Indigenous Knowledge Use and its Constraints in Drought Resilience Building: A Case of Rural Gwembe-Zambia

Abstract

Climate variability and the place of indigenous knowledge as part of disaster risk reduction have been gaining momentum in the recent years. The study was aimed at determining indigenous knowledge practices in agriculture, rainwater harvesting and early warning systems and associated constraints towards drought resilience building. A qualitative approach and a case study design with 140 participants comprising household heads, key informants, and focus group representatives was undertaken from six selected drought prone rural communities of Chief Chipepo and Munyumbwe of Gwembe district. Purposive and convenience sampling was utilized with open-ended in-depth interviews. The study utilized thematic data analysis with the aid of Nvivo Pro 12. Findings were that conservation farming was predominantly perceived as indigenous. Rain-water harvesting was largely limited to dug-out ponds, shallow wells and few weir dams. Indigenous early warning systems involved observations of behavior of plants, animal, insects and celestial bodies and local traditional ceremony called lwiindi for the prediction of weather conditions and providing a que for preparedness. It was concluded that while indigenous knowledge use was existent, socio economic, environmental and institutional related constraints affected its widespread use there by affecting resilience building against future drought events. The study contributes to enrichment of knowledge in indigenous knowledge practices in the stated segments which were context specific but replicable in areas with similar characteristics. Documentation of indigenous practices with potential to enhance drought related resilience building was recommended.