Browsing by Author "Dlamini, Russell Mmiso"

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    Investigation of sustainable indigenous agricultural practices : a systems approach
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2007-03) Dlamini, Russell Mmiso; Swilling, Mark; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY : The overall objective of the study was to investigate and document IK (Indigenous Knowledge) in Swaziland from a systems perspective. A systems approach ensured that the reductionist nature of scientific theories and practices in social sciences did not become a limiting factor on the qualitative and explorative study. The study therefore covered a broad spectrum of IK including areas such as agricultural practices, food security, natural resource management, and values and beliefs. The study focused on identifying indigenous practices and on the interaction (link) between various elements of IK as a system to become sustainable. Secondary and primary data was used to inform the study. Primary data was gathered through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews conducted in four geographic regions of the Kingdom of Swaziland in the Southern African region. Participants of focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were elderly male and female indigenous Swazi subsistent farmers who still practiced traditional agriculture. Participants were selected using the snowball technique and their ages ranged from 45 to 75 years and were all from peripheral areas. Their perceptions of Indigenous agricultural practices were not entirely positive. The study was successful in harnessing valuable information from a wide spectrum including indigenous agricultural practices, indigenous knowledge systems, food security principles, and indigenous plants. It revealed that the major strengths of traditional agriculture are its affordability (sustainability) as opposed to the high cost of modern agriculture, environmental friendliness, and preference by indigenous farmers. The study found that indigenous knowledge was wearing out because it was no longer being used due to an alternative of modern ways. The study also found that the indigenous knowledge transmission was effective because it was a vocation rather than a theory. Indigenous knowledge was varied by agro-ecological regions. The study also identified areas of further research on specific indigenous knowledge to be pursued through experimental research. Although the study did not focus on attitudes it revealed that transmission from one generation to the next was a result of respect for parents and society, and adherence to strong values. The absence of an alternative way of living (livelihood) was also found to enforce IK. Finally indigenous knowledge systems ensured food security and upheld the three principles of sustainability: environmental friendliness, social and economic equity, intergenerational and intra-generational equity. The study is brought to a close with recommendations on how the findings could be adapted into development initiatives.