Can farmer-to-farmer communication boost the dissemination of agroforestry innovations? A case study from Sulawesi,Indonesia

Research agencies generate a vast number of agroforestry innovations, many of which have significant potential to increase productivity and to improve livelihoods. However, the dissemination of information related to these innovations and their adoption rate remains low throughout Indonesia, particularly in areas with a low level of infrastructure development, such as in Sulawesi, Indonesia. In areas such as these, interpersonal communication between farmers (farmer-to-farmer interpersonal communication) is a significant means by which farmers obtain information related to agroforestry innovations that they may utilize to improve the productivity of their plots. Given the significance of this channel of communication, further investigation is merited to assess how it might be leveraged to improve the dissemination of information related to agroforestry innovations and how it can complement the use of other communication channels. Thus, this study was conducted to identify how farmer-to-farmer interpersonal communication is used and the extent to which it is a preferred means by which information related to agroforestry innovations is disseminated in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews involving 144 farmers (40 % female) from 12 villages in the provinces of South Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. Results show distinct differences in terms of farmers’ preferences for the various types of disseminators of information related to agroforestry innovations between provinces and genders. It was found that farmers play a significant role as reliable disseminators of information related to agroforestry innovations to a greater extent in areas where farmer’s access to government extension agents is limited and where language barriers act as a constraint to the dissemination of information by these agents. Farmer-to-farmer communication is not the only communication channel for the dissemination of the information, but it is preferred by farmers who only speak local languages. Thus, to enhance the dissemination rate of agroforestry innovations, farmer-to-farmer communication channels should be utilized to complement the use of other channels. In areas where farmer-to-farmer communication channels are preferred, deliberate measures to improve expert farmers’ and opinion leaders’ access to information related to agricultural and agroforestry innovations will facilitate the effective dissemination of this information amongst a greater number of farmers.     

牙鲆半乳糖凝集素6基因的克隆、表达及功能研究

半乳糖凝集素6 (Galectin-6)是β-半乳糖苷结合凝集素家族的成员之一。本研究首次分离并鉴定了牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus) Galectin-6 (PoGalectin-6),分析了其分子特征和表达模式,并对其免疫相关功能进行了研究。PoGalectin-6基因的开放阅读框长为1089 bp,共编码362个氨基酸,其中包含2个糖识别结构域(CRDs)。同源序列比对和系统进化树分析显示,PoGalectin-6与大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus) Galectin-4的相似性为80.9%。组织分布结果显示,PoGalectin-6基因主要在肠组织中特异性表达。迟缓爱德华氏菌(Edwardsiella tarda)感染后,PoGalectin-6基因在肠组织中的表达显著升高,感染后12 h表达量最高,随后逐渐降低并恢复至正常水平。细菌结合实验证实,PoGalectin-6重组蛋白(rPoGalectin-6)能够结合枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)、蜡样芽孢杆菌(Bacillus cereus)、杀鲑气单胞菌(Aeromonas salmonicida)、迟缓爱德华氏菌和创伤弧菌(Vibrio vulnificus),但并不结合短小芽孢杆菌(Bacillus pumilus)。此外,rPoGalectin-6以钙离子依赖的方式对短小芽孢杆菌、枯草芽孢杆菌、杀鲑气单胞菌和迟缓爱德华氏菌表现出明显的凝集作用。研究表明,PoGalectin-6基因参与了由迟缓爱德华氏菌感染引起的免疫应答,这一发现为探索Galectin-6在硬骨鱼类中的免疫功能奠定了基础。     

Sugar palm (Arenga pinnata (Wurmb) Merr.) for livelihoods and biodiversity conservation in the orangutan habitat of Batang Toru, North Sumatra, Indonesia: mixed prospects for domestication

Domestication of desirable forest resources in agroforestry is expected to contribute to community based forest conservation efforts, but there may be an optimum level of domestication in this respect. Aren or sugar palm (Arenga pinnata (Wurmb) Merr.) is a multipurpose tree that provides livelihoods for local people and food for other biota in the landscape. However, its domestication is still limited in many places, such as in Batang Toru Forest Block, an area of high conservation value, including habitat for the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii). Options for aren management were prioritized as part of a landscape-scale conservation study by comparing domestication levels in the area. Data on economic indicators and ecological knowledge were gathered through interviews with key farmers, focus groups and transect walks. Four representative villages were selected for the study, that is, (i) two villages with no domestication of aren; and (ii) two villages with aren cultivation in rubber-based land-use systems. Costbenefit analyses suggested that in a rich biodiversity area, such as Batang Toru, although aren was one of the sources of local livelihoods, additional investment for domestication beyond cultivation was not an option considered by farmers. Farmers still perceived wildlife as an efficient mode of aren regeneration, supported by the coexistence of people and other biota in the area. It appears the value of aren for local people’s livelihoods and conservation can be enhanced by increasing its stocking density. There is also scope for improving market access and share of end-user value received by farmers.