Indigenous knowledge for climate change adaptation among Tanzanian smallholder farmers: A systematic review

This study investigates the use of Indigenous knowledge for climate change adaptation and mitigation among smallholder farmers in Tanzania. It adheres to the PRISM (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The study includes 20 peer-reviewed articles published between 2004 and 2023. The findings show that Indigenous knowledge is acquired from various sources, including personal experience, parents, friends and community members. Elders are key custodians of Indigenous knowledge. Smallholder farmers employ various techniques to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change, including mixed farming practices, crop diversification, the use of traditional water dams, prayer and cultural rituals, participating in non-farming activities, entrepreneurship and the use of locally made pesticides. The findings imply that Indigenous knowledge has the potential to solve contextual-based problems. This review recommends further research to document Indigenous knowledge of climate change adaptation across all regions and ethnic groups in Tanzania.