University of Gondar College of Social Sciences and the Humanities Department of Social Anthropology MA program in Social Anthropology Implications of Indigenous Knowledge in Small-Scale Farming for Rural Agricultural Development in Amhara National Regional State, Awi Zone: The Case of Guangua Woreda A thesis Submitted to the Department of Social Anthropology for the Partial Fulfillment to the Requirements for the MA Degree in Social Anthropology By: Berhanu Matebie Advisor: Balew Baye (PhD) June, 2017 Gondar, Ethiopia Declaration This thesis is based on results of original research carried out by the researcher between August 2016 and June 2017. Where there is need for references to existing works, they are appropriately made. Any errors that remain or are omitted are the responsibility of the researcher. Name of the researcher: ________________________________ Signature: ___________________________________________ Date: _______________________________________________ This thesis has submitted for examination with my approval as advisor. Name of the advisor: ____________________________________ Signature: _____________________________________________ Date: _________________________________________________ i University of Gondar Department of Social Anthropology MA in Social Anthropology This is to certify that the thesis prepared by Berhanu Matebie entitled as “Implications of Indigenous Knowledge in Small-Scale Farming for Rural Agricultural Development in Awi zone: The Case of Guangua Woreda” which is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master is Social Anthropology, complies with the regulation of the university and meets the accepted standard with respect to originality and quality. Approved by the Board of Examiners: Approved by the Board of Examiners: __________________ __________________ ______________________ Chairman Signature Date ____________________ _________________ ____________________ External examiner Signature Date ______________________ __________________ ___________________ Internal examiner Signature Date ii Acknowledgments Firstly, I would like to express my deep and great respect and appreciation to my advisor Dr. Balew Baye for his comfortable, smiling and inviting gestures, constructive comments, valuable suggestions, and continuous encouragement. Secondly, I would like to thank Guangua Woreda Administration, Guangua Woreda Office of Agriculture, and Guangua Woreda Office of Environmental Protection and Land administration and Use, together with their staff members for their co-operation and provision of the required information. Thirdly, I would like to extend my thanks to all concerned Gungua woreda inhabitants for their assistance in different aspects during my thesis work. Fourthly, I am grateful to thank my brothers’ student Muluneh Matebie and student Gedifaw Matebie for their moral and special support during my data collection. Five sly, I am very grateful to all my class mates namely Amlaku Alemu, Nahom Girma and Abinet Abebe who gave me moral and technical support. Sexily, I am also thanks all those who were directly or indirectly helped me while I was working on this thesis. Finally, I would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Getu Ambayie, Dr. Mussie Yibabe, and Mr. Getaneh Belayneh (Expert in Guangua Woreda Administration and Security Office), Mr. Wondie W/berhan (teacher in Guangua Woreda) and Mr. Amisayie Alem (Expert in Guangua Woreda Environmental Protection and Land Administration and Use Office) for their provision of necessary materials, advice, encouragement and moral support throughout my research work. Though this paper is realized via the contribution of the above acknowledged individuals and institutions, it is the researcher’s responsibility to take all the risks concerning the mistakes of this paper (if any problems found). iii Abstract Indigenous knowledge provides the basis for local-level decision-making about many fundamental aspects of day-to-day life. As most of the rural people’s subsistence is emanated from agriculture, it properly comprises the largest collection of indigenous practices in its sectors such as crop production, soil and water conservation and livestock production. Ethiopia is the origin of the variety of indigenous crops and diverse farming practices which have potentials to boost agricultural production. A growing awareness of the value of indigenous knowledge has prompted calls for its use within agricultural development. However, indigenous knowledge is still misrepresented in agricultural development intervention programs in Ethiopia, due to lack of the scholarly conducted researches which can provide information as base for policy formulation. Consequently, this research investigated the implications of indigenous knowledge in in small scale farming for rural agricultural development in Amhara National Regional State in the case of Guangua woreda. To this effort, mixed research approach has been employed. The combination of the two methods is important to obtain accurate and realistic picture of information by overcoming possible shortcomings of using each method alone. The research was concurrent in terms of design in which qualitative and quantitative data were collected correspondingly and has been triangulated during analysis. Purposive sampling technique has been employed to select the study areas and participants for qualitative approach. While systematic random sampling technique has been used to select respondents for survey. Sample size for survey has been determined by using proportional random sampling technique. Totally, 407 participants were selected for both qualitative and quantitative data collections. The data has been collected through observation, survey, FGD, KII and document analysis. The collected data were analyzed based on methods used to generate. Accordingly, qualitative data were analyzed via thematic analysis while quantitative data were analyzed via descriptive and inferential statistics. This study identified that, farmers of the study area has developed indigenous soil fertility status indicators of their farm lands. In doing so, farmers have been using soil fertility conservation mechanisms such as cutting canal, unplowed strips and stone bunds/terracing if they found their fertility status is high. While they have been using indigenous soil fertility improvement mechanism like manure, dung, crop residue, fallowing, mixed cropping and crop rotation if they consider their land fertility status is low. Manure was rated as to be important than other soil fertility improvement mechanisms. Likewise, cutting canal was rated as the most important soil fertility conservation mechanism. It was also explored that, as farmers have developed various indigenous techniques to control crop herbs and pests which has comparative advantage over modern techniques. In spite of this, the majority of respondents 73.7% have used modern pest/weed protection techniques due to different constraints’. As 51.6% of the respondents identified, the main source of information regarding indigenous agricultural knowledge is community via traditional ways knowledge transfer. Despite potentials to be utilized for boosting rural agricultural development, development agent’s misperception, little academic coverage and agricultural policy related problems were extracted as challenges that have been facing IAK. To harness the strengths of the both knowledge systems for enhanced rural agricultural development, the study suggested that establishing participatory on farm research center and multiple evidence base approach as ways of integrating IAK with modern knowledge. iv Table of Contents Contents Pages Declaration ...................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgments.........................................................................................................................iii Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ..............................................................................................................................viii List of figures ................................................................................................................................ ix Acronyms ....................................................................................................................................... x CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................ 1 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.1. Background of the Study ................................................................................................. 1 1.2. Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................ 3 1.3. Objectives of the Study ................................................................................................... 5 1.3.1. General Objective .................................................................................................... 5 1.3.2. Specific Objectives .................................................................................................. 5 1.4. Significance of the Study ...............................................................................................