THE RELEVANCE OF LOCAL THE RELEVANCE OF LOCAL AND INDIGENOUS AND INDIGENOUS

KNOWLEDGE FOR NIGERIAN KNOWLEDGE FOR NIGERIAN AGRICULTUREAGRICULTURE

N.O. ADEDIPEN.O. ADEDIPEDEPARTMENT OF CROP PROTECTION DEPARTMENT OF CROP PROTECTION

AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGYAND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGYUNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN, UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN,

NIGERIA.NIGERIA.

P.A. OKUNEYE & I.A. AYINDEP.A. OKUNEYE & I.A. AYINDEDEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL

ECONOMICS AND FARM MANAGEMENTECONOMICS AND FARM MANAGEMENTUNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE,

ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA.ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA.

PRESENTED AT THEPRESENTED AT THE

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON

BRIDGING SCALES & BRIDGING SCALES & EPISTEMOLOGIES: EPISTEMOLOGIES:

LINKING LOCAL KNOWLEDGE LINKING LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

WITH GLOBAL SCIENCE IN MULTI-WITH GLOBAL SCIENCE IN MULTI-SCALE ASSESSMENTS, SCALE ASSESSMENTS,

ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT; ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT;

MARCH 16-19, 2004.MARCH 16-19, 2004.

THE NIGERIAN AGRICULTURE THE NIGERIAN AGRICULTURE BELONGS TO LOW-RESOURCE BELONGS TO LOW-RESOURCE OR RESOURCE-POOR OR RESOURCE-POOR CATEGORY CHARACTERIZED CATEGORY CHARACTERIZED BY SMALL FARM UNITS, BY SMALL FARM UNITS, FRAGILE SOILS, RAIN FRAGILE SOILS, RAIN DEPENDENCY AND MINIMUM DEPENDENCY AND MINIMUM INPUTSINPUTS..

DESPITE THE DOMINANCE OF DESPITE THE DOMINANCE OF MINERAL OIL EXPLORATION AND MINERAL OIL EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION AS THE CURRENT EXPLOITATION AS THE CURRENT MAINSTAY OF THE NIGERIAN MAINSTAY OF THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY IN TERMS OF FOREIGN ECONOMY IN TERMS OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE EARNINGS, THE AGRIC-EXCHANGE EARNINGS, THE AGRIC-ULTURAL SECTOR REMAINS THE ULTURAL SECTOR REMAINS THE LARGEST, CONTRIBUTING 37% OF LARGEST, CONTRIBUTING 37% OF THE GDP AND EMPLOYING 65% OF THE GDP AND EMPLOYING 65% OF THE ADULT LABOUR FORCETHE ADULT LABOUR FORCE..

IN ADDITION TO ITS PIVOTAL ROLE IN ADDITION TO ITS PIVOTAL ROLE IN MEETING THE FOOD AND FIBRE IN MEETING THE FOOD AND FIBRE NEEDS OF A LARGE AND GROWING NEEDS OF A LARGE AND GROWING POPULATION OF 120 MILLION (2-POPULATION OF 120 MILLION (2-3% GROWTH RATE), IT PROVIDES 3% GROWTH RATE), IT PROVIDES THE RAW MATERIALS FOR THE THE RAW MATERIALS FOR THE AGRO-INDUSTRIAL SECTOR; AND AGRO-INDUSTRIAL SECTOR; AND IS THE LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR IS THE LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR (88%) TO NON-OIL FOREIGN (88%) TO NON-OIL FOREIGN EXCHANGE EARNINGS.EXCHANGE EARNINGS.

SIGNIFICANTLY, OVER 90% OF SIGNIFICANTLY, OVER 90% OF NIGERIA’S AGRICULTURAL NIGERIA’S AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT IS BY SMALL SCALE OUTPUT IS BY SMALL SCALE (<5HA), RESOURCE-POOR (<5HA), RESOURCE-POOR FARMERS WHO HAVE, FOR AGES, FARMERS WHO HAVE, FOR AGES, SUSTAINED THE NATIONAL FOOD SUSTAINED THE NATIONAL FOOD SUPPLYSUPPLY..

OVER TIME, THESE FARMERS OVER TIME, THESE FARMERS HAVE ACQUIRED CONSIDERABLE HAVE ACQUIRED CONSIDERABLE WEALTH OF ENVIRONMENT-WEALTH OF ENVIRONMENT-RELATED IK IN THE HARNESSING RELATED IK IN THE HARNESSING OF NATURAL, AND IN THE OF NATURAL, AND IN THE MANIPULATION OF SOCIO-MANIPULATION OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC, FACTORS OF ECONOMIC, FACTORS OF PRODUCTION. PRODUCTION.

SUCH KNOWLEDGE IN THESE SUCH KNOWLEDGE IN THESE EPISTEMIC COMMUNITIES ARE EPISTEMIC COMMUNITIES ARE EVIDENTLY RELATED TO THE EVIDENTLY RELATED TO THE GLOBAL SCIENCE TRAITS OF GLOBAL SCIENCE TRAITS OF CONSERVATION; BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION; BIODIVERSITY MAINTENANCE; PLANT MAINTENANCE; PLANT PHYSIOLOGICAL, PLANT PHYSIOLOGICAL, PLANT PATHOLOGICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL AND ENTOMOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF ENTOMOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF CROP PROTECTION AND PEST CROP PROTECTION AND PEST MANAGEMENT.MANAGEMENT.

AGAINST LOW AGRICULTURAL AGAINST LOW AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT AND PRODUCTIVITY IN OUTPUT AND PRODUCTIVITY IN DEVELOPING NATIONS (INCLUDING DEVELOPING NATIONS (INCLUDING NIGERIA), AND DESPITE THE NIGERIA), AND DESPITE THE SEEMINGLY ENVIRONMENTALLY SEEMINGLY ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE-POOR SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE-POOR FARMING, THERE IS THE NEED FOR FARMING, THERE IS THE NEED FOR MODERNIZATIONMODERNIZATION BUT THIS MUST BUT THIS MUST BE ACHIEVED THROUGH GLOBAL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH GLOBAL SCIENCE INTERVENTION. SCIENCE INTERVENTION.

HOWEVER, SUCH INTERVENTION MUST HOWEVER, SUCH INTERVENTION MUST RECOGNIZE THE RICH IK RESOURCE RECOGNIZE THE RICH IK RESOURCE BASE OF LOW PRODUCTIVITY BASE OF LOW PRODUCTIVITY AGRICULTURE. AGRICULTURE.

IT IS AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND IT IS AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND THAT, THAT, IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS OR IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS OR THERE-ABOUT, SOME RECOGNITION THERE-ABOUT, SOME RECOGNITION HAS BEEN ACCORDED CERTAIN HAS BEEN ACCORDED CERTAIN ASPECTS OF IK, REFLECTED IN AGRO-ASPECTS OF IK, REFLECTED IN AGRO-FORESTRY, FORESTRY, FARMING SYSTEMS, MIXED CROPPING, FARMING SYSTEMS, MIXED CROPPING, ALLEY FARMING, ETC. ALLEY FARMING, ETC.

THERE IS MUCH MORE TO BE THERE IS MUCH MORE TO BE LEARNED, HENCE WE NEED TO LEARNED, HENCE WE NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PROFILE KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PROFILE OF IK IN THESE COUNTRIES. OF IK IN THESE COUNTRIES.

THE BIG QUESTIONS ARE:THE BIG QUESTIONS ARE: WHAT DO THEY BELIEVE?WHAT DO THEY BELIEVE? WHY DO THEY BELIEVE SO?WHY DO THEY BELIEVE SO? WHAT IS THEIR ATTITUDE TO CHANGE?WHAT IS THEIR ATTITUDE TO CHANGE? HOW DO INTRODUCED CHANGES RELATE HOW DO INTRODUCED CHANGES RELATE

TO THEIR SOCIO-CULTURAL VALUES WHICH TO THEIR SOCIO-CULTURAL VALUES WHICH THEY, NATURALLY, TEND TO PROTECT?THEY, NATURALLY, TEND TO PROTECT?

SHOULD THE INTRODUCED CHANGES BE BY SHOULD THE INTRODUCED CHANGES BE BY “INTEGRATION” OR BY “COORDINATION”? “INTEGRATION” OR BY “COORDINATION”?

TO ANSWER SOME OF THESE TO ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS, UNEP COMMISSIONED QUESTIONS, UNEP COMMISSIONED A STUDY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF A STUDY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, ABEOKUTA, AGRICULTURE, ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA.NIGERIA.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY WAS TO THE AIM OF THE STUDY WAS TO COMPARE IK ABOUT FARMING COMPARE IK ABOUT FARMING PRACTICES VIS-À-VIS MODERN PRACTICES VIS-À-VIS MODERN TECHNOLOGY IN SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY IN SUSTAINABLE CROP PRODUCTION. CROP PRODUCTION.

IN THIS REGARD, THE CRUCIAL IN THIS REGARD, THE CRUCIAL QUESTIONS ARE:QUESTIONS ARE:

HOW FAR DO SOCIO-CULTURAL HOW FAR DO SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS DOMINATE THE FARMERS’ FACTORS DOMINATE THE FARMERS’ COLLECTIVE THOUGHTS AND WAYS COLLECTIVE THOUGHTS AND WAYS OF LIFE?OF LIFE?

WHAT HAS BEEN THE TREND AMONG WHAT HAS BEEN THE TREND AMONG NIGERIAN FARMERS WHO RELY ON IK NIGERIAN FARMERS WHO RELY ON IK WITH MINIMUM INEVITABLE USE OF WITH MINIMUM INEVITABLE USE OF EXTERNAL INPUTS VIS–A-VIS THOSE EXTERNAL INPUTS VIS–A-VIS THOSE WHO USE FAIRLY LARGE QUANTITIES WHO USE FAIRLY LARGE QUANTITIES OF EXTERNAL INPUTS (FERTILIZERS, OF EXTERNAL INPUTS (FERTILIZERS, FUNGICIDES, INSECTICIDES AND FUNGICIDES, INSECTICIDES AND HERBICIDES)?HERBICIDES)?

THIS IS AGAINST THE BACKGROUND THAT THE THIS IS AGAINST THE BACKGROUND THAT THE USE OF AGRO-CHEMICALS IS VERY LOW.USE OF AGRO-CHEMICALS IS VERY LOW.

Fig. 5. Annual average values of agro-chemical importation by Nigeria

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1997-79 1980-85 1986-93 1993-97

mill

ion

to

ns

per

an

nu

m

Fungicides Insecticides Fertilizers

THE STUDY ADOPTED THE RAPID RURAL APPRAISAL METHOD, THE STUDY ADOPTED THE RAPID RURAL APPRAISAL METHOD, USING QUESTIONNAIRES IN A HOUSEHOLD SURVEY FORMAT, USING QUESTIONNAIRES IN A HOUSEHOLD SURVEY FORMAT, USING 100 FARMERS IN THE 2 LOCATIONS IN OGUN STATE OF USING 100 FARMERS IN THE 2 LOCATIONS IN OGUN STATE OF

NIGERIANIGERIA

THIS WAS COMPLEMENTED WITH THIS WAS COMPLEMENTED WITH FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS WITH RESPONDENTS AND KEY WITH RESPONDENTS AND KEY INFORMANTS BY WAYS OF INFORMANTS BY WAYS OF COMMUNITY LEADERS AND CBOs.COMMUNITY LEADERS AND CBOs.

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS ARE THAT 88% OF THE FINDINGS ARE THAT 88% OF THE FARMERS PRACTICED MIXED FARMERS PRACTICED MIXED CROPPING WITH A DIVERSE CROPPING WITH A DIVERSE NUMBER OF CROP NUMBER OF CROP COMBINATIONS.COMBINATIONS.

Fig. 1.Fig. 1. Stubble mulching on a Stubble mulching on a vegetable farm in Ogun State, South-vegetable farm in Ogun State, South-

Western NigeriaWestern Nigeria..

Fig. 2.Fig. 2.Intercropping of cereal with a legume in a local Intercropping of cereal with a legume in a local farm of Ogun State, South-Western Nigeriafarm of Ogun State, South-Western Nigeria

Fig. 3.Fig. 3. Intercropping of a broad-leaf Intercropping of a broad-leaf vegetable with short duration narrow-leaf vegetable with short duration narrow-leaf

vegetable experiment in Ogun State, South-vegetable experiment in Ogun State, South-Western NigeriaWestern Nigeria..

Fig. 4. Alley cropping of a tree crop with an Fig. 4. Alley cropping of a tree crop with an arable crop in Ogun State, South-Western arable crop in Ogun State, South-Western

NigeriaNigeria..

OTHER MAJOR FINDINGS:OTHER MAJOR FINDINGS:

MIXED CROPPING LED TO 26% MIXED CROPPING LED TO 26% RISE IN TOTAL CROP OUTPUTRISE IN TOTAL CROP OUTPUT

32% RISE IN PROFIT FOR THE 32% RISE IN PROFIT FOR THE COWPEA FARMERSCOWPEA FARMERS

THERE WERE ECONOMIES IN THERE WERE ECONOMIES IN LABOUR AND PESTICIDE USELABOUR AND PESTICIDE USE

MINIMIZATION OF CROP LOSS AS MINIMIZATION OF CROP LOSS AS COMPARED WITH SOLE CROPPINGCOMPARED WITH SOLE CROPPING

THE INTRODUCTION OF AGRO-THE INTRODUCTION OF AGRO-CHEMICALS SWAYED THE FARMERS TO CHEMICALS SWAYED THE FARMERS TO ADOPTION, GIVEN THE DRAMATIC ADOPTION, GIVEN THE DRAMATIC EFFECTS OBSERVEDEFFECTS OBSERVED

THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF AGRO-CHEMICALS FOR THE USE OF AGRO-CHEMICALS FOR CROP PROTECTION, SUCH AS HIGH CROP PROTECTION, SUCH AS HIGH COST AND ADULTERATION, HEALTH COST AND ADULTERATION, HEALTH HAZARDS, HIGH UNIT COST RELATIVE HAZARDS, HIGH UNIT COST RELATIVE TO POVERTY LEVEL AMONG THE TO POVERTY LEVEL AMONG THE FARMERS, CAUSED REVERSION TO THE FARMERS, CAUSED REVERSION TO THE USE OF INDIGENOUS TECHNOLOGIES USE OF INDIGENOUS TECHNOLOGIES IN ARABLE CROP PRODUCTION, IN ARABLE CROP PRODUCTION, PARTICULARLY WITH COWPEAS PARTICULARLY WITH COWPEAS ((VIGNA UNGUICULATAVIGNA UNGUICULATA) ) AS CASE CROP.AS CASE CROP.

WHILE 47% OF THE FARMERS USED WHILE 47% OF THE FARMERS USED INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE EXCLUSIVELY, INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE EXCLUSIVELY, 30% COMBINED IT WITH THE MODERN 30% COMBINED IT WITH THE MODERN TECHNOLOGY OF CROP PROTECTION, WHILE TECHNOLOGY OF CROP PROTECTION, WHILE 23% USED ONLY AGRO-CHEMICALS.23% USED ONLY AGRO-CHEMICALS.

THE PERCENTAGE OF FARMERS THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF FARMERS THAT ADOPTED INDIGENOUS CROPPING ADOPTED INDIGENOUS CROPPING PRACTICES: RELAY INTERCROPPING, 86%; PRACTICES: RELAY INTERCROPPING, 86%; MULTIPLE CROPPING, 64%; CROP ROTATION, MULTIPLE CROPPING, 64%; CROP ROTATION, 75%; BUSH FALLOW, 100%.75%; BUSH FALLOW, 100%.

IN TERMS OF FIELD CROP PROTECTION, 25% IN TERMS OF FIELD CROP PROTECTION, 25% OF FARMERS SPRAYED PLANTS WITH CHILLI OF FARMERS SPRAYED PLANTS WITH CHILLI PEPPER PEPPER CAPSICUM ANNUM, CAPSICUM ANNUM, WHILE 50% WHILE 50% USED NEEM (USED NEEM (AZADIRACHTA INDICAAZADIRACHTA INDICA) ) EXTRACTS.EXTRACTS.

FOR COWPEA STORAGE INDIGENOUS FOR COWPEA STORAGE INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE, 95% OF THE FARMERS KNOWLEDGE, 95% OF THE FARMERS SAMPLED STORED THE SEEDS BY SAMPLED STORED THE SEEDS BY MIXING WITH DRIED CHILLI MIXING WITH DRIED CHILLI ((CAPSICUM FRUTESCENS)CAPSICUM FRUTESCENS), USUALLY , USUALLY IN THE RATIO OF 40 KG COWPEA TO IN THE RATIO OF 40 KG COWPEA TO 0.5-1.0 KG DRIED CHILLI. NEEM ASH 0.5-1.0 KG DRIED CHILLI. NEEM ASH AND CROP RESIDUE ASH WERE ALSO AND CROP RESIDUE ASH WERE ALSO IN FREQUENT USE (35-50% OF THE IN FREQUENT USE (35-50% OF THE FARMERS).FARMERS).

SIMILAR RESULTS WERE GENERALLY SIMILAR RESULTS WERE GENERALLY OBTAINED FOR COCOA PRODUCTION.OBTAINED FOR COCOA PRODUCTION.

LINKING LOCAL KNOWLEDGE WITH LINKING LOCAL KNOWLEDGE WITH GLOBAL SCIENCE: A CONCEPTUAL GLOBAL SCIENCE: A CONCEPTUAL

MODEL FOR AGRICULTURAL MODEL FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN DEVELOPING DEVELOPMENT IN DEVELOPING

COUNTRIES.COUNTRIES.

BASICALLY, THE MILLENNIUM BASICALLY, THE MILLENNIUM ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT (MA) IS ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT (MA) IS AIMED AT THE MANAGEMENT OF AIMED AT THE MANAGEMENT OF ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH THE ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF VIABLE POLICY ADOPTION OF VIABLE POLICY OPTIONS FOR DECISION-MAKING OPTIONS FOR DECISION-MAKING TOWARDS THE IMPROVEMENT AND TOWARDS THE IMPROVEMENT AND SUSTENANCE OF HUMAN WELL-BEING.SUSTENANCE OF HUMAN WELL-BEING.

DESPITE THE UNQUESTIONABLE DESPITE THE UNQUESTIONABLE BENEFITS, IK CANNOT, ON ITS BENEFITS, IK CANNOT, ON ITS OWN MEET CURRENT AND OWN MEET CURRENT AND FUTURE DEMANDS OF CROP FUTURE DEMANDS OF CROP PRODUCTION.PRODUCTION.

THE QUESTION IS: HOW CAN THE THE QUESTION IS: HOW CAN THE BENEFITS OF GLOBAL SCIENCE BENEFITS OF GLOBAL SCIENCE AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY RUB AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY RUB ON IK IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE ON IK IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE MA?ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE MA?

IT IS HERE BEING PROPOSED THAT THERE IS NEED FOR IT IS HERE BEING PROPOSED THAT THERE IS NEED FOR A SYSTEMATIC HYBRIDIZATION STRATEGYA SYSTEMATIC HYBRIDIZATION STRATEGY, THE , THE

PROCESS OF WHICH IS BRIEFLY DESCRIBED BELOW.PROCESS OF WHICH IS BRIEFLY DESCRIBED BELOW.

Coordination Mechanism (Complementary)

INDIGENOUSKNOWLEDGE

•Environment -conscious

•Socio-cultural Beliefs

•Religious/Mythical Values

FORMAL SCIENTIFIC

KNOWLEDGE

Environment –conscious

Socio-cultural Neutrality

Hybrid (Indigeno-Scientific)Knowledg

e

Community

Orientation

UniversalOrientation

HUMAN WELL-BEING (MILLENNIUM

GOALS)

•Food SecurityNutritional QualityHealthEmployment Poverty Reduction

Fig. 7 Epistemological Inputs and Linkages Towards Sustainable Agricultural Research and Development Capabilities

Adedipe, 2004

Short-Term

ZA

Integration Mechanism

ECOSYSTEM FRAME

•Services•Drivers•Policy

•Options•Decision- making

A

Long-Term

BY THIS SUGGESTED APPROACH, BY THIS SUGGESTED APPROACH, HUMAN WELL-BEINGHUMAN WELL-BEING, ALONG THE , ALONG THE LINES OF THE MILLENNIUM LINES OF THE MILLENNIUM GOALS, CAN BE GUARANTEED AND GOALS, CAN BE GUARANTEED AND SUSTAINED FOR A STABLE AND SUSTAINED FOR A STABLE AND SECURE WORLD INBUED WITH SECURE WORLD INBUED WITH FOOD SECURITY, GOVERNED BY FOOD SECURITY, GOVERNED BY ACCESSIBILITY, DESIRABLE ACCESSIBILITY, DESIRABLE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY HEALTHY NUTRITIONAL QUALITY HEALTHY LIVING, GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT LIVING, GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY REDUCTION.AND POVERTY REDUCTION.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT, ACCORDING TO CHAMBERS ACCORDING TO CHAMBERS ET ALET AL (1989), AND AS OF THE 1980s, (1989), AND AS OF THE 1980s, RESOURCE-POOR FARMING RESOURCE-POOR FARMING AFFECTED 1.4 BILLION PEOPLES AFFECTED 1.4 BILLION PEOPLES OF ASIA, LATIN AMERICA AND OF ASIA, LATIN AMERICA AND SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA!SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTIONATTENTION