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

grandis) trees at 6x6m were planted. He planted
100 Eucalyptus trees, 40 Leucaena, 40 cassod trees,
and 100 clumps ofB. niana around the edges of his
plot. The project did the initial plowing with a
tractor.
Update - One Year Later
Boonserm Patangkam had planted 1,193 more
trees of 27 species. There are now approximately
75 trees/rai on his plots. He also grew plants to
iiinrovc the soil, and trees for boundary markers
anat fences. During the growing season of 1988/89,
he earned 14,180 Baht from his rice harvest. He
received 5,44X) Baht from the field crops grown
between the trees. He raised fish in the rice paddy,
kept a hive of bees, and started a small nursery. In
1990 he will earn about 7,00()0 Baht from the
propagation of four kinds of fruit trees with a total
of 350 cuttings.
Boonhkcng Sansakorn planted 1,073 more trees
of 26 species. There are now about 74 trees/rai.
He cultivated plants to improve the soil and
planted MPTS around the boundary of his plots as
well as on his honieplot. During the growing
season of 1988/89 he earned 8,910 Baht from rice,
and 4,600 Baht from field crops and vegetables,
Boonlieng expects to earn 4,(X)) Baht from
propagating plants in 1990.
Nual Dewa planted 1,817 more trees of 27 species.
There are now a )out 125 trees/rai on his land. He
interplantcd field crops with fruit trees. He also
planted MPTS around the boundary of his plots
and his home. In 1988/89 lie earned 8,250 Baht
from rice, and 4,600 Baht from field crops. Nual
expects to earn about 5,000 Baht from a good
variety of 250 propagated cutIivgs in 1990.
Constraints to Research Activities
The length of time to produce results is
rather long, even with the fastest-growing trees.
This damrens the enthusiasm of both researchers
and farmers. The length of time before harvest in
agroforestry systems can be a problem. If the trees
are damaged or destroyed for any reason, the data
will be skewed. It is difficult to start another trial
and thus, the project runs the risk of failure.
Research activities are nct continuous. The
farmers have little time to observe results over a
long time frame, even with fast-growing trees, as
there is constant work !o do in the fields. Farmers
sometimes may forget to monitor growth.
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Interference from other agricultural campaigns
encourages farmers to focus on activities with
higher sbort-term profits.
The project lacks technicians in related fields
such as economics, animal science, and
agriculture so it is not possible to put together a
multidisciplinary project.
Recommendations
Research should be undertaken only with
farmers who are enthusiastic about
participating. Good motivation will enable
them to see the research through to .he end of
the project.
The farmers should have a role in designing
and planning the research because they
understand the problems they face in trying to
maximize yields better than the researchers.
The farmers need to be trained to collect
data, with frequent visits and updates from the
researchers so they will monitor the trees in the
trials more closely. They need to understand
the progress of the experiment in order to take
better care of the trees under study.
The research procedure should be simple
enough for farmers to learn easily. Moreover,
local resources should be utilized.
The project design should complemeat the
on-farm activities so the researchers and
farmers can work together as a team. In
addition, the new techniques should fit into the
system already used by the farmers with the
least disruption possible, ic. the design should
not drastically alter the existing infrastructure
such as dikes, fences, walls, etc.
Research should not be undertaken where the
farmers are put at risk. On-farm research is
simultaneously used for purposes of
demonstration, promotion and publicity.
Research which fails means the farmers will be
less willing to participate in subsequent research.
Practical, ipplied research should be
emphasized over theoretical research which is
inappropriate for local conditions. Research
closely matching what the farmers are already
doing will be an incentive for the farmers to use
the successful results to improve their present
situation.