FAO
FSN Forum

DISCUSSION No. 151   •   FSN Forum digest No. 1351

Addressing water scarcity in agriculture: how can indigenous or traditional practices help?

until 03 July 2018

iconHow to participate

Send your contribution to
FSN-moderator@fao.org
or post it on the
FSN Forum website www.fao.org/fsnforum

© FAO

Dear Members,

Today we would like to share with you the first comments received for the online discussion Addressing water scarcity in agriculture: how can indigenous or traditional practices help?

Please read the short summaries below or visit the discussion page to access the full versions.

With this discussion, we aim at exploring the role that indigenous and traditional practices can play to support climate change adaptation efforts and reduce water scarcity in agriculture.

In addition, we also invite you to reflect on the terminology to neutrally label these indigenous or traditional practices.

Please see the full introduction to this online discussion in English, French or Spanish on the FSN Forum website.

As always, you can take part in the exchange by posting your comment directly online in either English, French or Spanish or by sending an email to FSN-moderator@fao.org.

Looking forward to your comments,

Your FSN Forum team

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED

iconPradip Dey, ICAR-AICRP (STCR), Indian Institute of Soil Science, India

Pradip argues that the emerging global scenario suggests that neither scientific technologies nor traditional knowledge alone can completely solve the threats to food and nutrition security challenges emanating from climate change but that a fusion of the two can.

Read the contribution

iconKuruppacharil V. Peter, Kerala Agricultural University, India

Kuruppacharil introduces us to Pitcher irrigation, an indigenous system of irrigation used in Northern Kerala during summer for plantation crops like coconut, cocoa and areca nut. 
This techniques consists of a porous earthen pot which can carry 5-10 litres of water. A hole is made at the bottom plugged by a long wig through which water droplets move to the areas that need to be watered.

Read the contribution

iconBill Butterworth, Land Research Ltd, UK

Bill informs us that composts made from urban wastes will hold between five and ten times their own weight of water and could be used as renewable resource.

Read the contribution

iconEgo Lemos, Permaculture Timor-Lorosa'e, Timor-Leste

Ego shares information (a video and a PowerPoint presentation) on traditional water conservation practices used in Timor-Leste.

Read the contribution

iconDr. Amanullah, University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan

He lists aspects that are important to reduce water consumption and waste.

Read the contribution

iconKudzai Bhunu, WatPro Pvt Ltd, Zimbabwe

Kudzai argues that attitudes of communities often stand in the way of successful water preservation and irrigation development. He sees a lack of political will and funding challenges as the main causes.

Read the contribution

iconSonali Phate, Kamalnayan Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation, India

Sonali focuses on improving ground water recharge in the Wardha district in Maharashtra, India, sharing first-hand experience of farmers with different preservation techniques.

Read the contribution

iconBenjamin Mapani, University of Namibia, Namibia

Benjamin highlights that the abandonment of indigenous seed crop strains in favour of commercial hybrids has led to a loss of resources by farmers.

Read the contribution

www.fao.org/fsnforum