Animal and Poultry Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P Bag X01 Scottsville 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, P Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa.
Trop Anim Health Prod. 2023 Mar 29;55(2):136. doi: 10.1007/s11250-023-03529-z.
Farmers have developed indigenous knowledge (IK) on predictive and adaptation strategies to sustain water security. The objective of the study was to determine factors that influence the integration of IK and conventional knowledge (CK) to ensure water security for livestock. Focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews were used to gather data. Farmers in Musina and uMhlabuyalingana use IK indicators to predict rain for water security. Farmers in uMhlabuyalingana predicted rain using wind movement more than their counterparts in Musina (P < 0.05). Taboos were used (P > 0.05) in both Musina and uMhlabuyalingana to ensure water security. Cultural prohibitions were used more in uMhlabuyalingana to cope with water shortages than in Musina (P < 0.05). Boreholes, home taps and municipal water were not properly maintained (P > 0.05). Socio-economic factors had greater influence on the integration of IK and CK. Males were 2.24 times likely to support integration of IK and CK compared to women. Adults were 7.1 times likely to support integration of IK and CK compared to those that were younger. Farmers were open to the integration of conventional and indigenous knowledge to ensure water security. Promoting the integration of IK and CK enables stakeholders to gain access to valuable information which can, in turn, promote sustainable community development.
农民已经开发出关于预测和适应策略的本土知识 (IK)，以维持水安全。本研究的目的是确定影响 IK 和传统知识 (CK) 整合的因素，以确保牲畜的水安全。使用焦点小组讨论和半结构化访谈收集数据。穆西纳和乌姆赫拉巴尤拉宁加的农民使用 IK 指标来预测雨水以确保水安全。与穆西纳的农民相比，乌姆赫拉巴尤拉宁加的农民更倾向于通过风的移动来预测雨水（P < 0.05）。穆西纳和乌姆赫拉巴尤拉宁加都使用禁忌（P > 0.05）来确保水安全。与穆西纳相比，乌姆赫拉巴尤拉宁加更多地使用文化禁忌来应对水资源短缺（P < 0.05）。水井、家庭水龙头和市政用水没有得到妥善维护（P > 0.05）。社会经济因素对 IK 和 CK 的整合有更大的影响。与女性相比，男性支持 IK 和 CK 整合的可能性高 2.24 倍。与年轻人相比，成年人支持 IK 和 CK 整合的可能性高 7.1 倍。农民愿意整合传统知识和本土知识以确保水安全。促进 IK 和 CK 的整合使利益相关者能够获得有价值的信息，从而促进可持续的社区发展。
