AGRI-DRY

On the 18th and 19th of November 2025, AGRI-DRY Doctoral Candidates (DC 3 Sara Scaglia; DC 6 Sara Krubeck; DC 7 Thamary Mukuya; and DC 10 Mncedisi Taala) carried out preliminary ethnographic fieldwork in Eastern Botswana. They were supported by members of the AGRI-DRY Supervisory Team, namely Marco Madella, Sarah Mothulatshipi, and Lokwalo Thabeng. The reconnaissance exercise focused on two farming communities in Mogapinyana and Tshokwe villages.

The visit centred on initial engagement with community leaders and traditional farmers, introducing the objectives and ongoing work of the AGRI-DRY project. Ethnographic research constitutes a significant part of the broader AGRI-DRY methodological framework, enabling field-based validation of insights through direct engagement with farmers. Reflecting on the experience, DC 10 Mncedisi Taala described the fieldwork as a success and expressed gratitude for the warm reception extended by both communities.

The AGRI-DRY fieldwork team getting ready and excited ahead of ethnographic work in Eastern Botswana.

Sara Scaglia, who was also part of the fieldwork team, described the experience as enriching and highlighted the insights gained from conducting ethnographic interviews with communities practising traditional agriculture. She noted that the fieldwork provided a meaningful understanding of traditional crop management, from field preparation to the storage of harvested grains, as well as broader land-use practices in arid and semi-arid regions. She added that this experience will support further interpretations within her research.

Sara also expressed gratitude to the communities who welcomed the team and shared their time and knowledge, and to the PIs from the University of Botswana, Sarah Mothulatshipi and Lokwalo Thabeng, and UPF, Marco Madella, who supported the fieldwork throughout the process. Besides the hard but rewarding work, she enjoyed the landscape and learning more about the local flora alongside Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) related to agriculture.

Moments from ethnographic interviews, including traditional seeds and structures shared by local communities with the AGRI-DRY team.

Read more about our doctoral candidates and their projects here.

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