Abstract: The study examined the characteristics of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) influencing their utilization by rice farmers in Ekiti state of Nigeria. Two hundred and sixty-six rice farmers were selected through a multi-stage random sampling technique and data procured through the administration of a validated and structured interview schedule. Results obtained through correlation analysis revealed a positive association between IKS utilization and Affordability (r = 0.17, p≤0.05), Effectiveness (r = 0.08, p≤0.05), Communicability (r = 0.677, p≤0.01), Relative advantage (r = 0.368, p≤0.01) and Availability (r = 0.054, p≤0.01). However, a negative association was found between IKS utilization and Environmental-friendliness (r = -0.351, p≤0.01).

INTRODUCTION

The high-yielding white grain, Oryza sativa was introduced into Nigeria about 1890 and by 1960 has accounted for >60% of the rice grown in that country. Today, rice is cultivated in virtually all the agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. Adewale (2002) observes that the emphasis on rice consumption has shifted from its ceremonial status to a staple food in the country.

In spite of the widespread cultivation and consumption of rice in Nigeria, the local production has been found to be always short of the demand for the commodity (Wudiri and Fatoba, 1992).

In order to improve the output of domestic rice production, programmes embodying imported technologies have been introduced and executed. Such programmes include Special Rice Scheme, National Accelerated Food Production Programme (NAFPP) and River Bain Development Programme. In spite of these programmes, rice production level remains unsatisfactory.

Adewale (2002) suggests this might be due to the neglect of the development of appropriate technology for local rice farmers based on their indigenous knowledge and practices. Adekunle and Okunlola (1997) observe that despite the fact that Nigerian rural communities (which produce the greatest amount of food for the country and excess for export) have produced their own food, made their own farm implements and conducted their own farming activities, the role of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) used has not been appreciated.

Kolawole claims that rural people to which all research development efforts are directed have their own body of knowledge that enables them arrive at decisions which would better their lots. Bro-Kensha et al. (1980) had warned to ignore rural people’s knowledge, otherwise known as indigenous knowledge, which respects the expertise of indigenous people has come to be regarded as a major contribution to development thinking (Osunade, 1996).

Researchers have observed that indigenous agricultural practices are cost-effective and pose less production risks and environmental degradation (Hansen and Erbaugh, 1987; Vanek, 1989; Alcon, 1999).

Considering the ever growing importance of rice in the diet of Nigerians and the desire for sustainable local production, this study focused on the use of indigenous rice production knowledge system among rice farmers in Ekiti state of Nigeria. Specifically in this study, the characteristics of IKS that have endeared the local people to their uses over the years are investigated. These characteristics are Affordability, Environmental- friendliness, Effectiveness, Communicability, Availability and Relative advantage (Expensiveness).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was carried out in Ekiti state, one of the South-Western states of Nigeria. The state is located between 4°2 and 5°4'E and Latitude 6°2 and 8°1'N. Approximate population according to 2006 census was 2,384,212 with approximate land mass of 10,898.68 km². Majority of the people are Christians, while the major occupation is farming, both cash crops (Cocoa and Kolanut) and food crops (yam, cassava, cocoyam, plantain) are grown in the state. The rainy season is between March and October, while at peak, 1800 mm may be recorded in the Southern part of the state.

Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select the respondents for the study. Five of the sixteen Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state were purposively selected based on the level of rice production. The selected LGAs are Efon-Alaye, Ekiti West, Ijero, Oye and Irepo/Ifelodun. Two communities were then randomly selected from each of the LGA, making a total of 10 communities. Respondents were then selected, pro-rata, based on the number of registered rice farmers in the communities. In all, two hundred and sixty-six farmers were selected for the study.

Data were collected through the administration of pre-tested and validated structured interview schedule. Trained enumerators administered the instrument under the supervision of the researchers.

Frequency, percentage and mean were used in presenting the data, while correlation analysis was used in analyzing the relationship between Indigenous Knowledge utilization and IKS characteristics.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Use of indigenous knowledge system: Table 1 shows the distribution of the rice farmers by the types of IKS utilized. Seven categories of IKS were identified, each following the various stages of rice cultivation, processing and storage. The categories are land preparation, soil fertility management, weeding, pests (termite, grass cutter and birds) control, harvesting, processing and storage.

The most patronized IKS under land preparation and management were bush slashing without burning (98.1%), slashing with burning of debris (95.9%), bush fallow (97.4%), shifting cultivation (87.6%), use of hoe (91%) and cutlass (87.6%) for weeding.

For pest control, termites, grass-cutters and birds were the most notorious and destructive pests of padi rice. The most utilized termite control methods were the burying of carbide on the farm (54.1%) and the use of effluent of locust bean solution (53.4%).

Table 1:	Distribution of respondents by IKS utilization (N = 266)
Field survey, 2008

For grass cutter control, setting of traps (95.9%) and the use of a mixture of lime and gunpowder (46%) were the most employed methods. For the control of birds, all the four indigenous practices were highly utilized. These are the use of human bird scarers (83.4%), use of catapult by human bird scarers (80%), scare crows (62.4%) and use of traditional medicine (51.9%). The use of traditional medicine, even though acclaimed to be the most effective by the farmers, was used least because of the fetishness attached to it which was claimed to be at variance with modern religious practices. For harvesting, the knife was mostly (95.1%) was used, while the stick was mostly used (92.5%) for threshing. Storage in jute bags was the most commonly adopted method by 68.4% of the respondents.

IKS characteristics
Affordability: For the land clearing methods, >2/3 of the respondents claimed they were highly affordable. In the case of soil fertility management indigenous practices, cover cropping and organic fertilization were claimed to be highly affordable by only about one-third of the respondents (Table 2). This may be due to the cost of acquiring seeds for the cover crop and preparation of organic fertilizer. For termite control, almost all the IKS were claimed to be highly affordable by only one-third of the respondents. This is likely to be due to the fact that the complete control over these methods may be enmeshed in traditional religious practices, which many consider to be at variance with the principles of modern religions which they have embraced. For grass cutter control, only 33.4% could not afford to dig trench round the farm, while >60% considered all the methods affordable; about 80% in the case of setting traps. Regarding all the indigenous methods of bird control, the least proportion (35%) of those who considered all the methods highly affordable was found in the case of using traditional medicine, this may not be unconnected with the fact that use of traditional medicine to scare birds away from the rice farm would involve some fetishism.

Table 2:	Distribution of respondents by Affordability of IKS (N = 266)
Field survey, 2008

Table 3:	Distribution of respondents by environmental-friendliness (N = 266)
Field survey, 2008

Environmental friendliness:. Most of the IKS techniques were considered environmentally friendly otherwise they would have been abandoned. Table 3 shows that it is only the use of traps in controlling grass cutters and use of traditional medicine in bird control that were considered not harmful by 61.7% of the respondents, all others were considered not harmful to the environment by >70% of the respondents. In the case of setting of traps, the argument was that people who did not know about the traps may fall victim but in the case of traditional medicine there was no plausible reason to declare it environmentally harmful by the 38.3% who said so.

Table 4:	Distribution of respondents by effectiveness of IKS (N = 266)
Fieldsurvey, 2008

Table 5:	Distribution of respondents by communicability N = 266
Field survey, 2008

Effectiveness: Table 4 showas that more people (75.9%) considered slashing without burning of farmland as highly effective than slashing with burning of debris (59%). For soil fertility management, >74% each considered bush fallow and shifting cultivation as highly effective, while 46.6% each considered cover cropping and organic fertilization as moderately effective in restoring soil fertility. For termite control, >80% of the respondents considered all the indigenous methods in use as effective. For grass cutter control, about 95% considered setting of traps as effective, while other methods too were considered effective by >80% of the respondents.

Table 6:	Distribution of respondents by availability of IKS (N = 266)
Field survey, 2008

Table 7:	Distribution of respondents by Relative advantage (N = 266)
Field survey, 2008

For the control of birds, slightly >40% considered the indigenous methods as highly effective (except in the case of use of scarecrow), while >50% considered them moderately effective (except in the case of traditional medicine -35.4%).

Communicability: Data in Table 5 shows that all the indigenous methods studied were considered to be easily communicable by more by 70% of the respondents except in the case of traditional medicine (45.9%) used for driving birds away from the rice farms. The traditional medicine involved some esoteric incantations which the custodians were not willing to divulge to the users.

Relative advantage: Table 6 shows how expensive the indigenous methods were considered to be by the respondents. Burying of dead dog in the middle of the rice farm to control termites, digging of trenches round the farm for grass cutter control and use of traditional medicine to scare away birds were considered very expensive by 30.1, 51.9 and 25.9%, respectively (Table 7). In most other cases, the methods were considered inexpensive to use. This means that most of them would be within the reach of the largely small-scale farms.

Test of hypothesis: Correlation analysis revealed a positive associations between IKS utilization and Affordability (r = 0.17, p≤0.05), Effectiveness (r = 0.08, p≤0.05), Communicability (r = 0.677, p≤0.01), Relative advantage (r = 0.368, p≤0.01) and Availability (r = 0.054, p≤0.01). However, a negative association was found between IKS utilization and Environmental-friendliness (r = -0.351, p≤0.01).

CONCLUSION

The use of IKS in rice production was intensive and extensive in the study area. Despite the fetishness attached to some of the techniques, they were still widely used because of their efficacy. Most of the practices have been regarded as affordable, environmentally-friendly, communicable and inexpensive. More so, the ingredients of the indigenous practices were readily affordable.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Agricultural extension agents must be knowledgeable in the techniques of preparation and use of IK practices to promote same among the rice farmers for enhanced productivity and profitability.

Some of the herbs used in the preparation of the IK practices should be domesticated in order to forestall their extinction due to the current pervasive deforestation.