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

local interest in the wo.-k on MPTS, assist in
conducting and monitoring trials and avoid
duplication of effort. Such organizaticns often
have a good undcrstavding of local farming
conditions and can identify progressive, innovative
farmers able to conduct certain types of MPTS
research,
Research Methods
Increasing empilasis will be placed on
developing a partnership between farmers and
researchers using the cooperative structure in a
supportive rather than a controlling role. As a link
between the project and the household, the
brigade may represent art appropriate medium for
identifying research participants, facilitating group
evaluation exercises and testing MPTS extension,
Brigades can be considered as social units. They
are often based on traditional settlement patterns
vith each brigade representing a hamlc and
maintaining an elected leader.
All MPTS research should form the first step in
a logical progression from the investigation stage
through to adoption. Applied and adaptive
researt ' trials should lead to demonstrations, pilot
extension drograms and general extension
programs with seedlings and extension advice
being made widely available. Field activilics
should be carefully diffcrentiatcd to avoid the
pitfall of trying to do two d;fferent things on the
same site, which is rarely successful.
Since MPTS research in north Vietnam is
currently trying to identify both the species and
management role of MPTS appropriate for the
small farm environment, the general method of
research must be based on an invcstigative
approach. Farmers should be engaged in both the
examination of farm-scale land use problems and
conductitng and evaluation of trials. Rapid rural
appraisal (RRA) techniques can be usefully
employed in both problem identification and in the
evaluation of results. This will develop the team
approach to research work that is so important if
results and experiences are to be openly discussed
and developed.
Research methods should be governed by the
principle that "researchers must be able to provide
more useful, concrete, interpretable, and
predictive results than farmers and innovative
extension agents" (Robinson and Thompson 1987).
It is therefore suggested that M PTS research adopt
a household pcrspective linking the design and
evaluation of managcment trials to an awareness of
the impact on the household. This can refer to
either the level of demand for a particular product
147
or tree effect on agricultural production.
Finally, all research work must be ,,arcfully and
religiously documented using a standardized
format that concentrates oii brevity and
accuracy. When dealing with the smali farm
situation it is easy to misinterpret trial results
and farmer's comments on MPTS in thc
absence of a full understanding of the pertinent
details.
Research Agenda
To conclude thi:., look at the orientation of
MPTS research, a time frame must be
considered. For farmers to achieve the land
management opportunities presented to them
under Vietnam's new policies, MPTS research
will need to be well planned and rigorous,
carefully leading as well as Icarning from
complementary extension activities. There is a
danger of researchers and policy makers
adopting a blind faith in agroforestry, utilizing
MPTS in combination with agriculture as a
panacca for all land use problems. The process
to dccmine where and in what form
agroforestry and MPTS are the optimum
solution is inevitably time consuming.
Therefore, a research agenda is required rather
than a blueprint for action with its associated
preference for models.
The first step in setting such an agenda must
be the identification of priorities. In 1990 the
project will focus on SETs, both first round and
second round site-specific investigations, tests
of best bet species under on-farm co:tditions,
management trials involving Tephrosia candida,
fuclwood production systcas. and tests of
agroforcstry interventions. These planting
activities will be supported by further
investigations into indigenous species which may
warrant inclusion in the MPTS research
program.
Notes
t
or the purpose of discussion the landscape of the
project area can be divide- in!,) two portions, lowland -consisting
of wet rice land, and upland -- all land above
the paddy. A typical landscape thereby consists of islands
of hill land (upland) surrounded by rice fields.
in Vietnam, land isofficially clissified into five
categories: agricultural land, forest ind, residenlial land,
specialized land, and unused land. Ihis classification may
refer to intended land use rather than actual use, ie.areas
of forest land can be borrowed temporarily for cassava
cultivation.