Indigenous knowledge and modern sciences: complementary wisdom to help farmers: combining two knowledge systems to help sustain agricultural production in South Africa
Summary. Rural smallholder farmers in South Africa have traditionally used indigenous knowledge systems—observing animal behavior, plants, and atmospheric conditions—to guide farming practices and predict seasonal quality. Climate variability and change have made these traditional indicators unreliable. The paper argues for combining indigenous knowledge with modern science to sustain agricultural production amid shifting environmental conditions.
Cite this article
Council, H. S. R.. (2026). Indigenous knowledge and modern sciences: complementary wisdom to help farmers: combining two knowledge systems to help sustain agricultural production in South Africa. Human Science Research Council SA. https://doi.org/10.14749/32378118
Council, Human Sciences Research. “Indigenous knowledge and modern sciences: complementary wisdom to help farmers: combining two knowledge systems to help sustain agricultural production in South Africa.” Human Science Research Council SA, 2026. https://doi.org/10.14749/32378118.
Council, Human Sciences Research. 2026. “Indigenous knowledge and modern sciences: complementary wisdom to help farmers: combining two knowledge systems to help sustain agricultural production in South Africa.” Human Science Research Council SA. https://doi.org/10.14749/32378118.
@article{council-2026-indigenous-knowledge-modern-sciences-complementary,
title = {Indigenous knowledge and modern sciences: complementary wisdom to help farmers: combining two knowledge systems to help sustain agricultural production in South Africa},
author = {Human Sciences Research Council},
journal = {Human Science Research Council SA},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.14749/32378118},
url = {https://doi.org/10.14749/32378118}
}
TY - JOUR TI - Indigenous knowledge and modern sciences: complementary wisdom to help farmers: combining two knowledge systems to help sustain agricultural production in South Africa AU - Human Sciences Research Council JO - Human Science Research Council SA PY - 2026 DO - 10.14749/32378118 UR - https://doi.org/10.14749/32378118 ER -
Details
- DOI
- 10.14749/32378118
- Countries
- South Africa
- Regions
- Africa
- Categories
- indigenous-innovation, food-systems, climate-and-environment, general-innovation
- Added
- 2026-06-01