SANKOFA: ReSilient climate smArt agriculture, iNdigenous Knowledge and traditiOn For sustAinable food production
- Challenge:SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- Co-Funders:Irish Aid
- Phase:Seed
- Team Lead:Dr Adwoa Serwaa Ofori, University College Dublin
- Partner Country Team Lead:Prof. Miriam Kalanda-Joshua, University of Malawi
- Team Co-Lead:Prof. Karen Keaveney, University College Dublin
- Societal Impact Champion:Dr Andrew Jamali, National Planning Commission Malawi
Funders
Co-funded by: Irish Aid
The impacts of climate change and variability pose significant challenges to food security in Malawi, a predominantly agrarian nation heavily reliant on rain-fed agriculture. A key issue is how rural smallholder farmers can adapt to these changes to safeguard their food security, improve agricultural productivity, promote sustainable food production, and build resilience in their farming practices.
This project aims to address these challenges by integrating indigenous knowledge with climate-smart agricultural technologies through co-creation with rural smallholder farmers. What makes this project unique is its blend of traditional, indigenous practices – in essence SANKOFA, an African concept translated ‘go back and take it’; meaning ‘there is wisdom in learning from the past’ – with scientific approaches, helping farmers select the most effective combination of these methods to secure their food supply amid changing conditions.