TITLE:
Indigenous Knowledge Use and its Constraints in Drought Resilience Building: A Case of Rural Gwembe-Zambia
AUTHORS:
Joan B. Mwanza, Evaristo Nsenduluka, Overson Shumba
KEYWORDS:
Indigenous Knowledge, Drought Resilience Building, Agricultural Practices, Early Warning Systems, Rain Water Harvesting
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.12 No.1,
January
30,
2024
ABSTRACT: Climate variability and the place of indigenous knowledge as part of
disaster risk reduction have been gaining momentum in the recent years. The study was aimed at
determining indigenous knowledge practices in agriculture, rainwater harvesting
and early warning systems and associated constraints towards drought resilience
building. A qualitative approach and a case study design with 140 participants
comprising household heads, key informants, and focus group representatives was
undertaken from six selected drought prone rural communities of Chief Chipepo and
Munyumbwe of Gwembe district. Purposive and convenience sampling was utilized
with open-ended in-depth interviews. The study utilized thematic data analysis
with the aid of Nvivo Pro 12. Findings were that conservation farming was
predominantly perceived as indigenous. Rain-water harvesting was largely
limited to dug-out ponds, shallow wells and few weir dams. Indigenous early
warning systems involved observations of behavior of plants, animal, insects
and celestial bodies and local traditional
ceremony called lwiindi for the
prediction of weather conditions and providing a que for preparedness.
It was concluded that while indigenous knowledge use was existent, socio
economic, environmental and institutional related constraints affected its
widespread use there by affecting resilience building against future drought
events. The study contributes to
enrichment of knowledge in indigenous knowledge practices in the stated
segments which were context specific but replicable in areas with similar
characteristics. Documentation of indigenous practices with potential to
enhance drought related resilience building was recommended.