Exploring transformational outcomes from donor investments in agroforestry research for development

Agroforestry Systems - While many agroforestry research projects contribute to improving food security, livelihoods and management of natural resources, few have had a significant role in achieving...     

Farmer-augmented designs for participatory agroforestry research

Two factors suggest that experimental designs used in on-station research are not appropriate for on-farm agroforestry research. First, successful technology development and validation requires farmer participation, which in turn requires more flexible experimental designs for on-farm experimentation. Second, the advent of widely available statistical computer packages and computing power allows the experimenter to deviate from ‘standard’ design restrictions of complete blocks and full replication. Farmer involvement in the research process should include the opportunity for farmers to ask questions and to define treatments along-side those of the researcher. To make inferences about farmer-defined augmented treatments that may only appear on one farm requires estimates of farm-by-treatment effects. This estimate can be obtained from the associated researcher's treatments that are applied to all of the farms participating in the trial. The use of augmented designs minimises plot number, while still enabling the researcher's and farmer's questions to be answered. The proposed design fills a methodological gap between informal farmer observation trials (where no statistical analysis is attempted) and larger scale extension trials (composed of simple treatment comparisons tested over a large number of farms).     

Farming systems research for agroforestry extension

Farming systems research and extension (FSRE), as used by the global Association for Farming Systems Research-Extension, applies to a family of methodologies used to generate, evaluate and disseminate agricultural technologies in association with farmer participation. FSRE shares many attributes with Diagnosis and Design as practiced in agroforestry. The history of FSRE is traced from 1965 to the present, showing the formalization of the methodology and its critical use in sustainable agricultural technology development. In on-farm research, a primary basis for FSRE, research and extension merge in practice. The definition of recommendation domains (a fundamental concept of FSRE) is based on analysis and interpretation of multi-environmental research results as evaluated by varied criteria.In this paper, we present the results of three research projects to demonstrate the nature of farmer criteria for evaluation. Modified Stability Analysis (MSA) is used to demonstrate the relationship of on-farm research to specific extension messages. Design of on-farm research to make it amenable to analysis by MSA is discussed.Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Journal Series No. R-03113.     

Do socio-psychological factors matter in agroforestry planning? Lessons from smallholder traditional agroforestry systems

Most of the well planned rural development forestry programs of the 1970s, and agroforestry in particular, were either not adopted by the intended beneficiaries or failed to meet the needs and aspirations of the rural people, particularly in the developing countries. The reasons for non-adoption in some cases appear to be technical, bio-physical, social and economic (termed as rational reasons by the planners), but in other situations the reasons are not so easily recognisable and comprehended (termed irrational reasons). These irrational reasons are the perceptions and attitude of the farmer towards farm practices, and their role in agroforestry planning has remained almost completely neglected. The present study is based on a household survey of the farmers in traditional agroforestry systems of Western Himalaya and investigates the importance of perceptional and attitudinal aspects of the farmers with regard to agroforestry adoption and extension. In the present study, farmers’ perceptions of restrictions on felling of trees from their own land and attitudes towards agroforestry were the most important sociopsychological factors which influenced tree growing. This study implies a need to take into account the socio-psychological factors of the farmers for planning socially acceptable agroforestry programs. The importance of study of various de jure rules and regulations controlling the use of on-farm tree resources and related exemptions and their association with farmers’ perceptions and tree growing is highlighted to develop policies to encourage tree growing in agroforestry.     

Resource development for professional education and training in agroforestry

The development of agroforestry education and training is hampered by a shortage of information on agroforestry practices and systems and by institutional constraints which limit effective transfer of existing knowledge. Generation of knowledge through research and the effective sharing of information on agroforestry are critical to the building of a solid resource base for agroforestry education. Networks of individuals and institutions can accelerate the development of resources for agroforestry education. Primary activities of an agroforestry network would include the development and dissemination of training materials on agroforestry, curriculum development and training of teaching staff. Critical considerations for the successful establishment and operation of a network include: (1) focusing the network on a problem and identifying sufficient interest, (2) personnel requirements such as an institution with a strong commitment, and (3) other resource requirements such as funds for network meetings, publications and research.     

Directions in tropical agroforestry research: past, present, and future

Reflections on the past two decades of organized research in tropical agroforestry raise several issues. Research efforts started with an inductive and experiential approach but have subsequently followed a deductive and experimental approach that includes hypothesis testing and the development of predictive capability; agroforestry research is thus being transformed into a rigorous scientific activity. The research agenda, so far, has given high priority to soil fertility and other biophysical interactions, less priority to anthropological and sociological aspects, and little priority to evaluating costs and returns, pests and diseases, and the so-called non-timber forest (tree) products. Moreover, larger-spatial-scale issues, such as carbon sequestration, water quality, and biodiversity conservation, have been neglected because of the emphasis on field- and farm-scale studies. Overall, the high expectations that were raised about the role and potential of agroforestry as a development vehicle have not been fulfilled. In order to overcome this, it is imperative that research be focused on the generation of appropriate, science-based technologies of wide applicability, especially under resource-poor conditions and in smallholder farming systems. Future research agendas should entail a judicious blending of science and technology. Applied research should build upon the findings of basic research to generate technologies for application at the farm, regional and global levels. Such research should place increased focus on previously neglected subjects, for example, the exploitation of indigenous fruit-producing trees, the agronomic components of agroforestry systems, and the global issues mentioned above. Furthermore, an appropriate methodology that embodies economic, social, and environmental costs and benefits needs to be developed to realistically assess the impacts of agroforestry, and an enabling policy environment that will facilitate agroforestry adoption needs to be made available. Agroforestry research of the 21st century should strive to build bridges from the inductive phase of the past, through the deductive phase of the present, to the future phase of harnessing science and generating technologies for the benefit of the land and its present and future users. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Streuobst: a traditional agroforestry system as a model for agroforestry development in temperate Europe

The development of agroforestry for industrialised countries can be furthered by an understanding of the history and present functioning of traditional systems. In temperate Europe, fruit trees were traditionally grown on agricultural land undersown with crops or managed grassland (Streuobst). The historical evolution of this agroforestry system has been driven by the interaction of technical progress, market development and intervention by public authorities. Streuobst reached its peak in the 1930s, but has since been in continuous decline due to the development of intensively managed dwarf-tree orchards. However, even today, it still occupies approximately one million hectares in 11European countries and has a strong impact on the European fruit market. The profitability of streuobst is relatively poor due to its low labour productivity, but it has advantageous ecological and socio-cultural features, particularly in terms of biological diversity and landscape aesthetics. Accordingly, it finds strong acceptance among the general public, such that subsidised eradication programs have been abandoned and, in a number of countries, streuobst is now supported by non-governmental organisations and by state conservation policies. Modern agroforestry in temperate, industrialised countries should be oriented towards the creation of similar ecological and socio-cultural benefits in order to receive public support as a land-use system. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The agroforestry center for sustainable development,Chapingo, Mexico: strategy and programs

The Agroforestry Center for Sustainable Development was established by the Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Mexico, in 1991 with the expectation of developing itself into a Center of Excellence in Agroforestry education, training, and research in Mexico and other parts of Latin America. The Center's program for the initial five-year period includes development of a graduate program at Masters level, establishment of a field research station, and setting up a library and documentation unit with a well-stocked library of agroforestry literature. Environmental protection, sustainability issues, social equity, participatory research (involving resource-poor farmers), and interdisciplinary emphasis are some of the key guiding principles of all Center-sponsored activities. Active collaboration will be sought between the Center and various national and international agencies that have programmatic emphasis in the region. The proposed graduate (MS) program will consist of one-year of course-work followed by a second year of thesis research. Structure and curriculum of several supporting courses have been drafted.     

Historical development of agroforestry in China

In China both agriculture and agroforestry originated in forests and developed side by side from their very beginnings. As revealed by archaeological evidence from ancient times, ancestral Chinese inhabited forests where they sheltered themselves from external hazards and lived on the edible parts of plants and animals through hunting and gathering activities.As early as the New Stone Age (7000–8000 years B.C.), fire was commonly used to burn the forests for slash-and-burn cultivation, which is a primitive form of agroforestry. Along with the rapid growth of population, the annexing of tribes, the collapse of clan society and the development of the slavery system, the nomadic mode of slash-and-burn farming evolved into settlement farming in the Xia Dynasty (2000-1600 B.C.). Peasants then engaged in settled cultivation.During the Shang and West Zhou Dynasty (1600-800 B.C.), perpetual settlement farming encouraged the development of private land-ownership. Peasants planted trees in or around the crop fields and grew fruit plants, vegetables and farmed domestic animals in their home yards for self-sufficiency. Since then, various forms of agroforestry have gradually developed and laid the fundamental framework of the Chinese small-farming economy for more than 3000 years.There has been a rapid growth of population in China over since the 1950s. At the same time, the area of arable land has decreased drastically and the environment has degraded rapidly as industrial development has taken place. The traditional labour-consuming and ineffective agroforestry management practices have not adapted to the current situation. In view of economic, ecological and social benefits, conversion of mono-biological production into a trinity system of agriculture, processing and marketing is suggested and planned experimentally. Such a management system, known as modern agroforestry, could be very beneficial to the development of modern China's rural economy and environmental conservation.     

Temporal analysis of agroforestry systems for rural development

Temporal analysis is introduced as a method to assess the suitability of agroforestry projects for meeting rural development objectives. This form of analysis provides a common base for examining social, economic, ecological, and managerial aspects of agroforestry systems.Temporal analysis begins by describing projects and the activities comprising them for both an agroforestry system and the local population. Factors constraining the sequence of activities are then examined. The assumptions and values regarding the past, present, or future are also analyzed for all groups involved in the agroforestry system. The range of goal oriented behavior affecting scale and duration of projects may be dependent on this time horizon.By understanding these factors, the changes in activities of a social system that may result from a proposed agroforstry innovation can be anticipated. The nature of these changes and their perception by the local population can be evaluated.     

混农林业与林业可持续发展

论述了混农林业的概念及其与林业可持续发展的关系 ,并通过对混农林业的主要模式、特点及其对林业可持续发展的促进作用的论述 ,充分揭示了其在林业可持续发展中的重要地位和作用。     

Implementing on-farm agroforestry research: lessons learned in Talamanca,Costa Rica

The rapid appraisal and farmer selection procedures, preceding the establishment of over fifty agroforestry research trials on farms in Talamanca, Costa Rica are described. The highest probability of success and impact of these long-term collaborative trials is obtained by selecting innovative, experienced, motivated and locally respected farmers. The methodological lessons learned from implementing three types of researcher managed trials (shade-cacao; black pepper on living support posts; timber production in boundary lines) are discussed. The importance of fitting farmer selection criteria to project objectives, experimental designs to on-farm limitations, and project goals to farmers' goals, are emphasized.     

Design and development of agroforestry systems for Illinois,USA: silvicultural and economic considerations

Recommended managerial inputs and associated outputs expected from practicing agroforestry on marginal farm lands in the central USA are discussed. Modeled management combinations are based on five timber species, three sites indices, three timber growth rates, five agricultural crops, all common crop rotations, and three tillage systems. Black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), combined with row crop production, is used to illustrate a specific multicropping alternative. Based on net present value, modeled agroforestry systems incorporating black walnut performed better on the better sites and at the medium to high timber growth rates whereas management systems using red oak (Quercus rubra L.) with row crops performed better on the poorer sites and at the lower growth rates. For agroforestry to be competitive with traditional agriculture, medium to high timber growth rates were necessary. Also, lower interest rates and the existing U.S. income tax structure favored agroforestry versus traditional agriculture. Substantial increases in net income may be possible through incorporating other income producing activities such as nut production within the agroforestry system.     

Participatory agroforestry development for restoring degraded sloping land in DPR Korea

Participatory approaches in agroforestry combine land, labor, and knowledge, by blending local experience with external expert support for sloping land restoration. We describe and analyze over a decade of bottom-up agroforestry development processes that today are influencing national policies. In the 1990s, after economic upheaval following the collapse of trade with the USSR (Soviet Union) rapid conversion of sloping lands to agriculture, in association with heavy rainfall events, caused widespread erosion and landslides. In response, pilot scale ??user groups?? obtained rights-to-use, rights-to-harvest and rights-to-plan or access to sloping lands for tree products and food. All three rights were novel in the DPR Korea and jointly contributed to success, together with active research support. Innovations in double-cropping annual food crops together with non-competitive contour strips of valuable fruits (aronia berry: Aronia melanocarpa) and/or high-value timber (larch: Larix leptolepis) emerged as preferred local agroforestry systems. Broad support for agroforestry practices has now emerged within the Ministry of Land and Environmental Protection as well as a number of universities and research centres. Further development will require increased engagement with agricultural and horticultural agencies, while the social dimensions of participatory agroforestry continue to provide rich learning.     

Socioeconomic research in agroforestry: a decade in review

Agroforestry research in academia and government and non-governmental agencies began by focusing on biophysical aspects. As this science represents a series of practices implemented by individual farmers, it requires in-depth social and economic analyses to assess economic feasibility of agroforestry systems, factors influencing the adoption of agroforestry, monitor the relevance and effectiveness of investigations, and guide future research efforts. This study presents literature dealing with socioeconomic issues in agroforestry research from interdisciplinary peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and gray literature from 1992 to 2002. Over 500 publications were analyzed to determine relative dominance of geographical regions, types of analyses, agroforestry technologies, and socioeconomic issues. Trends were examined over time and by region. Overall, the body of literature exhibits an increasing trend toward regional and analytical diversity over time. Some deficiencies of regional and thematic nature were observed, which included underrepresented temperate regions and technologies such as riparian buffers, as well as only a small number of papers dealing with gender and property rights. These suggest opportunities for future investigations.