Dataverse World Agroforestry (ICRAF)
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Household and farm attributes affecting adoption of smallholder timber management practices by tree growers in Gunungkidul region, Indonesia
No full textFarm household characteristics determine the success of programs promoting agroforestry systems and practices. This paper reports household and farm factors affecting the adoption of timber management practices by smallholders in the Gunungkidul region, Central Java, Indonesia. The research used three logistic regression analysis models - based on each household and farm characteristic, and a composite of both together - to identify the key factors influencing farmers' adoption and management decisions, and their relative importance. A sample of 152 farmers who managed their trees primarily for timber production was compared to a sample of 115 farmers with similar socio-economic characteristics who did not. The household condition and composite models identified both on-farm and off-farm gross incomes as significant factors affecting farmers' decisions to manage timber trees. The models confirmed that farmers with larger farms, and with higher on- and off-farm incomes, were more likely to manage their trees for timber production. These results have implications for extension programs that promote adoption of commercial timber management by smallholders in the case study and similar regions
Africa RISING Project: Local knowledge of farmers on constraints and opportunities to sustainable intensification of tree-crop-livestock mixed systems in Basona Woreda, Amhara region, Ethiopia
No full textConducted under the AfricaRISING project, the overall objective of the study was to characterize local knowledge of farmers about resources which their livelihood depends on in Basona woreda, Amhara region. This research is one of the several studies that are geared towards contributing to the achievement of sustainable tree-crop-livestock intensification as a pillar for the Ethiopian Climate Resilient Green Economy Initiative by providing opportunities for integrating early win tree species and management options in fields, farms and landscapes customized to local conditions and circumstances. Therefore, the main goal of the study was to identify opportunities through which trees-crop-livestock mixed system can be sustainably intensified to contribute towards achieving whole System Level Outcomes (SLOâs) namely: reducing rural poverty and promoting income diversification, improving food security, improving nutrition and health and ensuring sustainable management of natural resources. Specific objectives of the study were: 1. To assess land use and livelihood strategies at the household level 2. To identify and map out community resources 3. To determine temporal variation in availability of provisioning resources (livestock feed, crops, income, fuel, etc.) 4. To characterize existing tree cover and assess the drivers of land use/ tree cover change 5. To identify existing challenges and assess opportunities for sustainable intensificatio
Farmer-to-Farmer Extension Approach in Malawi: A Survey of Organizations
No full textTo improve smallholder farmersâ access to information, many extension services use farmers to help disseminate information that their fellow farmers can use to help increase agricultural productivity. This extension approach is referred to as âÂÂfarmer-to-farmer,â and the farmer extension agents are variously referred to as lead farmers, model farmers or extension multipliers, among others. The objective of the study is to characterize and assess the farmer-tofarmer extension approach and its application in Malawi by drawing from the experiences of organizations that employ the approach in their agricultural development programs. It is part of a series of studies being conducted of organizations conducting farmer-to-farmer extension and farmers involved in such programs in Malawi, Kenya and Cameroon
Replication data for: Scaling-up Sustainable Land Management Practices through the Concept of the Rural Resource Centre: Reconciling Farmers Interests with Research Agendas
No full textPurpose: Formal agricultural research has generated vast amount of knowledge and fundamental insights on land management, but thei
r low adoption has been attributed to the use of public extension approach. This research aims to address whether and how full participation of farmers through the concept of Rural Resource Centre (RRC) provides new insights for the development of alternative and farmers-based extension methods. Design/Methodology/Approach: Using the Concept of RRC, this research assesses the role of farmers in on-farm demonstrations and scaling-up of land management practices, and investigates effective ways to enhance beneficial interactions between researchers, extension workers and farmers in view of improving adoption. Findings: The findings suggest that farmers can effectively participate in demonstrations and scaling-up of agricultural practices. This participation is enhanced by judicious incentives such as higher crop yields that motivate farmers and influence adoption. The current success of the approach stems from the fact that farmers, extension workers and researchers jointly implement the activities and their different aims were achieved simultaneously: scientific results for researchers, better agricultural practices for extension workers, and economic success and free choice for farmers. Practical implications: This research concludes that farmers have the capacities to play an innermost role in demonstrations and scaling-up of agricultural practices. However, there is a need to build and strengthen their capacities to facilitate their participation and contribution. Originality/Value: The article demonstrates the value of the preponderant role of farmers in on-farm demonstrations and scaling-up practices by exhibiting the beneficial interactions between researchers, extension workers and farmers
New species of Phallus from a subtropical forest in Xishuangbanna, China
No full textSeven collections of Phallus species were made in surveys of a subtropical forest in Xishuangbanna in Yunnan Province, China, during the wet season of 2012. Macro and micro characters, together with nrITS sequence data, were used to separate the collections into three species. Phallus mengsongensis and P. serrata are introduced as species new to science, while a further Phallus species is described, but not formally introduced, due to paucity of material. Macro and micro descriptions, colour photographs, line drawings and nrITS phylogenetic data for all three species are provided, which are discussed in relation to similar species in these genera
Replication data for: A tale of transaction costs and forest law compliance: Trade permits for Non Timber Forests Products in Cameroon.
No full textThere are growing concerns about illegal activities in the forestry sector and some work is in progress to understand the causes and consequences of noncompliance to forestry laws. However, most research on illegal forest activities dealswith illegal timber harvestingwith little efforts on other activities likeNon Timber Forest Products (NTFP). In Cameroon, commercial exploitation of most NTFP is regulated by a permit system. However amajority of traders who sell these products do not have the necessary permits. The objective of this paper is to assess and use transactions costs economics (TCs) to explain why traders in Cameroon do not comply with regulations on permits. Results show that the process to obtain permits may require more than 26,000 USD and may require regular monitoring during a time span of more than 4 years. Analyses of traders' perceptions illustrate that the major sources of high TCs in the forest sector are the perceived complex administrative procedures and information asymmetry on procedures and the requirements to obtain permits. The study concludes that it is the impracticality to abide to high TCs rather than the inclination to disobey the law that pushes traders to operate without permits
Farmer to farmer interpersonal communication in agroforestry innovation dissemination in Sulawesi, Indonesia.
No full textDuring the past 35 years, research in agroforestry has evolved significantly. However in many countries the dissemination of agroforestry information and innovation is constrained due to a lack of extension agents knowledgeable of agroforestry issues. In countries like Indonesia, where smallholder livelihoods are dependent on agroforestry production systems, the dissemination of relevant agroforestry innovations is essential to reducing poverty and ensuring food security. Farmer-to-farmer communication is a possible alternative method of disseminating agroforestry innovations when there is a lack of extension agent in the agroforestry sector. To evaluate the potential of the farmer-to-farmer communication, a study was conducted in November 2012 and April 2013 to identify and understand village-level communication systems
Gender-specific assessment of natural resources using the pebble game.
No full textUsing a gender perspective to assess the preferences and values people associate with natural resources is essential, especially if the research aims to deepen understanding about men and women in relation to their natural environment. A game using pebbles has proven effective in classifying the value of natural resources, and the reasons behind the valuation. The pebble game is among many tools used in participatory rural appraisals (PRA). Sheil et al. (2002), for example, used the method to examine biological diversity in the context of landscape assessment. The pebble game was adapted in several gender researches in rural and migrant communities in Jambi, South and Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. These were supported by AgFor (Sulawesi Project funded by the Canadian International Development Agency) and REALU (Reducing Emission from Alternative Land Uses) projects. The studies assessed the importance of livelihood sources, the levels and nature of involvement of men and women in farming activities, the reasons for men and women preferences over natural resources, and the values they attach to them
Pembibitan Tanaman Pepohonan sebagai Alternatif Sumber Penghidupan Petani Agroforestri di Sulawesi Tenggara: Potensi dan Tantangan.
No full textPembibitan selain menghasilkan bibit unggul, juga dapat menjadi sumber penghidupan, khususnya ketika sumber bibit unggul masih jarang ditemukan seperti halnya di Sulawesi Tenggara (Sultra). Harapannya, pembibitan dapat menjadi alternatif sumber penghidupan, khususnya bagi petani agroforestri yang umumnya mengandalkan penghidupannya pada produk agroforest yang kadang terkendala pada harga dan produksi yang fluktuatif. Oleh karena itu, untuk mengetahui potensi dan tantangan dari pengembangan pembibitan sebagai alternatif sumber penghidupan petani agroforestr
Replication data for: Farmer attitudes and intentions towards trees in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) farms in CoËte dâIvoire
No full textCocoa yields in CoËte dâIvoire are low and falling each year, partly as a result of full-sun cropping systems. Thus, interest is now high in establishing sustainable cocoa agroforestry systems through the reintroduction of shade trees. This article uses data collected from a sample of 400 cocoa farmers in the Soubre´ region of CoËte dâIvoire to analyze farmersâ current and intention to plant trees in their cocoa farms in the future and the motivation for their decision. Logit regressions are used to assess the various determinants of current tree planting behaviour and future adoption intention. Results show that both current and likelihood of deliberately planting trees with mcocoa in the future is significantly affected by extension and certification programs, severity of diseases affecting cocoa, and geographic zone. Future intentions to associate trees with cocoa are further influenced by the age of the farmers, household size and the average age of the cocoa farm. To increase the adoption of tree planting in cocoa fields there is the need to intensify extension messages on the benefit of shade trees in cocoa farms especially in areas where adoption intention is still low. Where awareness is high, adoption can be increased through the suppl
y of seedlings and provision of specific trainings on planting density and management techniques to ensure that agroforestry has the maximum positive effect