Indigenous knowledge systems, climate change and food security: perspectives from Bungoma County, Kenya

Abstract

Climate change impacts food security in different parts of the world, including Africa, which is extremely vulnerable. In Kenya, over 80% of the population relies on rain-fed agriculture. Variability of climate change, such as unpredictable and sparse rainfall, temperature increase, floods and prolonged drought influences food security. Intermittently, Kenya faces severe hunger due to extreme prolonged drought conditions especially in arid and semi-arid areas. This chapter draws data from primary and secondary sources of data on climate change, indigenous knowledge systems and food security in Africa. It seeks to answer the question on how indigenous knowledge systems can be used to promote food security in places where we have varied climatic patterns. This chapter argues that the revitalization of indigenous knowledge is vital in promoting food security. The chapter is in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, which seeks to achieve zero hunger, food security, improved nutrition and promotion of sustainable agriculture. It maintains that, during Kenya’s precolonial period food production and nutrition heavily relied on indigenous knowledge to safeguard the well-being of the individual and the community. These indigenous knowledge systems have declined due to colonialism, modernity and commercialization of food. The chapter recommends that, if indigenous knowledge systems can be maintained, they can help in promoting food security and food sovereignty since they are readily accepted by the local communities. The chapter advances arguments that deal with food security in order to promote a food-secured nation. Data from this chapter is essential to researchers and policy makers in food security and climate change.