194
Mobilizing these approaches, however, will be difficult. Future research should
consider empirically testing the application of the three avenues—positioning traditional leaders as agricultural champions, integrating traditional and scientific knowledge, and reframing CSA—suggested here. For example, it may be important for
researchers to consider why, to date, there has been limited evidence of efforts to
promote collaboration between agricultural extension services and religious or traditional leaders. Or, in cases where religious groups do promote CSA, studies could
perhaps determine the degree to which this is done in conjunction with sound technical advice and appropriate technologies that are readily available to the congregation. In addition, future research agendas might benefit from testing novel extension
approaches in neighbouring districts, revising the type of training provided to extension workers or, in cases where extension services are inaccessible, consider how
individual “lead” farmers within a community may be trained in adaptation techniques and encouraged to disseminate these innovations to the broader community.
In carrying out such studies, it is essential to emphasize that there is no single
solution, and future research should therefore promote flexibility and an awareness
of local cultural, environmental and socio-economic contexts. Different types of
advice, or alternative framing devices, may need to be adopted when communicating information to diverse cultural groups, or to older versus younger farmers. For
instance, encouraging rational experimentation and innovation is likely to be more
appropriate among young farmers who are more open to new ideas, whereas older
farmers would perhaps respond better to advice that considers the importance of
maintaining livestock as a source of wealth and prestige. In this way, religion and
tradition can play a role in easing the transition to new information and practices.
Paying proper respect to closely held traditional beliefs can help improve the likelihood of CSA measures being adopted, and therefore contribute to reducing the
impacts of climate change and variability on the agricultural sector in southern
Africa.
References
Ambani M, Percy F (2014) Facing uncertainty: the value of climate information for adaptation,
risk reduction and resilience in Africa. CARE International, Nairobi. Retrieved from www.
careclimatechange.org/adaptation-initiatives/alp
Angula MN, Ntombela KP, Samuels MI, Swarts M, Cupido C, Haimbili NE, Menjono-Katjizeu
ME & Hoabes M (2016) Understanding pastoralist’s knowledge of climate change and variability in Arid Namibia and South Africa. In Proceedings of centenary conference of the Society
of South African Geographers: 25–28 Sept 2016, Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch: Research Gate
Barnard J, Manyire H, Tambi E, Bangali S (2015) Barriers to scaling up/out climate smart agriculture and strategies to enhance adoption in Africa. Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa
(FARA), Accra
Berkes F, Colding J, Folke C (2000) Rediscovery of traditional ecological knowledge as adaptive
management. Ecol Appl 10(5):1251–1262
Chioreso E, Munyayi R (2015) Climate smart agriculture. Desert Research Foundation of Namibia,
Windhoek. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3325e/i3325e00.htm
J. Davies et al.
Mobilizing these approaches, however, will be difficult. Future research should
consider empirically testing the application of the three avenues—positioning traditional leaders as agricultural champions, integrating traditional and scientific knowledge, and reframing CSA—suggested here. For example, it may be important for
researchers to consider why, to date, there has been limited evidence of efforts to
promote collaboration between agricultural extension services and religious or traditional leaders. Or, in cases where religious groups do promote CSA, studies could
perhaps determine the degree to which this is done in conjunction with sound technical advice and appropriate technologies that are readily available to the congregation. In addition, future research agendas might benefit from testing novel extension
approaches in neighbouring districts, revising the type of training provided to extension workers or, in cases where extension services are inaccessible, consider how
individual “lead” farmers within a community may be trained in adaptation techniques and encouraged to disseminate these innovations to the broader community.
In carrying out such studies, it is essential to emphasize that there is no single
solution, and future research should therefore promote flexibility and an awareness
of local cultural, environmental and socio-economic contexts. Different types of
advice, or alternative framing devices, may need to be adopted when communicating information to diverse cultural groups, or to older versus younger farmers. For
instance, encouraging rational experimentation and innovation is likely to be more
appropriate among young farmers who are more open to new ideas, whereas older
farmers would perhaps respond better to advice that considers the importance of
maintaining livestock as a source of wealth and prestige. In this way, religion and
tradition can play a role in easing the transition to new information and practices.
Paying proper respect to closely held traditional beliefs can help improve the likelihood of CSA measures being adopted, and therefore contribute to reducing the
impacts of climate change and variability on the agricultural sector in southern
Africa.
References
Ambani M, Percy F (2014) Facing uncertainty: the value of climate information for adaptation,
risk reduction and resilience in Africa. CARE International, Nairobi. Retrieved from www.
careclimatechange.org/adaptation-initiatives/alp
Angula MN, Ntombela KP, Samuels MI, Swarts M, Cupido C, Haimbili NE, Menjono-Katjizeu
ME & Hoabes M (2016) Understanding pastoralist’s knowledge of climate change and variability in Arid Namibia and South Africa. In Proceedings of centenary conference of the Society
of South African Geographers: 25–28 Sept 2016, Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch: Research Gate
Barnard J, Manyire H, Tambi E, Bangali S (2015) Barriers to scaling up/out climate smart agriculture and strategies to enhance adoption in Africa. Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa
(FARA), Accra
Berkes F, Colding J, Folke C (2000) Rediscovery of traditional ecological knowledge as adaptive
management. Ecol Appl 10(5):1251–1262
Chioreso E, Munyayi R (2015) Climate smart agriculture. Desert Research Foundation of Namibia,
Windhoek. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3325e/i3325e00.htm
J. Davies et al.