating and learning from our development projects. pp. 107. ISBN 9978-04-241-5. International Institute of Rural Reconstruction. US $ 20. The workbook is available in English and Spanish from: IIRR, Apartado Postal 17-08-8494, Quito, Ecuador. Tel/Fax: +593-2-443763. Staff of non-governmental organizations, grassroots and citizen organizations, and government agencies need to understand the operating processes of projects in which they are involved. Social workers, evaluators, researchers and community members often reflect informally on how projects have been designed and implemented and can be improved. With this workbook they learn that systematization is a continuous process of reflection, to be undertaken by both project staff and participants. The workbook explains the concept of systematization, and offers guidelines for planning this process and for conducting follow-up and evaluation activities to improve project processes and results. In addition it offers tools for implementing the systematization process.

Local soil classification and management practices: Bibliographic review

Shankarappa Tallawar (1996) Local soil classification and management practices: Bibliographic review pp i + 48. Research paper 2. Laboratory of Agricultural and Natural Resources Anthropology, Department of Anthropology, University of Georgia. US $ 8. The paper can be obtained from Shankarappa Talawar, University of Georgia, Department of Anthropology, Baldwin Hall, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA. Tel: +1-706-542-3922, Fax: +1-706-542-3998. E-mail: stalawar@sherlock.dac.uga.edu This research report is also a practical guide describing the state of the art in the study of indigenous systems of soil classification and land management. Many studies currently being conducted in tropical countries are included in the references. The descriptive studies reviewed by the author include studies of the criteria farmers use to classify soil. He discusses local soil taxonomy versus folk taxonomy and/or scientific soil taxonomy, the evaluation of soil classifications, and the relationship between local soil classification and agricultural decision-making and adaptation. On the subject of soil management, the report describes concepts of soil fertility and its management, perceptions of the relationship between soil and vegetation, distinctions made between soil and land, and local types of land use.

Guidelines for training traditional health practitioners in Primary Health Care (1995) WHO/SHS/DHS/TRM/95.5. Available at the Publications Office, WHO, CH 1211, Geneva 27, Switzerland. Traditional Practitioners as Primary Health Care Workers (1995) Division of Strengthening of Health Services and the Traditional Medicine Programme, Geneva. Available at the Publications Office, WHO, CH 1211, Geneva 27, Switzerland. Under a contract from the World Health Organization (Geneva), the author Wilbur Hoff in 1993 conducted a field study to evaluate the effectiveness of four ongoing projects that were training traditional health practitioners (THPs) to provide primary health care (PHC) services in Ghana, Mexico, and Bangladesh. The study, funded by a grant from the World Health Organization, Division of Strengthening Health Services, concluded that incorporating trained THPs in PHC programmes can be cost-effective in providing essential and culturally relevant health services to communities. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact the training projects had on the communities and the THPs involved, and the extent to which traditional and modern health workers were collaborating in providing primary health care. A qualitative field evaluation was performed using data collected from project documents, observations, and field interviews with a selection of health agency staff, THPs, and community members. Traditional practitioners from all four projects participated in community meetings and activities. The data from the study support the proposition that the training and utilization of THPs in PHC programmes, planned in collaboration with modern health workers and community members, can be cost-effective and culturally relevant. The report of the evaluation study concluded with lessons learned from the projects and recommendations for action. These recommendations include the development of official policies that support training and use of THPs, involvement of community members in the planning and implementation of projects, and provision of follow-up and support services. Of particular value for trainers is a section containing specific guidelines for determining training objectives, selecting appropriate training methods and materials, and training trainers, and practical methods to evaluate training outcomes. The findings indicate that THPs can play a significant role in providing PHC and can measurably improve the health of mothers and children, particularly in areas such as infant and maternal mortality, nutrition, personal hygiene, and sanitation.

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