Indigenous knowledge and innovative practices to cope with impacts of climate change on small-scale farming in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to describe the indigenous and innovative practices adopted by the small-scale farmers to cope with the impacts of climate change hazards on subsistence farming. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected through focus group discussions with 72 small-scale farmers from a rural community in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The discussions were analysed through verbatim transcripts and content analysis. Findings The study results show the farmers’ understanding of climate change variability and its hazards in the form of rainfall scarcity and excessively increased temperature, which are responsible for a declining production of indigenous crops. It has also been found that in the face of these hazards, the farmers experience low crop yields, which cannot provide the household food requirements. However, the small-scale farmers use a combination of local and innovative knowledge and skills to improve their crop production. They have adopted the indigenous adaptation mechanisms, which include rainfall prediction, preparation of the gardens, change of crops and the planting season to ensure better crop yields. The farmers also adopted innovative adaptation practices such as the use of fertilisers, growing of exotic crops and use of extension officers’ guidance and skills to minimise the risks and maximise the chances of resilient crop production. Research limitations/implications This paper describes the farmers’ ability to use the indigenous and innovative adaptation practices. It is only focused on the farmers’ knowledge and skills other than the extension officers’ skills. Originality/value The adaptation practices reported in the study fall within the adaptation and mitigation systems stipulated in the South African National Climate Change Strategy to assist the small-scale farmers grow and maintain the crops to improve production and minimise the risks, thus ensuring food security under observable harsh climate hazards.

Translating Indigenous Knowledge into Actionable Climate-Change Adaption Strategies: A Case Study of Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality, Free State Province, South Africa

“…These limitations can vary considerably across different communities, cultures, and countries. The following subsections (Sections 2.1.1 and 2.1.2) provide a literature-based overview of how some of these factors impact the translation of IK into action-oriented climate-smart adaptation strategies, and there is considerable potential to achieve this in South Africa [16,17] and other developing countries, worldwide [18][19][20][21].…”

Reimagining STEM Education in South Africa: Leveraging Indigenous Knowledge Systems Through the M-Know Model for Curriculum Enhancement

“…In the agricultural sector, for instance, smallholder farming communities in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, and other provinces in South Africa depend on a combination of IK and skills to improve their crop production and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change and food insecurity (Rankoana, 2022). Local farmers employ IK and adaptation mechanisms in rainfall prediction, preparation of the gardens, change of crops, and planting season to ensure better crop yields (Rankoana, 2022).…”

“…In the agricultural sector, for instance, smallholder farming communities in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, and other provinces in South Africa depend on a combination of IK and skills to improve their crop production and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change and food insecurity (Rankoana, 2022). Local farmers employ IK and adaptation mechanisms in rainfall prediction, preparation of the gardens, change of crops, and planting season to ensure better crop yields (Rankoana, 2022). Earlier research conducted by Mapfumo et al (2016) and Nwokocha (2020) found that indigenous communities in South Africa used their vast IK, along with local biological and geographical indicators of seasonal forecasts, to make major strategic, tactical, and operational decisions regarding crop production and management of food stocks in the face of climate change.…”

Temporal dynamics of scout release behaviour of termitophagous ponerine ant, Megaponera analis

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