IK Monitor Websites (9-2)

Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor, July 2001

Contents IK Monitor (9-2) | IKDM Homepage | Suggestions to: ikdm@nuffic.nl | © copyright Nuffic-CIRAN and contributors 2001.

Websites

In this feature we recommend websites that deal with the subjects appearing in this issue of the Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor. CIRAN's information specialists have searched the internet for relevant, useful pages.

Traditional housing

Housing technology The Janvikas website gives an insight into traditional housing using cemented sundried bricks and thatched roofs. Photos illustrate how 'deshi' bricks are prepared and sun-dried, and how they are used to build a community centre.
http://www.janvikas.org/housing.html

Modular processes versus traditional housing More information about a modular volumetric housing construction process can be found on the Arup environmental project website. The site explains SPeARTM (Sustainable Project Appraisal Routine) in terms of sustainability issues, potential beneficial impacts, and disadvantages. Click further and you get to see a larger version of the SPeARTM Diagram.
http://www.arup.com/environmental/HTML/Projects/ModularVersusTraditional.htm

National Housing Programme Namibia's National Housing Programme is an example of best practice for human settlements in the MOST Clearinghouse Best Practices Database (UNESCO). The central aim of the project is to give people control of and access to national housing infrastructure and finance. In the 'build-together' programme, the dependence of people in low-income groups on government or professionals such as architects and contractors is reoriented. People are building according to their own needs, priorities and resources. The private sector plays a supporting role. All loans are disbursed and repayments collected by private banks and the post office. The result is that the government has reached 12 regions in 3 years (1992-1995), the last (Oshana) in March 1996. Over 3400 housing units have been constructed. The Community Housing Development Group (CHDG) negotiates for land and people take development in their own hands. Land becomes affordable, population density in overcrowded areas is reduced and people's capacity to provide adequate shelter for themselves is enhanced through deprofessionalising housing.
http://www.unesco.org/most/africa5.htm

Biodiversity and food security

World food security situation The Committee on World Food Security (FAO) published an assessment of the world food security situation in September 2000.
http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/x7921e.htm

Biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods The biodiversity entry point paper written by Izabella Koziell (DFID) in 1997 discusses the DFID approach to biodiversity in relation to the aim of reducing by half the number of people living in extreme poverty by 2015. Following an introduction to the concept of biodiversity as a resource, the paper discusses how the bilateral programme in support of sustainable rural livelihoods should view biodiversity.
http://www.nri.org/TFF/BDSN/koziell_nrac_paper.htm

Indigenous crop protection Oregon State University's Integrated Plant Protection Center (IPPC) conducted research on indigenous crop protection practices in Sub-Saharan East Africa, their status and significance in relation to small farmer IPM programmes in developing
countries.
http://www.ippc.orst.edu/ipmafrica/elements/cultcont.html

Indigenous knowledge in agriculture The ILEIA Newsletter volume 12 (1) contains an article by Miguel Altieri entitled 'Indigenous knowledge re-valued in Andean agriculture'.
http://www.oneworld.org/ileia/newsletters/12-1/12-1-7.htm

Homegardens

Tropical homegardens Information about traditional homegardens can be found in several issues of the online journal The Overstory. According to the editors, tropical homegardens are gaining recognition as highly productive, low-input systems. In the 64th edition, special guest author Dr P.K.R. Nair offers an introduction to tropical homegardens. He provides a definition of homegardens, and gives detailed information on their structure, on food production, and on research conducted on homegarden systems. The literature references, suggestions for further reading, and web links are very useful.
http://www.agroforester.com/overstory/overstory64.html

Agroforestry homegardens Cornell University's agroforestry homegardens page by Erick C.M. Fernandez has many photographs and detailed references. The website gives a definition of tropical homegardens, compares homegardens in different regions and locations, and details their local names, population density and rainfall. Tables illustrate the biophysical and socioeconomic aspects of selected homegardens, and major components of selected tropical homegardens.
http://wwwscas.cit.cornell.edu/ecf3/Web/AF/Homegardens.html

Case study A case study of tropical agroforestry homegardens in Nicaragua contains a description of the research method, lessons learned and principles illustrated. The website is an initiative of the Agroecology Research Group.
http://www.agroecology.org/cases/homegardens.htm

Yam cultivation

General information The yam is one of the CGIAR research areas. The website provides information, statistics, and details of use and nutritional value. The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Nigeria conducts research on yam production for CGIAR. Scientists there are working to ensure that farmers achieve a sustainable increase in productivity through the adoption of improved technologies.
http://www.ilri.org/areas/yam.htm

Tropical seeds This website discusses tropical seeds (flowers, fruit, vegetables and herbs) and cultivation techniques. Also included are articles on various related themes. The description of the yam covers climatic conditions, different species, treatments, diseases, weed-control, fertilizers, nutrient needs, land preparation, planting, and harvesting methods.
http://www.tropical-seeds.com/tech_forum/veg_herbs/yam.html

Cassava versus yam production The global cassava strategy website provides background information on cassava production and how it relates to yam production. Cassava production is reported to be increasing in villages where cassava, yam, rice, beans or peas are the most important crops (based on farmers' ranking) in the cropping system. This implies that cassava is replacing these major crops, and is being planted on fallow and pasture land in those villages.
http://www.globalcassavastrategy.net/Africa/nigeria/n0000e06.htm.

Yam cultivation causes environmental degradation The main conclusion of a three-month field study in the Sekyere West and Ejura-Sekyedumase districts of Ashanti is that yam cultivation leads to a high degree of environmental degradation. Presenting the findings at a one-day workshop at Fumesua, near Kumasi, Mr. Joseph Nketia Berchie, a research officer at the Crop Research Institute (CRI), said the reason was that yam depletes the soil of nitrogen. The study was part of the Year 2000 programme of the International Centre for Development Oriented Research in Agriculture (ICRA 2000), based in Holland. Since yam gives a poor yield when grown on the same field twice, farmers do a lot of shifting cultivation.
(Article in Accra Mail, July 6, 2000, posted on the web July 6, 2000)
http://allafrica.com/stories/200007060047.html