Change and stability in the indigenous farming system of the Matengo
Mattee,A.Z / 2000

This report challenges the notion that sustainable agricultural policy builds on indigenous knowledge. It investigates the sustainability of ngolo, an indigenous farming practices of the Matengo.

The research shows that:

• The practice of ngolo has been altered by population growth and socio-economic factors. It is now less productive.
• Biodiversity has been adversely affected by ngolo.
• Although womens' labour contribution to ngolo is significantly larger than that of men, it is the men who have control and access of inputs and credit.

For over a century ngolo facilitated intensive farming with neither environmental degradation nor a decline in crop production. However, ngolo has proven to have negative environmental and socio-economic consequences.