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Organic agriculture in Kenya: fusion of science and traditional knowledge
Nehemiah Mihindo
Kenya Institute of Organic Farming, Nairobi, Kenya

Introduction

Humankind has become more and more conscious of its ephemeral nature and of the fragility of our Earth in the face of technological development. This technology has precipitated many of our problems because it does not take into account local culture – local communities’ preferences, skills and knowledge. As a result, people are left with a depleted and abused environment and deepening moral apathy. Success in development is more likely to be achieved when traditional knowledge systems are fused with modern technology. Traditional knowledge is dynamic and well adapted to local circumstances, forming the basis for people’s day-to-day decision-making. It is often localized and restricted and there is much scope for sharing this knowledge more widely. A local technology already known and used in one context can be transferred for use in another in which it was previously unknown.

Traditional knowledge is strong on the practical side but sometimes has a weak theoretical foundation, making it difficult for it to be applied more widely. Existing practices which are beneficial, but are being lost in a rapidly changing world, can be protected if the formal sector can reinforce them and relate them to the growing population. An example is organic agriculture.

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