Study on assessment of indigenous knowledge in adapting to floods of farmers in An Giang province

Abstract

This research was carried out to systematize and assess the appropriateness of farmer’s indigenous knowledge and their ability adapt with the flood in An Giang province, results of the research will provide a scientific foundation for proposing solutions to conserve and enhance the use of indigenous knowledge in reducing the vulnerability of people living in flooded areas. The results showed that local people used several effective indigenous knowledges for adapting with floods. However, the valuable indigenous knowledge has not been recorded yet, nor documented in written materials for sharing to young generations and communities; some indigenous practices are not suitable with the current requirement for flood adapation strategies. Research results showed that (LVI) of diffirent Zone (upper zone, middle zone, lower zone) are decreasingly dependent on major components of social networks, knowledge and skills, natural resources, finance and incomes, livelihood strategies, natural disater and climate variability. In which, (LVI: 0.390) of Phu Huu commune in An Phu district which locates in the upper zone is higher than LVI of two communes located in the lower part of the river. These communes are Vinh An commune (LVI: 0.287), Chau Thanh district (middle zone) and Vinh Phuoc commune (LVI: 0.331), Tri Ton district (lower zone) and adaptive capacity of Phu Huu commune (0.399) is also higher than Vinh An (0.299) and Vinh Phuoc (0.337). It reflects the direct proportion between LVI and adaptive capacity. The research also suggests some solutions to conserve the valuable indigenous knowledge in adapting to climate change of local people.