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Abstract:
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The report is a product of the research conducted with the communities in Diphagane, Ga-
Mashabela and Ga-Phaahla in Sekhukhune District of Limpopo, South Africa, to investigate
Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) for the control of pests and diseases. The fundamental
issue is that the current use of indigenous plants for indigenous technologies in the villages
studied is promising but underexploited or underutilized in research and eventually by the
communities themselves.
The study reported on was conducted against the backdrop of international, regional and
national discussions over the decline of biological diversity. Biological diversity, encompass all
species of plants, animals, and microorganisms; variability within these and the ecological
processes that form and sustain them. Agriculture has been identified as one of the three pillars
of economic development strategy for the Limpopo Province. According to Oni et al (2004), there
is a need to identify strategic interventions required from government in areas of competitive
advantage to stimulate the agricultural and rural economy, especially to commercialize the
smallholder agriculture. The study used Agricultural Research for Development (ARD), a multistakeholder
approach to solving complex agricultural problems. Conducting strategic
development in an ARD context helps one to consider options most likely to result in a desirable
future situation. In this study, strategies were determined by what was learnt through engaging
with stakeholders during the data gathering process.
The Diphagane project was used as the main focus of the study, with the two other villages
serving comparative analysis purposes. The project’s mission is to provide an attractive range of
bio- products for diverse pests and diseases, conservation of indigenous plants used and
minimizing the use of chemicals in production. |