Farmers’ Indigenous Knowledge in Managing and Using Jatropha Curcas in Bati District, Oromiya Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Farmers’ indigenous knowledge is locally available, economically affordable, and sustainable encourages participatory decision-making and information. Farmer’s indigenous knowledge of how to manage and use natural resources has made significant contributions to global knowledge. Farmers have accumulated IK about natural resources but this knowledge is not assessed, analyzed and documented Therefore, the study investigates the experience of farmers in growing Jatropha and how their immense knowledge of Jatropha cultivation practices can be captured and incorporated into development programmes to improve such practices. Indigenous knowledge must be documented, valued and integrated into development planning to maximize its usefulness for decision-making. Thus, this study assessed the general status of farmers’ indigenous knowledge in managing and using Jatropha and the factors affecting the cultivation of Jatropha. The study was conducted in Bati District, Oromiya Zone, Amhara Region. A multistage sampling technique was used for the selection of the peasant association and sample respondents. A total of 150 farmers were interviewed to obtain primary data for the study. Both primary and secondary data were used. In this study, qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analyzed. Quantitative data analysis methods employed in this study were minimum and maximum values, mean, standard deviation, percentage, cross-tabulation, t-test and chi-square (x2), and binary logit model using SPSS computer software program. The qualitative aspect of the study was conducted through group discussions and informal discussions with farmers and experts. The survey result shows that about 99.3% of the sample respondents were familiar with the plant and 90.7% know that the plant was introduced by farmers from another area. The survey results revealed that farmers have experience in and knowledge of Jatropha cultivation and use for a maximum of 36 years. A binary logistic regression model was fitted to analyze the potential variables affecting farmers’ decision to grow Jatropha in the study area. Among 9 explanatory variables included in the logistic model, 5 of them were significant at less than 5 percent probability levels. These were the sex of the household, family size, education level of the household, total landholding size, and distance to the main marketplace. The model estimate correctly predicted 87.3% of the sample cases, 96% growers and 70% non- growers. To enhance the probability that farmers grow Jatropha encouraging the farmers by incentive and creating awareness of the positive characteristics of the plant should get a serious consideration.