This section contains examples of Indigenous practices that can be adapted and applied locally.

Buja indigenous community in Mutoko district of Zimbabwe

The Indigenous “culture-based mechanisms that are implemented to adapt to climate change are passed from generation to generation. As a result, in so doing the community will be observing their history . . . [The Buja] community had turned to growing millet and sorghum instead of maize because with maize they constantly got low harvests as it often dries before it is ripe [as a result of low rainfall]. However, with millet and sorghum they get good harvests even though they receive low rainfall and have extremely hot days. [The community] acknowledged that they have considered millet and sorghum to be a perfect alternative because these crops enable the community to continue practicing their activities, for example, during ceremonies they use sorghum to prepare traditional beer, and the sadza [a thickened porridge] that people eat will be from millet” (Mugambiwa, 2018, p. 7).

Source: Mugambiwa, S. (2018). Adaptation measures to sustain indigenous practices and the use of indigenous knowledge systems to adapt to climate change in Mutoko rural district of Zimbabwe. Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 10(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v10i1.388

Licence: Open access. CC attribution 4.0

What can you learn from the Buja people and adapt to use in your village? If a certain crop or grain fails to grow or produces a low harvest because there was not enough rain and dry conditions lasted longer than usual, a community will need to grow alternative, drought-resistant crops. Ask the Elders in your community what crops the community could grow to adapt to changing weather patterns.

Traditional and Indigenous Farming practices in Sri Lanka

“One of the oldest traditional cultivation methods in Sri Lanka is known as chena. This technique involves clearing patches of forests through slashing and burning to cultivate vegetables and grains. While this practice may appear to contribute to deforestation, it is actually more sustainable compared to modern agricultural practices. Chena farmers adopt a rotational approach, moving their farming activities from one piece of land to another, utilizing each plot for a limited duration. This allows for the regeneration of soil and forests over time.

When selecting land for chena cultivation, farmers often avoid areas with large trees, as these trees are used to construct their tree houses. They also avoid regions with intensive wildlife as a precautionary measure. Prior to clearing any land, chena farmers employ various traditional methods to keep away any animals in the area, thereby safeguarding wildlife” (Traditional and indigenous farming, 2023, paragraphs 1 and 2).

Source: Traditional and indigenous farming practices show Sri Lanka the way to sustainable food production. (2023 June, 5). Asia: Sri Lanka. Agrospecials editie 9. https://magazines.rijksoverheid.nl/lnv/agrospecials/2023/01/sri-lanka

What can you learn from the chena farmers of Sri Lanka and adapt to use in your village? Using slash-and-burn techniques and moving from one plot of land to another to allow the land to regenerate naturally will benefit the environment. Respect old trees by not cutting them down and prevent animals from encroaching on human communities by using traditional methods such as a scarecrow to scare away birds and small animals.

The image below shows a traditional scarecrow used in chena cultivation.