Indigenous Knowledge in Ethiopia: The Untapped Resource

Tesfahun Fenta Coordinator, PROLINNOVA-Ethiopia

Knowledge
KNOWLEDGE
is EXPERIENCE , EVRYTHING ELSE IS INFORMATION Albert EINSTEIN

KNOWLEDGE Knowledge (whether indigenous or non-indigenous) is associated with practical experience and skill in solving a particular problem while holding information does not necessary endow one with solving a particular problem.

Definition of IK
Indigenous Knowledge (IK) is the local knowledge. Knowledge that is unique to a given culture or society. It is the basis for local-level decision making in agriculture, health care, food preparation, education, natural resource management, and a host of other activities in rural communities. (Warren 1991). Source: World Bank Bulletin 1998

Why IK?

IK can provide problem solving communities, especially the poor.

strategies

for

local

Up to 2/3 of the world population depend on foods provided through IK of species and farming systems (RATI, 1994) e.g. 90% of food in sub-Saharan Africa is produced using customary farming system. Learning from IK can improve understanding of local communities

Why Contd

Understanding IK can increase responsiveness to clients Building on local experiences, judgments and practices can increase the impact of a development program beyond cost effective delivery of stages Indigenous approach to development leads to sustainability creating sense of ownership. It can provide a building block for the empowerment of the poor.

IK and Innovation

Local innovation refers to the dynamics of indigenous knowledge, which is the knowledge that grows within a social group, incorporating learning from own experience over generations but also knowledge that was gained at some time from other sources but has been completely internalized within the local ways of thinking and doing. Local innovation is the process through which individuals or groups discover or develop new and better: ways of managing resources, building on and expanding the boundaries of their indigenous knowledge Successful local innovations often involve new ways of community organization, or new ways of stakeholder interaction.

IK and Bioprospecting
Global 119 drugs developed and on the market today 74% were discovered from a pool of traditional herbal medicine.

Annual world market for medicines derived from medicinal plants discovered from indigenous peoples amount to US$43 billion in 1985 (Rosey and Dutfield, 1990)
World wide sales of pharmaceuticals amounted to more than US$130 billion annually at the beginning of 1990's (RAFI, 1994) The top 15 crops in the USA with annual sales of US 150 billion originated in dev' countries. Many of the genetic resources necessary to continually improve these products are obtained from these countries (UNEP, 1998)

Few examples of bio prospecting

No Plant Name
Country of origins Shimba Hills,Kenya Samoa rainforest Korup forest Cameron Amazon forest Brazil West Africa Rainforest of Sarawak Mongolia Purpose For treating pancreatic cancer Anti-HIV compound prostratin Aspirin Collected by NCI,USA Bayer

1 2 3 4 5 6 7.

Maytenus buchananii Homalanthus nutans Ancistrocladus Korruplnsis Filipendula ulmaria (measowsweet) Prunis Africana Calophyllum lanigerum Anrilus prosperusus

For treating prostate gland HIv- inhaibitory compounds Against obesity

Plazer Sengeta Plazer

Exchange of IK

Although IK is readily shared among members of a community, it is generally shared to a lesser degree across communities. IK is predominantly tacit or embedded in practice and experiences; it is most commonly exchanged through personal communication and demonstration. From master to apprentice, from parents to children from neighbor to neighbor. Though some needs protection, it is good to exchange of IK among communities taking in to consideration the cultural aspect. If is also important that the research community be interested focusing on some important IK for further research to improve and enrich them as appropriates to the community

Why Protecting IK?

Preserve Indigenous Knowledge Increase awareness of its value Commercialize it, where appropriate with equitable benefit sharing Prevent from possible abuse Conserve biodiversity

IK in Ethiopia

Early Ethiopian Civilization serves as an evidence for the extent and rationality of indigenous knowledge The domestication of certain crops like coffee, teff and enset and the development of bench terrace system by the Konso nationalities are among important cases of achievements in agriculture When farmers in many parts of the world were still practicing the hoe-culture cultivation, the fact that the Ethiopian farmers designed and practiced the traditional plow is a living testimony to the inventive and innovative capacity of the traditional Ethiopia The country with written language for over 2000 years owns over 500 years old manuscripts, which deal with traditional knowledge concerning public health and veterinary medicine

Ethiopia: IK and Biodiversity

Genetic Resources of Ethiopia have served the world greatly. Sources of valuable genes to crop improvement programs in national and international efforts. Resistance in barley - BYDV High lysine/protein genotypes in sorghum Durum wheat Borena Crossbred BYDV resistant barely was taken to USA and the country (USA) generates 150 million US dollars per year to its farmers. Veronoria spp useful for the painting industry is used by USA chemical industries

IK and Natural Resource Management

The terrain of the Konso area of Gamugofa is mountainous and stony, causing many hundreds of kilometers of a highly developed dry stone contour bench terrace systems to develop, to enable sustained agriculture The earth is cut away to form a vertical face, against which a wall consisting of carefully selected stones, is built. Due to the steepness of the terrain, the terraces are generally level, narrow and high; often about 2.5 meters wide and 1.5 meters high. The Konso nationality has won a prize for its effective indigenous practices of water and soil conservation at the 50th Annversary of Random bench terracing :In Northeast Shewa and the Chercher mountains of Harerge, Contour Terraces of the Hararge Highlands

IK and Health

If is estimated that over one-third of the worlds population locks regular access to affordable essential drugs (UNCTAD, 2002) For these people, modern medicine is never likely to be a realistic treatment option. In contract, traditional medicine is widely available and affordable. Many local and traditional communities in Ethiopia conserve rare medicinal plants in

IK and Ethno veterinary

Due to inadequate modern veterinary services in Ethiopia and its inaccessibility in most parts of the country, large proportion of the countrys livestock owners heavily depend on traditional healers and herbalists. The local practitioners of traditional veterinary medicine are the first contact of people even the modern veterinary care service is available. Traditional veterinary practices include Mechanical /Physical, Pharmacological, Surgical, Rituals and managerial methods of treatment. In Southern Ethiopia: Black /eg:- Cut open the infected part with knife and then brand the wound with a hot sickle. Pasteusellosis:- direct the smoke of burning eucalyptus leaves and of croton tree around the infected animal.

IK and Ethno veterinary

Being the leading country in Africa with its cattle population traditional animal husbandry and veterinary practices are widely practiced and provide a substantial animal health care. Due to inadequate modern veterinary services in Ethiopia and its inaccessibility in most parts of the country, large proportion of the countrys livestock owners heavily depend on traditional healers and herbalists. The local practitioners of traditional veterinary medicine are the first contact of people even the modern veterinary care service is available. Traditional veterinary practices include Mechanical /Physical, Pharmacological, Surgical, Rituals and managerial methods of treatment. In Southern Ethiopia: Black /eg:- Cut open the infected part with knife and then brand the wound with a hot sickle. Pasteusellosis:- direct the smoke of burning eucalyptus leaves and of croton tree around the infected animal.

International Experiences
National Innovation Foundation of India (NIF)

If is an autonomous scientific society set up in March 2000, by Department of S & T of India. It is committed to make India innovative by documenting, adding value, protecting IPRs, disseminating on commercial as well as non- commercial basis, contemporary unaided technological innovations as well as outstanding examples of Traditional Knowledge Honey Bee Network NIF functions Scouting and documentation Value addition & product development Enterprise & Business Development IPRs Management Dissemination & IT

International Contd
Achievements Scouted 15,000 entries comprising of mechanical innovation and outstanding Traditional Knowledge practices. Awarded- 98 innovators & outs tending Traditional Knowledge holder Honored by the president of India.

International Contd
Traditional medicine in Tanga Today

For centuries, traditional healers have been the main providers of primary health care in Africa. To day, healers in Africa, especially in Tanga, carry the burden of care for treating people with HIV/AIDS. In Tanga, the Tanga AIDS Working Group. (TAWG) situated in Bombo Hospital, has been successfully collaborating with traditional healers since 1990. It is a promising partnership between the ancient and modern world to combat HIV/AIDS. Tanga District has approx. 670 traditional healers there is one healer for every 343 residents of Tanga town. In Tanga, TAWG has received international recognition for its innovative work and traditional healers.

International Contd

It has received support from OXFAM, World Bank USAID Bio-medical personnel soon observed that patients treated with waziris three plants generally had improved appetites, gained weight, suffered from fewer and less severe opportunistic infections, and enjoyed improved health and well being. The plant remedies soon became the hospitals standard HIV/AIDS treatment for patients who preferred herbal medicine.

TAWGs work is an outstanding example of how positive results can be achieved in the fight against AIDS by synergistically combining local expertise, indigenous knowledge, and modern health workers to provide effective low cost treatment for people living with AIDS

Brief Note on IK in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia some scattered efforts have been made to record and document IK. Farm Africa, Agri Service Ethiopia, Ministry of Agriculture (1988), and Ethiopian Society of Chemical Engineers have attempted to record and document indigenous knowledge and practices in their respective field of interest. A World Bank supported project entitled conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants is being undertaken by Institute of Biodiversity Conservation and Research. (IBCR) in collaboration with various R&D institutions. Summary of IK related activities undertaken

Conservation and Sustainable use of Medicinal Plants

It is a World Bank supported project aimed at initiating support for conservation, management and sustainable utilization of medicinal plants for human and livestock healthcare in Ethiopia The project's specific objectives are to: strengthen institutional capacity identify and document indigenous medicinal plants used for the treatment of major human diseases and livestock diseases with emphasis on the following three namely tapeworm infections, mastitis and dermatophilosis develop a national medicinal plant database; support in-situ conservation and management and initate ex-situ cultivation of medicinal plants. The project commenced in October 2001,and is now underway which is being coordinated by Institute of Biodiversity Conservation (IBC)

Local innovation: promotion, documentation and sharing

It is being undertaken by Prolinnova-Ethiopia PROLINNOVA- Promotion of Local Innovation in ecologicallyoriented agriculture and Natural Resource Management It is a national network and partner of PROLINNOVA and has a primary goal of enhancing the integration of farmerled research and development approach It focuses on promoting farmer innovation and local experimentation, into the endeavors of relevant GOs, NGOs, universities and research and development institutions This promotion certainly will contribute towards the realization of ensuring food security, sustainable rural livelihoods, poverty reduction and safeguarding the environment.

Local innovation Contd

A steering group composed of state and non-state actors which oversees the activities of the platform (ProlinnovaEthiopia) Agri-Service Ethiopia, as a secretariat and facilitator of the multi-stakeholder national platform carries out, among other things, the financial administration, contractual agreements, international representation etc It has documented various local innovations developed by farmers in different regions of the country

Inventory of traditional crop protection practices

It is undertaken by Agri Service Ethiopia aimed at scouting the existing traditional pest control methods, verify their effectiveness, restore the knowledge and promote the practices in order to minimize crop losses and hazards of pesticides as well as dependency on external inputs. From 1991 until the end of 1999 a total of 3 seed, 12 field and 8 storage treatments of crops as well as 6 control measures of livestock parasites have been documented.

Indigenous Processing Technologies

The national project on indigenous processing technologies in Ethiopia is developed by Ethiopian Society of Chemical Engineers on the basis of recognizing the importance of upgrading indigenous processing technologies in the country. The project is developed as part of the first phase of the National Project of indigenous processing technologies which is being supported by Local Research Grant which being coordinated by ESTA The project is aimed at developing the profile of existing indigenous processing technologies and identifying the most promising ones for further environment and prototype development.

Indigenous Contd

The sectoral focus for the first phase activity is the food and beverage processing sectors. The major activities include template development, profile preparation and database development Ethiopian Society of Chemical Engineers (ESChE) in partnership with relevant government agencies and development partners undertake the project.

Indigenous Conservation Practices

Ethiopian farmers are known for their age- old soil and water conservation practices. The Konso Nationalities are the glaring evidence for a successful traditional conservation practices who won FAO prize at its 50th anniversary. The Ministry of Agriculture made an inventory of traditional conservation practices in various parts of the country The project made a detailed analysis of the different practices. The information database plays a vital role in serving as spring board for hybridizing traditional conservation practices with the modern ones

Farmers Participatory Research Project

The major objective of this project is to assist the local farmer by learning IK from the peasant himself and synthesize modern knowledge in order solve the major constraints of the community This approach is done initially by recording and documenting IK practices of the locality. Then validate them by discussing with farmers. Option of hybridizing modern knowledge with IK will be demonstrated with full participation of the farmers This project is being carried out by Farm Africa in various sites of Southern Ethiopia. Farm Africa indicated its achievements on soil fertility management, rodent control, Enest landrace conservation and others.5

Conclusion
In general, IK is still underutilized resource in the development process of Ethiopia. Special efforts are, therefore, needed to understand, document and disseminate IK. IK sharing networking shall be created to innovators share their innovations and IK practices. A national IK database needs to be established in published and electronic formats. IK and Innovations should be linked to the entrepreneur community. The establishment of a national technology incubation center is very essential to enhance technology development capacity of the country

I thank you!