Conflicts of Indigenous Farming Practices and Modern Agriculture in Konso Community, Southern Ethiopia

The study attempted to understand indigenous small farming systems and its challenges with the framework of agricultural modernisation in Konso community, Southern Ethiopia. There were 400 household heads from different wealth rank and farming practices considered for in-depth interview. This was completed by focus group discussions and plot level investigations. The findings indicated that the community and landscape are characterized by heterogeneity, implying the challenges of introducing standard modern agricultural technologies. Moreover, the community has wide range of indigenous soil and water conservation （SWC） measures geared to production and protection. For example, in a single plot with a size of less than 0.4 ha, it was possible to produce up to 35 plant spices with multiple functions. The evaluation of the modern agricultural extension services by the community indicates that about 17% was found to be positive in line to diffusion of new technologies and rehabilitation of degraded lands. However, the strengths seem to be offset by the weaknesses （61%） with respect to food security, resilience to drought, synergy with indigenous knowledge, empowerment in decision-making, The findings underlined that to assure food security and sustainable resource management, creating policy environment for holistic and integrated approach, supporting indigenous practices and empowering community in decision making are fundamental.

Ethno-medicinal plants use by the Manipuri tribal community in Bangladesh

An ethno-medicinal investigation was conducted to understand the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants being used by the Maninuri tribe in Bangladesh. The present study was done through structured questionnaires in consultations with the tribal practitioners. A total 32 plant species belonging to 26 families and 29 genera were found to use for Curing 37 ailments. Results show that the use of aboveground plant parts was higher （86%） than the underground plant parts （14%）. Leaf was used in the majority of cases for medicinal preparation （17 species） followed by bark, fruit, root/rhizome, whole plant, seed and flower. Among the 32 plant species, they were mainly used to treat dysentery （10 species）, followed by fever and rheumatism （5 species each）; asthma, constipation, wounds and skin diseases （4 species each）; cold ailments, cough and diarrhea （3 species each）. The study revealed that 72% plant species investigated were used to cure more than one ailment. About 75% medicinal plants were taken orally followed by externally （9%） and both orally and externally （16%）. The study thus underscores the potentials of the ethno-botanical research and the need for the documentation of indigenous healthcare knowledge pertaining to the medicinal plant utilization for the greater benefit of mankind.

A study on the dilemmas of resource utilization and tourism in Africa

This paper explores,explains and discusses issues around the dilemma between local conservation of natural resources(often,endangered species and habitats)and tourism needs in Africa.Often and in constitutional terms,local people have a right to exploit and use resources endowed in their local area.However,tourists often are interested in viewing the vegetation and animal resources undisturbed.Inevitably,there is an undeclared animosity of values and interests between local communities and tourists and state agencies.As a result,the dilemma is thus of governance.The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the governance dilemma of resource utilization and tourism in Africa in a bid to create an informed stewardship framework for sustainability.This is achieved by way of case studies and narratives from Africa.As such,this paper will be a review literature on how different communities perceive tourism and derive livelihoods from their immediate environment.It also explains how the external factors influence local needs and interests.A more sustainable and operational framework that reduces friction among stakeholders is suggested.

An Ethnolinguistic Analysis of Customary Law in a Vietnamese Ethnic Minority(Kơho-Sre)

The purpose of this paper is to present an ethnolinguistic analysis of customary law from a Vietnamese ethnic minority,the Kơho-speaking subgroup Sre,during the middle of the previous century.Their customary law,entitled Nri,consists of five categories of judgements:penalties;responsibility;testimony/evidence;test/examination;and contract/agreement.The full accounting of the Nri lists nine sections or jơnau with a total of 92 individual cases(Dournes,1951).One case from each of the nine sections is abstracted in this paper illustrating the rhyming scheme and reduplication of words to facilitate oral recitation.There are two appendices:(1)a lexicon of all the words;and(2)a detailed inventory of the sections with an example case noted and a reference category taken from Murdock’s Outline of World Cultures(1983).The Nri is transcribed from Kơho-Sre into French and then translated into English.Umberto Eco notes that a translator must take into account rules that are not strictly linguistic,but are also cultural.Eco’s strategy includes:(1)analyze historical,social circumstances in the indigenous cultural;(2)analyze the source message;(3)transfer the message in the target language;(4)reconstruct the expression in the target language;(5)consider the target language;and(6)give a final version(2000).This paper attempts to accomplish that goal.