IK: Other Ways of Knowing (Journal)
Not a member yet
127 research outputs found
Sort by
Stepping Up Traditional Knowledge and Technologies for Higher Women Employment and Income: A Case of Women Milk Producers in Arumeru and Hai Districts in Tanzania
Get PDFThis study sheds light on the potential benefits of stepping up the use of indigenous knowledge for women milk producers in rural areas of the Arumeru and Hai districts. The findings indicate that milk is socially and traditionally regarded as a good produced by women since they have the largest stake in its management at the household level. Income differences were also witnessed in both districts. Women engaged in milk production faced challenges such as: low milk prices and poor infrastructures—especially in regards to rural roads, lack/shortage of veterinary services, lack of access to capital, high costs of animal needs, pests and diseases affecting productivity of the livestock, and poor cow breeds. Findings show that indigenous knowledge of milk production, processing, value addition, and marketing in the Hai District was advanced compared to the Arumeru District. The study recommends women engaged in dairy projects should be trained with knowledge on the best practices using improved indigenous knowledge and the resources available in their areas.
A Review of The Indigenous Peoples of Mesoamerica and Central America: Their Societies, Cultures, and Histories
Get PDFStepping up Indigenous Knowledge and Technologies for Higher Incomes for Women in Rural Tanzania: A Case of Food Processing and Storage
Get PDFThis study addresses various indigenous technology and knowledge-based food processing and storage methods used by rural women farming in Tanzania, focusing on the ways these can be improved for higher incomes. Primary data collected in June 2016 from 103 small-scale women farming in Dodoma, Iringa, and Mbeya were analyzed with secondary data in order to meet the study objectives. We found that the food processing activities of the women farming in these areas are largely primary— they are meant to facilitate transportation and/or storage and are accomplished using hands. The storage infrastructure is characterized by traditional methods, and sacks are the most widely used storage vessel. Farmers store the food crops for food security and to sell at a higher price later. The regression results revealed that poor storage facilities discourage increased farm production; therefore, efforts to achieve higher farm production should be accompanied by the improvement of indigenous farmers\u27 storage facilities. Farmers themselves prefer hermetically sealed storage facilities such as drums and hermetic bags.
Challenges in Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge Systems through Creation of Employment for Rural Women in Tanzania: The Case Study of Barabaig Leather Products in Manyara Region
Get PDFThis study examines opportunities and challenges in harnessing indigenous knowledge (IK) for employment creation and poverty reduction in rural Tanzania. The study is underpinned by literature review and descriptive analysis focusing on leather products made by Barabaig women in Hanang, Tanzania. During the study, a sample of one hundred households was selected and interviewed. Data were collected from the administered interviews that were structured like a questionnaire. The literature details the challenges IK faces, including: the threat of extinction due to lack of recording, with much focus on IK that has a direct cash benefit only and the ignored "non-cash" knowledge; considered as part of a residual, traditional, and backward way of life that is easily brushed off on the ground that it cannot be trusted; and not inclusive. The IK drive in Tanzania lacks one unifying policy. Inadequate tanning training, expensive modern tanning inputs, low quality hides and skins associated with poor animal husbandry, poor quality local inputs and tools, low quality output, and lack of markets are among the inhibiting factors faced by Barabaig women using IK to create leather products. Poor roads, inadequate supply of clean water and health services, and lack of electricity is another set of hurdles Barabaig women face. Apart from leather products, Barabaig women also produce other traditional products such as blankets, shawls, bracelets, and neck and waist ornaments. This study argues that Tanzania needs a comprehensive IK policy, and that local governments are better custodians of IK than the central government. There is a need to scale up training on tanning technology, improve animal husbandry, increase the availability of affordable chemical and non-chemical inputs, unlock marketing constraints, encourage producer associations/groups, and address rural bottlenecks such as poor roads, access to electricity, and long distance travel for water and healthcare services.