The study discusses use of indigenous knowledge as a strategy for climate change adaptation among farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. The local farmers in this region through the indigenous knowledge systems have developed and implemented extensive adaptation strategies that have enabled them reduce vulnerability to climate variability and change over the years. However, this knowledge is rarely taken into consideration in the design and implementation of modern mitigation and adaptation strategies. This paper highlights some indigenous adaptation strategies that have been practiced in sub-Saharan Africa and the benefits of integrating such indigenous knowledge into formal climate change adaptation strategies. The study recommends the need to incorporate indigenous knowledge into climate change policies that can lead to the development of effective adaptation strategies that are cost-effective, participatory and sustainable.
The objective of the study was to determine the effect of climate-smart integrated fertilizer management on proximate qualities and lycopene contents of three watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)varieties grown in sandy loam soil. The experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of the Department of Agricultural Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka between the months of Augustto October 2017cropping season. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design, with three replications, three main plots (Citrullus lanatus varieties (Sugar baby, Koalack and Charleston grey))and six sub-plots (fertilization treatments). Climate-smart integrated fertilizer considered was combination of Goat manure (GM) and Nitrogen Phosphorus PotassiumNPK15: 15: 15 fertilizer which is regarded as most nutrient-rich fertilizer with climate change mitigation and adaptation potential. The study found that the pH of the watermelon varieties were statistically similar and that Charleston grey treated with 50 kg ha-1NPK + 15 t ha-1GM had the highest interactive effect on pH value which was statistically similar with 100 kg ha-1NPK + 10 t ha-1GM treatment. It was discovered that Koalack variety had the highest moisture contents when treated with 100 kg ha-1NPK + 10 t ha-1GM, crude protein content when treated with 150 kg ha-1NPK + 5 t ha-1GM, crude fibre content when treated with 20 t ha-1GM, ether extract and total soluble solid contents when treated with 50 kg ha-1NPK + 15 t ha-1GM. For the lycopene content, it was found that Sugar baby variety had the highest mean value (0.61g/100g) when compared with Charleston grey and Koalack varieties. Sugar baby variety treated with 20t/ha-1GM had highest (0.89g/100g) interactive effect when compared with other varieties and fertilizer treatments. In conclusion, the proximate qualities and lycopene contents of the three varieties increased with the increase in the amount of GM contents of the fertilizer combinations in sandy loam soil. Climate-smart integrated fertilizer improves the proximate qualities of Koalack variety and the lycopene contents of Sugar baby variety more than in other varieties grown in the same sandy loam soil. Therefore, climate-smart integrated fertilizer is recommended for the production of the identified Citrullus lanatus varieties as a nutrition sensitive production strategy in sandy loam soils by farmers in study area.
Sustaining soil and water resources for improved agricultural production requires improved capacity of relevant stakeholders. The study aimed to ascertain this capacity in terms of perceived knowledge and importance of selected soil and water conservation (SWC) practices amongst farmers and extension agents (EAs) in the Eastern region of Nigeria. Data were collected from 101 farmers and 66 EAs using questionnaire instruments and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that both EAs and farmers were knowledgeable in most of the SWC studied as well as perceived the practices as very important. However, the EAs had more knowledge and perceived these practices as more important than farmers. Farmers did not adopt some SWC practices which were capital intensive or which they were not knowledgeable in. There were significant differences in the perceived knowledge and perceived importance of SWC practices between farmers and EAs in few SWC practices that were studied. Based on the key findings from the study, it was recommended that farmers need to be regularly trained by EAs using integrated methods in order to increase their capabilities in SWC practices. On the other hand, EAs also need to update their own skills through short courses and training in extension methods.
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