In search for methodology for the collection and evaluation of farmers' indigenous environmental knowledge

Abstract

Many of the conventional geographical methods of eliciting indigenous information from farmers are often unsuitable. Therefore this article suggests that pre-testing and evaluation of the conventional methods of eliciting information need to be conducted. Attempt was made particularly to search for the appropriate method of collecting and evaluating farmers' indigenous environmental knowledge in developing countries. The article concludes that information about farmers' knowledge of their environment in developing countries can not be obtained using a 'single-method' approach. An 'integrated-data-acquisition' technique is thereby considered as the appropriate method, the choice of which will largely depend on the researchers' understanding of the people's cultural characteristics, perception and decision-making process.