Agroforestry in action
Agroforestry is highly dynamic. As the scientific foundation
grows so do partnerships for research and development. The fundamental
partnership is between the researcher and the farmer.
On the
farm
The World Agroforestry Centre has developed an
international reputation for its on-farm research, adoption studies and
participatory monitoring and evaluation methods.
Agroforestry spreads through innovation networks of farmers.
The Centre seeks to accelerate the adoption process through innovative
scaling-up approaches, including a variety of extension tools, training methods
and networking events. One example is a DFID-financed project, implemented by
the Oxford Forestry Institute and the
World Agroforestry Centre, that is helping to promote the scaling up of fodder
trees in four countries of East Africa.
Farmers learn best from other farmers. Agroforestry is a
system of better land management that involves participatory analysis of
problems and options. The stepwise and analytical approach of adopting
agroforestry systems takes time to yield results. Farmers who have tried and
succeeded are best equipped to help other farmers understand the risks, benefits
and options.
We have learned how to facilitate farmer-to-farmer extension
and networking in cost-effective ways.
- The Centre’s Lake Victoria Project works within the
farmer-centred National Agriculture and Livestock program in Western Kenya
- The African Highlands Initiative was chosen by farmers in
Kabale District as an extension provider under NAADS (National Agricultural
Advisory Services) in Uganda. NAADS is a new programme that provides
decentralized extension services to farmers based on their demand, for more
information visit http://www.agriculture.go.ug/achievements.htm
- The Centre works closely with municipal governments in
Mindanao, the Philippines, and as a result these governments increasingly fund
farmer-based extension
- Farmers, extension agents and community development workers
become change agents in the Centre’s scaling-up strategy for southern
Africa.
Agroforestry action does not stop at the farm
borders…
Beyond the
farm
Farmers of the
Future
Through the innovative Farmers of the Future
initiative the Centre is working with schools to make agroforestry a key element
of the curriculum.
Market-oriented
agroforestry
Tree crops are major income earners in the
tropical world. How can agroforestry help to expand opportunity for smallholder
farmers as well as buffer risk in these volatile markets? Diversification of
plantations is one way.
Trees in the
landscape
Agroforestry has a major role to play in improving
environmental management through increasing biomass, carbon sequestration,
increasing diversity, improving soil fertility and controlling soil erosion. The
next step in improving livelihoods and the quality of life of upland farmers is
to link better management of the land with rewards for environmental services
they provide to downstream users.
- Find out about these emerging environmental services
networks in Asia and a project focused on rewarding the upland poor for the
environmental services they provide at http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/RUPES/Index.htm
- The Centre’s work around Lake Victoria is a model of high
quality science and community development
Agroforestry can contribute to biodiversity conservation
through improving the livelihoods and assets of communities around parks and
protected areas. The World Agroforestry Centre also gets involved in the
planning process to help farmers’ groups negotiate with conservation and land
management authorities.
- The Centre is a leader in buffer zone agroforestry research
- Negotiation support is needed in complex institutional
arrangements for better land management
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