Case-study /

Indigenous knowledge and practices in agriculture production of ethnic minorities adapted to climate change in Bac Kan province, Vietnam

Indigenous knowledge and practices were investigated in the local communities that have been severely affected by the impacts of climate change in recent years in Bac Kan province. The manifestation and impact of climate change to agricultural production and livelihood of local people were identified and clarified in this area. Indigenous knowledge and practices in prediction, response and adaptation to extreme weather phenomena and climate change for agricultural production of the local communities were clarified and documented. Findings from the study showed that ethnic minority groups in the research area have a lot of indigenous knowledge and practices in agriculture production copping with extreme weather phenomena and climate change. Various local cultivars which are resistant to drought and cold are used by local ethnic minorities such as banana (Tay variety), rice (Bao Thai), mungbean (moc), local ginger cultivar and potato. Therefore banana, potato, ginger and mungbean are recommended for farmers in the Bac Kan province to grow as crops adapting to climate change. Many traditional practices in agriculture production coping with drought and cold conditions were also investigated such as indigenous practices in banana cultivation on sloping land; appropriate arrangement of the crop growing season in accordance with climate change conditions; weather forecast based on symptoms of natural condition etc. The study also reviewed agricultural policies relating to climate change at all levels and found that there was a big gap between current government policy with real problems occurred in the field due to climate change.

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