Design and Implementation of a Formal Computational Ontology Model for Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge Management

Abstract

Around the world, policymakers, agricultural experts, researchers, and the general public are increasingly addressing challenges related to the cultivation, quality, availability, preservation, and regulation of Indigenous Vegetables (IVs). This study examined the concepts, cultivation practices, and planting processes of selected indigenous vegetables, and proceeded to design, implement, and validate a formal ontology model. Data were collected through document reviews, interactive discussions, and field observations involving individuals with extensive knowledge of indigenous agriculture in Southwestern Nigeria. The formal ontology model was developed using First-Order Logic and Semantic Networks, integrated with Description Logics (DLs). The model was implemented using Python 3.9.1 and SQL with SQLite3. Validation was conducted using a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) approach to assess the model’s accuracy and consistency. The study resulted in the creation of the Yorùbá Indigenous Vegetable Ontology (YIVO). The concepts and processes within YIV were analyzed based on the collected data, and consistency checks confirmed that the ontology contained no contradictory assertions. The study concluded that the practical construction and validation of the ontology through conceptual modeling, query retrieval, proof-of-concept testing, and visualization demonstrated that knowledge of Yoruba Indigenous Vegetables can be formalized and effectively represented as computational artifacts.