The role of indigenous knowledge in climate adaptation: experiences with farmer perceptions from climate change project in Sedumbwe Agricultural Camp of Southern Zambia

Abstract

Climate change is a world wide phenomenon that has huge implications on economic, social and ecological challenges to the global community and to smallholder farmers especially in low income countries. In this paper we seek to provide information on the role of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) to climate adaptation based on the experiences with farmer communities from the climate change research project which was implemented in Sedumbwe Agricultural Camp of Southern Zambia. Data were collected mainly through focus group discussions. The paper points out the common indicators used to predict drought/rainfall and how reliable they are. Possible recommendations are also provided on how the IK weather forecasting could be integrated and operationalized in agriculture policies of many countries in the sub Saharan African region to climate adaptation.