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

aiming at commercial markets. The type of of who planted them or where they are planted.
extens.on approach used in each case will
therefore also vary. Revitalizing Forestry Extension
If forestry extension aims to develop forest Activities
resources and protect the environment while In light of the above problems and constraints
simultaneously improving the socioeconomic status to forestry extension, remedial measures should
of the most economically disadvantaged, then the be explored. Individual measures are actually
most appropriate tar gets should be the small-scale self-identifying as they
farmrs thn
correspond
tt athe coporte
on
ree
a
farmers rather tha the cor porate tree
rowrsone-to-one
growers.
basis with the
sefie
above constraints and
The extension project must be tailored to meet that need not be
tifn'ste
discussed in orsodo detail.
goal. A mismatch between the target and the
extension approach causes problems and failures.
One important, all-encompassing solution
that ought to be discussed is training in general.
Inappropriate Miessage
Subjecting foresters who are currently involved
As pointed out earlier, many forestry extension in extension work to training and retraining is
projects
pjs epainted
emphasize
uterlie
the message
msage ofprmores
of
tnecessary
promoting
to enhance their skills in.interacting
with farmers in a participative and
national development, ic. "forests build the nation," non-thretening way. This will improve their
rather than emphasizing individual farmers'
ability to select and skillfully use approriate
benefits, such as "trees planted on your farm can
incicase
extension
your income."
methods
Patriotic messages
and
are
techniques,
insufficient
strengthen
and
to motivate
their
further
farmers
dedication
to plant
to
trees,
the important
task of transferring technology for the farmers'
benefit as well as for the nation.
On another plane, inappropriate messa e
refers to the dissemination of information taen
directly from scientific research in its unprocessed
form which is largely incomprehensible and useless
to farmers who may be interested in tree farming.
Poor Timing
As agroforestry involves planting, and sirce the
planting of tree seedlings has to be timed %,,h the
rainy season in order to ensure survival, forestly
extension activities are sometimes intensified at the
onset of the rainy season. While the timing in that
sense is right, what many forestry extensionists fail
to consider is that this is also the busiest time for
the farmer in planting important food crops. The
fErmer may have no time to plant trees at that
particular moment. Timing of extension activities
should be determined by two factors -- the season
and the availability of farm labor to undertake the
tree planting.
Inadequate Institutional and Policy Support
As indicated above, forestry authorities
continue to hold the belief that law enforcement
rather than extension is the means for protecting
and developing forests. As long as this view
persists, it will be difficult for forestry extension to
obtain full support in terms of budgetary,
equipment andmanpower allocation. Similarly,
current policies that serve as disincentives to
private sector participation in reforestation of
public land will continue. In Thailand, for
example, teak trees belong to the State, regardless
87
On another level, the training of policy
decision makers in forestry agencies is also
necessary even if they are not directly involved
in forestry extension. Such training will
presumably have a positive effect on modifying
their attitudes towards forestry extension and
lead to greater support for the establishment
and operation of a nationwide forestry extension
adoratr
program.
Finally, training key elements of the generil
public such as schoolteachers, local leaders,
pbisu as so oltecers lc leaders
because skills and attitudes will predispose them
towards accepting and participating in forestry
development activities that are promoted
derop met atvtesthta
Lessons Learned from Forestry
Research/Extension Experience
The list of lessons learned from experience
in forestry research and extension is almost
infik'ite. However, only a few geLieral lessons
need to be discussed.
Interdependence Between Research and
Extension
Extension as a developmental process is of no
value if it lacks useful and relevant information
to disseminate to the target beneficiaries. That
information has to be generated, tested and