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Editorial
The use of participatory rural appraisal methodologies to
link indigenous knowledge and land use decisions among the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
, by Marcella Szymanski, Lisa Whitewing and Joe Colletti.
Participatory rural appraisal (PRA) techniques can facilitate the use of indigenous knowledge as an integral part of a land-use decision process. In this way, cultural and spiritual values
are linked directly with environmental values and economic needs, as part of a community-driven decision-making process. PRA methodologies adopted by the Winnebago Tribe
of Nebraska (USA) offer insight into the use of indigenous knowledge as a community forum for land-use planning.
Learning local knowledge of
soils: a focus on methodology, by Deirdre M. Birmingham.
There is little published literature on methods for studying local knowledge of soils. This scarcity is surprising, given that local knowledge is increasingly recognized as necessary for effective agricultural and rural development, and the livelihood of farmers. This article describes and analyzes the approach and methodologies used in recovering local knowledge of soil and land typologies among two ethnic groups in two different agroecological zones in West Africa. This analysis is of particular importance, as the manner in which research is carried out is critical to the quality and type of results obtained. Not only the results should be published, but also an analysis of the methods used, with a view to improving future research.
Farmers' knowledge of indigenous tree cultivation around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Uganda
, by J. Obua and G. Muhanguzi.
This article presents the results of a study carried out around Bwindi Impenetrable
Forest National Park (Uganda), where a project had been started to cultivate indigenous trees. It assesses the local knowledge pertaining to the cultivation of these trees,
as well as constraints on indigenous tree cultivation. The article ends with recommendations for techniques that could help farmers to improve the quality and yield.
Focus on: Farmers' reliance on ethnoveterinary practices to cope with common cattle ailments
A survey among members of the Malabar Regional Co-op Milk Producers Union in Kerala (South India) shows that 70% of livestock farmers use traditional knowledge and therapies in caring for their animals. Foot-and-mouth disease, mastitis, fever, bloat, diarrhoea, and helminthiasis are the main diseases treated. The plants customarily used for ethnoveterinary treatment are pepper, ginger, turmeric, garlic, and preparations made from neem and tamarind.
Guest column by Consuelo Quiroz
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