multipurpose tree species research for small farms: strategies ... - part

esearch scientists. Many crop and fruit tree
varieties, managenIcn'! ,Ynd processing practices
are the results of trial and error by farmers. MPTS
research can be accelerated and improved by
recognizing and encouraging research by farmers
themselves. While this type of research pro-idcs
little material for academic journals, it can be
effective in determining ways of improving the lives
of small farmers.
Increase Incentives for Small Farm Research
Researchers can be encouraged to direct their
efforts to small farm MPTS problems by providing
additional incentives. Research incentives
common!v include increased travel and publication
opportunities, promotion, awarus or other f-rms of
recognition. Tbese external incentives for research
can be provided by research administrators to
encourage scientists to increase the ]uantity and
quality of research on MPTS. Howe,r, there are
internal motivations which are probably even more
effective in orienting research to the needs of
small-scale farmers.
These internal values include a sense of
obligation to society, of duty, and of social justice.
To work in farmer-oriented research for these
reasons often provides great satisfaction to the
scientist as a result doing a worthwhile job.
Positive feedback from farmers when a cesearch
finding helps improve the quality of farni life or the
approval of peers who recognize well-intenfioned
efforts are cxamplcs of the rewards of working with
such noble motives. Such feedback also helps to
strengthen the self-worth of those who seek to
make research contributions for the benefit of
society. Non-governmental service or development
organizations which conduct research often
include well-motivatcd individuals driven by
altruistic motives.
Increase Communications Between Research &
Development Personnel
There should be a formal link between the lorcst
research organizations and the development and
extension agencies, to facilitate better intcr: ction
and feedback. This can be done by nominatiig
field officers to a research, planning and re, icw
committee of the FRI. In addition, the FRI can
oiganiz" ,annual meeting of scientists and
deveiopment officers to fa::ilita*,e technology
transfer and to receive feedback from the field.
The Forest Research Institute in India
introduced a novel approach by appointing senior
officers from the state forest departments on a
rotating basis to head various div;sions at Ihe
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J,-stitute. These officers, with their rich field
e)perience, would be able to guide the scientists
v.orking with them. However, this objective is
difficult to implement in practice if Ihe
transferred officers lack interest in directing
research programs.
Formation of scientific associations and
networks has become very popular during
recent years. However, the tendency is to
narrow the membership to a few special interest
groups. Instead of confinu, 1 it to include only
the scientific community ,rfield workers,
promotion of a combined network or
association of forestry scieiitists, social
scientists, development workers and extension
staff would f icilitate better communication and
help in finding solutions.
Another effective program to provide
opportunities for forest scientists to learn about
village problems is to introduce a system of
sabbatical leave at regular intervals of 5-10
years. Under this system, scientists would select
a group of villages where th -y would spend 6-12
mouths studying basic pro',.ems and developing
a proposal to solve these problems. Such
proposals could be implemented by the social
forestry department or through NGOs.
Conclusion
Research which is relevant to small farm
MPTS production and use is lacking, even
though interest in this topic has expanded
dramatically over thc last 10 years. Policies for
forest protection and management, training and
rese.rch priorities, and lack of incentives for
farmer-oriented research have limited the
amount of effective research on small farm
MPTS problems.
The preceding discussion demonstrates the
importance in motivating forestry scientists to
g(. jut in the field and interact with farmers,
field workers, and social scientists to learn
about the needs of the small-scale farmers.
With adequate information and encouragement,
scientists can effectively orient MPTS research
to help solve small far problems.
References
Bengston, D.N., H.M. Gregersen, A.L.
Lundgren, and L.S. Hamilton. 1988. Forestry
ReseLarchl Capacitvin the Asia-PacificRegion.
Honolulu: East-West Center.