IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

International Journal of Agriculture and Earth Science (IJAES )

E- ISSN 2489-0081
P- ISSN 2695-1894
VOL. 11 NO. 5 2025
DOI: 10.56201/ijaes.vol.11.no5.2025.pg131.140

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Exploring Ethno-botanicals and Indigenous Knowledge Practices among Rural Dwellers in the Savanna Zone of Osun State, Nigeria

Bamigboye, E O, Bamigboye, RA and, Ola L A

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Abstract

Rural people are the custodians of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and these are deeply embedded in their local culture. This article explores ethno-botanicals and indigenous knowledge practices in crop and ruminant animal production among rural dwellers in the Savanna zone of Osun State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure and purposive sampling technique was used to select 125 from 10 rural communities across the eight LGAs that constituted the Savanna zone of Osun State. The field work involved the use of interview schedule to elicit primary data and Key informants’ interview. In addition, descriptive statistics were used to describe the data whereas Pearson Product-Moment Correlation were used in making inferential deductions. The results show that the mean age was 42 years and above average (52.8%) were male while majority (94.4%) were married. Furthermore, about (72.0%) of the farmers used Nicotiana tobaccum in treating lice while just (46.4%) used Ancchormanes difformis (Ogirisoko) as dressing materials. In addition, majority (80%) had no proper documentation of IKS (80.1%) and about (71.2%) viewed the that effects of environmental degradation were the major constraint. The study was concluded with the veracity of ethno- botanical usage in the study area. Botanists and development workers should take inventories and harmonize ethno-botanicals with modern science to evolve a diversified technology base.

keywords:

Utilisation, ethno-botanicals, indigenous knowledge systems, crop and ruminant

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