Acknowledging a Global South phenological science: the use of phenological and meteorological indicators in indigenous knowledge systems in Rural South Africa
Sinoxolo Magaya, Jennifer M Fitchett · 2026
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Description
Sinoxolo Magaya and Jennifer Fitchett, two authors writing in 2026, document seasonal knowledge in rural South Africa. Published season-timing research leans on instruments and satellites, skewing it toward rich countries. Farm communities in the Global South instead read plants, weather, and stars passed down through generations.
Two communities that farm rain-fed plots use such signs to time sowing, harvest, and crop choice. Those signs can adapt faster than formal forecasts in the short term. Yet key indicator species are vanishing, and residents blame human pressure. The authors argue this knowledge belongs inside mainstream season science, above all under climate change.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Sinoxolo Magaya, Jennifer M Fitchett |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 38 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |