The Exploration of Indigenous Knowledge of Soil and Water Conservation Practices for Agricultural Development: The case of Finfinnee Special Zone Rural Community Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Indigenous knowledge is a local knowledge that is unique to a given culture or society. Soil and water conservation practice using indigenous knowledge is a successful practice since they got tremendous benefit. The objectives of the study were the exploration of the indigenous knowledge in soil and water conservation practices for agricultural development in rural communities of the Finfinnee special zone. The study used cross-sectional design. Data was collected from 85 respondents relevant to the study during the period between March and April 2017. Focus group discussion, interviews and observations were the instruments of the study. The results were presented using quoted phrases/statements, bar chart, percentage, pictures and brief explanations. The finding showed that, people in the study area have good perception; There were types, tools and mechanisms to acquire, share, store and use indigenous knowledge which were weedduu sabaa, seenaa faaruu, walaloo, suunsuma, hibbo-hibbaka, geerarsa, oduu durii odeessii, jigii, ciigoo(sabooka-soorgo- soorko), mammaaksa and sirbba, and the developed framework clearly transformed common sense of the farmers’ engagement with their own indigenous institutions (Gadaa system and Waaqeffanna) However, there were factors affected the indigenous knowledge practice such as the expansion of Finfinnee and urbanization, globalization and nationalization, weakening of indigenous institutions, population growth, lack of mass media and lack of technical know-how of professional and administrative bodies. The study concludes the sense that improves Indigenous knowledge in soil and water conservation practice in acquiring, sharing, storing and usage. The study recommends that all sectors should be involved in institutionalizing the Indigenous knowledge in soil and water conservation practice that may reflect for farmers’ bottom to top practice and future study should consider incorporating various technologies like knowledge based system, case based system, hybrid system for effectiveness and efficiency of Indigenous knowledge in soil and water conservation practices.