Using local knowledge in planning agricultural industries

Rural development can be better advanced through reverses of learning among professionals and the encouragement of joint use of knowledge derived from local peoples and professional outsiders. Understanding the descriptive and conceptual terms of rural people can provide scientific points of departure for scientific investigation which may be more practical and useful than the externally determined categories of outsider's knowledge. People's land and resource classification has its own dynamics which is inextricably linked with their socio-cultural life and livelihood. Agricultural production is both an ecological and economic adaptation that utilizes the diversity of micro-environment combined with judicious risk-taking as commercial agriculture penetrated the community.

There are now hundreds of studies which have recorded indigenous knowledge in many countries. A review of these documents reveals useful insights in how indigenous knowledge and scientific research can benefit from one another. Despite improvements in crop and livestock production technologies, many farmers do not adopt these innovations. Research indicates that the farmers' decisions to reject an innovation are often rational when viewed through the indigenous system. Many farming systems are based on intimate knowledge of soils, vegetation, climate, and pests. They also reflect strategies that allow the farmer to avoid perceived input, output and marketing risks or uncertainties. Understanding these perceived risks and ways of avoiding them can be an important first step towards fruitful partnerships between development professionals and farmers.