Women’s Contribution to Indigenous Knowledge Food Security in the Lokaleng village, North West Province, South Africa

Abstract

There is an increasing trend of directing food security policies toward empowering women, because, studies have found that indigenous knowledge among women plays a significant role in reducing poverty and food insecurity in their rural households. Although South Africa is considered food secure, many households still suffer from food insecurity. This study intends to investigate women’s contribution to indigenous knowledge of food security. This study employs a qualitative approach and exploratory research design to solve the research objective. Thirty participants took part in the study and data was collected using semi-structured and unstructured interviews. Data analysis was thematic and themes identified were: indigenous knowledge technologies, indigenous food types and contribution to food security. The study found that most women used indigenous technologies, such as animal traction, plough-pull by donkey, kraal manure and cow dung to improve food security. Women also used paraffin, wild onion and “sunlight” bar soap mixture solution to control pests. However, indigenous knowledge of food security might disappear because young people (women) in the community have no interest in indigenous knowledge due to modernisation. Workshops and seminars could be organised to train, empower and educate women on indigenous knowledge and food security. Previous Article