communities), which is alienated and removed from IKS due to the power of
modernity and urbanisation (Eyong 2007). Knowledge erosion is a threat, as it
becomes not only difficult to conserve what we do not know, but also the rapid
degrading of natural resources. It, therefore, becomes essential and necessary that a
method is established to “go back in time” and establish solutions based on the past
to the current challenges, in order to ensure a good future and sustainability of the
resources that are currently utilised for day-to-day survival (Eyong 2007).
Briggs (2013) identifies the following challenges that are experienced in the
usage of IK systems in sustainable development:
• Indigenous knowledge is locally and geographically specific
• The integration of IKS with formal science
These challenges were investigated further in this study as it seeks to establish
and find a workable solution to them. Due to IKS being of a historic nature it may be
beneficial to find a manner in which it could be integrated into the current agricultural practices and to identify best practices in which IKS could be elevated from
local to regional and, perhaps, to national practices. The manner in which natural
resources are currently consumed is starting to become a major concern globally, as
the demand for resources is increasingly higher than the capacity of production.
Using IK as an alternative, an additional or combined knowledge system is able to
yield benefits for sustainable agriculture and create alternatives and options in
ensuring the sustainability of resources and food security in communities. Environmental changes that are currently being experienced may be best countered by
diversified indigenous survival strategies and adaptive responses developed at a
household level and at community levels (Eyong 2007).
Aluma (2004) states that “discussions on agriculture and food security (or rural
livelihoods as a whole) reveal that the primary drivers for local change are a
deteriorating natural resource base (loss of natural habitat, deforestation, soil degradation), declining agriculture productivity, loss of indigenous cultivation practices,
and conflicts over access to and the utilisation of natural resources”. The usage of
IKS also enables smaller farmers to engage in sustainable agricultural practices and
be instrumental in the increase of food security in local communities and in the
country.
This study investigated the key conceptual elements of IKS, namely sustainable
agriculture and food security by understanding the impact thereof and the relationship they have on each other. The impact of IKS on sustainable development may be
deemed beneficial or detrimental in addressing the current sustainability issues that
most rural communities are experiencing, especially in the area of encouraging and
implementing sustainable agriculture. In order to achieve a beneficial impact,
solutions need to be identified to deal with establishing the importance and relevance
of IKS and to introduce an effective method to integrate IKS in modern living,
preserve the knowledge and experiences in order to use it effectively in food
security, as well as to develop and apply the principles of sustainable agriculture.
186
J. Seko et al.
modernity and urbanisation (Eyong 2007). Knowledge erosion is a threat, as it
becomes not only difficult to conserve what we do not know, but also the rapid
degrading of natural resources. It, therefore, becomes essential and necessary that a
method is established to “go back in time” and establish solutions based on the past
to the current challenges, in order to ensure a good future and sustainability of the
resources that are currently utilised for day-to-day survival (Eyong 2007).
Briggs (2013) identifies the following challenges that are experienced in the
usage of IK systems in sustainable development:
• Indigenous knowledge is locally and geographically specific
• The integration of IKS with formal science
These challenges were investigated further in this study as it seeks to establish
and find a workable solution to them. Due to IKS being of a historic nature it may be
beneficial to find a manner in which it could be integrated into the current agricultural practices and to identify best practices in which IKS could be elevated from
local to regional and, perhaps, to national practices. The manner in which natural
resources are currently consumed is starting to become a major concern globally, as
the demand for resources is increasingly higher than the capacity of production.
Using IK as an alternative, an additional or combined knowledge system is able to
yield benefits for sustainable agriculture and create alternatives and options in
ensuring the sustainability of resources and food security in communities. Environmental changes that are currently being experienced may be best countered by
diversified indigenous survival strategies and adaptive responses developed at a
household level and at community levels (Eyong 2007).
Aluma (2004) states that “discussions on agriculture and food security (or rural
livelihoods as a whole) reveal that the primary drivers for local change are a
deteriorating natural resource base (loss of natural habitat, deforestation, soil degradation), declining agriculture productivity, loss of indigenous cultivation practices,
and conflicts over access to and the utilisation of natural resources”. The usage of
IKS also enables smaller farmers to engage in sustainable agricultural practices and
be instrumental in the increase of food security in local communities and in the
country.
This study investigated the key conceptual elements of IKS, namely sustainable
agriculture and food security by understanding the impact thereof and the relationship they have on each other. The impact of IKS on sustainable development may be
deemed beneficial or detrimental in addressing the current sustainability issues that
most rural communities are experiencing, especially in the area of encouraging and
implementing sustainable agriculture. In order to achieve a beneficial impact,
solutions need to be identified to deal with establishing the importance and relevance
of IKS and to introduce an effective method to integrate IKS in modern living,
preserve the knowledge and experiences in order to use it effectively in food
security, as well as to develop and apply the principles of sustainable agriculture.
186
J. Seko et al.