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

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individual tree and aggregate stand growth rates from such trials arc usually grossly undcrestimatcd since the higher growth in open plantations with minimal inter-tree competition and maximum benefit from constant lending of the neighboring agricultural crops arL not properlv taken into account. It is not surprising dhat Iarmers often spurn proffered agroorestry technologies whose predicted yields, derived from block plantation trials, arc regarded as unaltractivcly low. Weak Links Between Researchers and End Users The forward and backward linkages bctvcen researchers who generate nev. information, and Ihc public which uses the information, are t;ften very weak in developing countries. Researchers usually have no clear idea of who their target clients arc and therefore can not tailor their efforts to the needs of their clientele. Information users, in turn, do not transmit clear feedback about the usefulness or inappropriateness of the results of certain studies. Thus, scientists arc often unawarc that their outputs may be of no immediate use to target farmers. Making Research More Responsive to HIigh Priority Needs It is accepted Ihat most developing countries can ill afford research, let alone research activitics that yield outputs not immediately useful in allcvlating sociocconomic difficulties and ecological dcgcneralimon. To make research bcncit/cost ratios greater than unity, ic.make benefits exceed costs, it is necc..arv to remedy the current situation of having solutions chasing problems. Three broad guidelines are suggested. Training in Research Methodology Developing skills through training toimprovc the manner in which problem-solving research can be carried out isvery important. However, it should be emphasiied that training in research methods must include sharpening skills for identifying, priorilizing and seecing the most idenrifying, pririt andoselectg the mconfronting appropriate development problems to be addressed y researcl, and for defining (tic "shape addresd by researcad frefi te shape and size" of the selected problem. Correctly identifying and defining the problem is half of the battle. Suitable hypotheses can then be formulated oin which trials and tests can be based, Development The ForestrvyFuciwood Research and (F:-RI'tl)) Project, for example, is urrently engaged in a series o regional r skill-development training for researchers tno 84 involved in the M PTS Research Network. This is a move in the right direction and should be maintained or accelerated. Focusing on Specific Target Beneficiaries The "shotgun" approach of developing research stratcgy in an attempt to distribute the Iencfits widely does not seem to work very well. While the posilive effects may be spread over a greater number of pcoplc, those effects may be too shallow and superficial to make a difference. The "rifle" technique may be better since it focuses research towards a smaller target beneficiary, and its impact can bc of greater depth and of longer overall effect. More importantly, if the target beneficiaries are firmly identified and clearly delineated, high priority problems affecting thmcm can also be sharply defined, and research efforts can focus directly on them. This ensures the relevance of research efforts to the desires and needs of a given target group of beneficiaries. Studies on how to make forest plantations in general become more productive will only produce bland conclusions that may not be as useful to the target population as envisaged. On the other hand, research into better species selection, farm level plantation establishment and small-scale plantation management to increac the [pulp)wood yield of fast-growing species on agroforcstrv farms will produce results that arc highly relevant to a specific economic activity (pulpwood production) and extremely useful to a certain group of information users (small-scale pulpwood growers engaged in agroforcstry farming.) Aiming Research at Specific )evelopment Problems Problem-solving research may lack the l sophistication and ailurc of knowledge generating fundamental research. Its redeeming characteristic is that it directly addresses pressing sociocconomic roblems a c;ountry, a region within a country, a community or a household of limited-resource farmers. As such, it scores high in the eyes of ccop ntlaeradthi ccfircs development planners and their beneficiaries. When the problem-orientation of research is overlooked, results can be of little value. For example, an investigation of how to raise MPTS for fuclwood in a certain region proved to be an exercise in futility as there was no shortage of fuclwood in that region. The findings were of economic value to the local farmers.
Similarly, in another country, trial planting oif fasr growing species suitable for pulpwoo,-i were useless as there are no pulp and paper plants in the area to generatc demand and provide cash incomes, and there appeared to be no prospects of a plant being sited there in the forcseeable future, I Certai developing countries ensure that development problems arc given the highest rescarch priority by setting up national research coordinating agencies to focus attention on them. While they are not endowed with coercive authority to ,)rce scientists towards desired directions, they have a certain degree of control over research funds which they can use as incentives for studies in high priority subject areas, The Indian Council for AgriculturalRescarch (ICAR) of India, and the Philippine Council for Agricultural Resources Research and Develonictit (PCARRD) arc examples of such rescarcn coordinating agencies. Their relative success in funneling research energies towards key development problems seems to ;ndicatc the desirability of setting up similar institutions in other Third World countries, Extension Needs in Small-Scale Farm Forestry A ;roforcstrv extension is necessary to enable materials and information to flow apidly from the source -- the researchers, to the end users -- the farmers. The cxtcnsionists hasten the flow by making sure that the technology being trans erred is in the right form, at the right time, and in the right place (Raintrec 1983). These tactical moves serve to enhance adoption by practitioners ard help stimulate social, economic and cological development in the rural sector. To be effective, an agroforestry extension effort would need to include the following elements. Sustainable Sources of Relevant Information Sources of information arc usually agricultural and/or forestry research institutions, including academic units. Extension can initially thrive on anecdotal information derived from empirical observations, especially during the early awareness creation" stage. However, as extension shifts into high gear, hard data is required, and these can only be supplied through research, or from thorough documentation of the long-term expcriencc of other agroforestry farmers, Agroforestry research needs to shift from the "descriptive" to the "prescriptive" phase at this time. 85 Information Processing Capability As a rule, scientific information from research studies is too complex and filled with jargon to be directly useful as extension material. The results need to be simplified to the level of understanding of the farmers. A corps of competent information processors is nced.'d to collect, collate, synthesize, simplify and package information into various forms, either audio-visua! or printed, that are readily accepted and understood by the intended beneficiaries. These extension materials would be the primary tools of the trade of the field extension officers who directly in!cract with the farmers. Dedicated Field Extension Staif Target audiences can often be reached by mass media, but there is still a gre:at need for face-to-face contact between farmers and cxtcnsionists for more thorough dissemination of information, backed up by on-site demonstration of the techno'logics being transferred. A group of dedicated field extension workers are needed to identify and motivate target audiences, to plan participatory activities with the farmers, and to provide materials and technical advice when required. City-bred, desk-bound, swivel-chair cxtensionists or car-riding, road-bound field staff who have no real feel for field work, and who have no empathy with poor farmers are not suitable. Suitable Incentives One of the tragically naive beliefs of many forestry cxtcnsionists is that they can motivate farmers tocn'agc in forestry devclopment by appealing o tlcir scase of patriotism and civic spirit. They usL extension catch phrases like "Plant tree.. tid make your country green and great again.' All evidence indicates that economic motivation is the greatest, and sometimes the only incentive that convinces farmers to raise tree crops. If farmers can use the products domestically to replace purchased goods, or if they can sell them to gencric cash, they will likely want to producc them, assuming (hat the income from the trees cxcccls the potential income from other possible crops. There are three possible ways to "create" demand incentives for tree producers:
Page 1 and 2:
Proceedings of an International Con
Page 3 and 4:
MULTIPURPOSE TREE SPECIES RESEARCH
Page 5 and 6:
Session 3: Determining Extension, I
Page 7 and 8:
Preface While a great deal of inter
Page 9 and 10:
Participants of the conference, lad
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The establishment and continued gro
Page 13 and 14:
Session 1: Determining End Uses, De
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preliminary studies. Cross-cultural
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farm and village forestry practices
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group. A village in Thailand or Nep
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fit within the structure of each of
Page 23 and 24:
There is a growing literature on vi
Page 25 and 26:
A. heterophyla isplanted in homegar
Page 27 and 28:
Data Analysis The results of an exe
Page 29 and 30: Table 1. Dependency test between ho
Page 31 and 32: Survey and Participant Observation
Page 33 and 34: used the participant observation me
Page 35 and 36: needs to stay in the village for an
Page 37 and 38: A Descriptive Research Method to Es
Page 39 and 40: Important external data sources for
Page 41 and 42: Although a discussion of statistica
Page 43 and 44: demanded by consumers and the payme
Page 45 and 46: Table 2. Components and goals of th
Page 47 and 48: through a form of informal collusiv
Page 49 and 50: Information about the current envir
Page 51 and 52: importance to Sri Lankan society as
Page 53 and 54: Table 1. Major aspects considered i
Page 55 and 56: Table 2. Common perennial species.
Page 57 and 58: able to purchase basic inputs. Duri
Page 59 and 60: Session 2: Evaluating the Supply of
Page 61 and 62: The status of fuelwood utilization
Page 63 and 64: consume 184,990m 3 of fuclwood per
Page 65 and 66: References Boonyavechewin, S. and B
Page 67 and 68: loan, the decision is based on the
Page 69 and 70: subsidizes poor farmers. The govern
Page 71 and 72: Table 1. Components and expected ou
Page 73 and 74: traditional and simple with few exc
Page 75 and 76: levels. Education curricula should
Page 77 and 78: Session 3: Determining Extension, I
Page 79: or from scientific analysis of such
Page 83 and 84: aiming at commercial markets. The t
Page 85 and 86: Multipurpose Tree Species in Agrofo
Page 87 and 88: Table 2. Number of fruit trees plan
Page 89 and 90: Research should be designed to impr
Page 91 and 92: The majority of farmers can not aff
Page 93 and 94: and worked with them in both projec
Page 95 and 96: Timber is needed by most of the far
Page 97 and 98: home. In Maharashtra State, several
Page 99 and 100: Methodologies are reviewed for anal
Page 101 and 102: Development (NERAD) Project is an a
Page 103 and 104: small-scale charcoal manufacturing.
Page 105 and 106: Table 1. Hypothetical logit test re
Page 107 and 108: hectare of cultivated land requires
Page 109 and 110: The farmers' choice of species lead
Page 111 and 112: References Abell, T.M.B. 1981. Fucl
Page 113 and 114: Session 4: Orienting Research Effor
Page 115 and 116: Research mus. concentrate on these
Page 117 and 118: esearch scientists. Many crop and f
Page 119 and 120: Improving the Effectiveness of Mult
Page 121 and 122: western half of Timor. It is the po
Page 123 and 124: crops will result in less land bein
Page 125 and 126: compete with the tree crop in the f
Page 127 and 128: Small Farm Multipurpose Tree Specie
Page 129 and 130: The usual solution is to pilot test
Page 131 and 132:
The CENRO offices which are scatter
Page 133 and 134:
problem and begin work on a solutti
Page 135 and 136:
and industrial levels, as well as s
Page 137 and 138:
agicultural crops. Many of these ga
Page 139 and 140:
woodlot and grow cassava using a cr
Page 141 and 142:
local interest in the wo.-k on MPTS
Page 143 and 144:
Tree improvemqnt efforts by forest
Page 145 and 146:
the mother trees for their homegard
Page 147 and 148:
Table 2. General steps required to
Page 149 and 150:
Applying Fanning Systems Research C
Page 151 and 152:
Planning Diagnosis is only useful i
Page 153 and 154:
approach that is already known abou
Page 155 and 156:
Research Plans and Metotls Based on
Page 157 and 158:
leaves make good fertilizer, althou
Page 159 and 160:
Ref.rences Amir, P., R.C. Hawkins a
Page 161 and 162:
The growing importance of small-sca
Page 163 and 164:
taking into account possible effect
Page 165 and 166:
Poster Session Presentations / /
Page 167 and 168:
planned bulletiii. are provided, bu
Page 169 and 170:
L. leucocephala is the most well kn
Page 171 and 172:
Table 4. Probability significance (
Page 173 and 174:
Recently, systematic research on im
Page 175 and 176:
Table 2. Annual Paulownia exports,
Page 177 and 178:
Forest policy formulated in India u
Page 179 and 180:
vigorously, reaching the pre-thinne
Page 181 and 182:
Table 1. List of species for degrad
Page 183 and 184:
Table 3. Productivity potential of
Page 185 and 186:
candidate must withstand certain ed
Page 187 and 188:
arising from the fact that at the f
Page 189 and 190:
Table 1. Soil properties from the e
Page 191 and 192:
Table 5. Analysis of variance of Si
Page 193 and 194:
Capsule Method of Cultivation in Se
Page 195 and 196:
Table 2. Comparison of average stem
Page 197 and 198:
Table 1. Area and species planted i
Page 199 and 200:
Table 4. P.falcataria related enter
Page 201 and 202:
The Marketing System The marketing
Page 203 and 204:
The field trip, organized by the Fo
Page 205 and 206:
213 213 em
Page 207 and 208:
Participants Marian delos Angeles S
Page 209:
Syed Zahir Sadeque AST/CIDA House 6
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