The value of using rapid rural appraisal techniques to generate and record indigenous knowledge : the case of indigenous vegetables in Uganda

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In recent decades increasing attention has been paid to the idea of sustainable development andin particular to sustainable agricultural practices. Studiesin the seventies, eighties and ninetiesindicatedthatmanyresource-poorfarmerswerepractisinglowexternalinput sustainable practices by virtue of their resource-poor status. Despite this status these farmers weredevelopingsustainablepractisesthatenabledthemtosurviveeventheharshest conditions.Itwasbelievedthatanunderstandingoftheirlocalpracticesandassociated knowledge, called indigenoustechnical knowledge by conventional scientists, could provide agricultural development workers with a greater understanding of how to achieve sustainable agricultural development. This awareness would ensurethe optimal and sustainable use of local livelihood sources. Following this interest a number of complementary research methods were developedto generate andrecord indigenous knowledge. Many ofthese methodsfall withintheparticipatoryresearchparadigmofthe Social Sciences. Usingoneoftheearlier complementary methods, Rapid Rural Appraisal(RRA),thisstudyconsidersitsvalueasa methodtocollectindigenousknowledgeaboutthelocalcultivationanduseofindigenous vegetables in a parish in Uganda. The basic RRA tools are described and the position of RRA within the participatory research paradigm is discussed, indicating that the method probably has a lower-middle of the road position when placed on a continuum of participation. In this study the use of the method enabled the generation of information relating to the context in whichagriculture waspractisedintheparish;specificallytheproductionanduseofplants known as indigenous vegetables. At the same time the tools enabled a broad understanding of indigenous knowledge regarding the production, associated practises and beliefs, as well astheuseofindigenousvegetablesinthe parish. Thisinformationincludedtechnical and socio-culturalinformationindicatingthatindigenousknowledgeisnotonlyabouttechnical knowledge.In recent years debate has emerged with regard to the value, use and misuse of indigenousknowledge.Thedebatehasquestionedtheabilityofvariousparticipatory complementary methods to accurately generate and record this knowledge. One of the main concernsisthatmostofthesemethods,likethoseassociatedwiththequantitativeand qualitative paradigms, tend to have inherent biases which detract from their value. Reflection ontheuseofRRAintheUgandanstudyindicatedthatitwassubjecttoanumberof contextual constraints, namely: the assumption and treatment of indigenous knowledge as a stock of knowledge which can neatly conform to scientific categorisation; the unawareness of thepowerladeninteractionsinwhichknowledgeisgenerated;theconsequencesoflocal powerstrugglesonthegenerationofknowledge;thesignificancethatthepresenceof researchers duringtheknowledge generating process has ontheresultant knowledge;the relevance of the time, timing and location where knowledge is generated; and the effect thatlocal social differences, such as gender, age, wealth, class, etc. have on who has access to what sort of knowledge. More recently developed and refined methods such as Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Participatory Technology Development (PTD) include some tools and strategies that overcome some of these constraints. However, these methods are often subject to similar constraints, given the context in which they are used. In the final analysis, theuseoftheRRAmethodinUgandaisconsideredtobeausefultoolforcollecting contextualdataandindigenousknowledgegiventhecircumstancesin whichit wasused. Thesecircumstancesincludedfinancialconstraints,alackofskillsinthecomplementary methods withintheresearchteam,insufficienttime and otherresources. These hindrances are common in many agricultural development contexts. Based on the results of the study it is recommendedthat wherecircumstances permitit, participatory methodssuch as PRA and PTD should be used. However, users must remain aware that these methods can suffer from somecontextualconstraintsiftheyarenotused withcareandifthisuseisnotregularly reflected upon. Despite a number of shortcomings, the use of the RRA method indicated that itisasuitable methodincertaincontexts.Italsoindicatedthatindigenousknowledgeis extremely important for agricultural development, but that care must be taken as to how it is generated, understood,recorded and subsequently used. The data generated by means of theRRAmethodenabledsomepreliminaryreflectionsonthecurrentunderstandingof indigenous knowledge. These were reflections on the following: it is a system of knowledge; it originates in and is exclusive to a particular location; it has the ability to include knowledge developedinotherlocations;anditisdeeplyentwinedwithinthecontextinwhichitis developed.Inconclusionanumberofpossibleareasforfutureresearchonindigenous knowledge and participatory methods are identified which will allow us to develop a deeper understandingofthevalueofparticipatorymethodsandthesignificanceofindigenous knowledge.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University