An Assessment of rice-based farmers’ indigenous land preparation, crop establishment and soil fertility maintenance practices in Sierra Leone.
Journal Title: IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science - Year 2018, Vol 23, Issue 1
Abstract
Indigenous farmers‟ knowledge forms a very significant source of farming techniques amongst rice farmers in rural communities. This study was conducted to identify and assess those rice-based farmers‟ indigenous knowledge systems and practices on rice production in rural Sierra Leone focusing on land preparation, crop establishment and soil maintenance practicesand their potential to enhance smallholder farmers‟ livelihoods. The results show that a significant proportion of rice farmers in Sierra Leone use the traditional practice of slash-and-burn for land preparation. Some of the indicators used by farmers to determine favourable times for their various activities especially land preparation and cropestablishment are highly dependent on weather conditions: (for example when the sun becomes very hot, after the Harmattan period1 , when deciduous trees drop their leaves, and after first 2-3 rains planting starts). Allowing land to fallow, slash and burn, planting of leguminous crops, addition of organic matter, and that God fertilizes the soil for them were among the soil fertility maintenance reported in all the surveyed ecologies. Conclusively, there is the need for synergy between improved technologies and farmers‟ indigenous practices, especially increasing availability, accessibility and affordability of agro inputs, the provision of machinery and micro credit aidfor increased production.
Authors and Affiliations
Finda B. Jenkins, Adam Sheka Kanu, Nazir Mahmood, Moses Gborie, Kemoh Bangura, Henry M. S Kargbo
Keywords
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- EP ID EP417022
- DOI 10.9790/0837-2301067482.
- Views 78
- Downloads 0
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