Pruning strategies for reducing crop suppression and producing high quality timber in smallholder agroforestry systems

In the Philippines, smallholder farmers have become major timber producers and trees planted on farms are an important source of raw materials and income for them and for the local timber industry. The smallholder mode of timber production has several advantages over traditional reforestation. The frequent and intensive tending operations (land cultivation, weeding and fertilization) for annual intercrops improve tree survival and growth. Intercropping reduces tree establishment and weeding costs because these are charged to annual crop production. The cropped alleys between tree lines function as effective firebreaks. However, the planting of timber trees in association with light-demanding annual crops often leads to a drastic suppression in crop production as a result of competition for both above- and below-ground resources. With few exceptions, the most common timber trees promoted for farm forestry have been reported to decrease yields of associated crops. Therefore, concerns have been raised over the sustainability and suitability of tree farming for resource-poor farmers. Branch pruning effectively reduces light interception by the tree canopy, and thus prolongs the number of years that annual crop production can be practiced. However, to minimize crop yield suppression, farmers often practice intensive pruning annually before planting annual crops. Intensive pruning may enhance crop yield, but it is incompatible with commercial timber production because the growth rate and quality of the overstorey timber trees are severely reduced. This paper reports the results of on-farm trials conducted to assess the effects of four pruning levels on maize grain yield and also on tree growth and form. Plots consisted of three rows of the timber tree Gmelina arborea planted at 1 x 10 m with maize planted in the 10 m alleys during seven cropping seasons. The study shows that high pruning intensity (retaining a live crown ratio of 20−30%) results in significantly higher maize grain yields but reduced tree diameter. In economic terms, these higher maize grain yields are not enough to compensate for the costs of pruning and the lower market value of smaller-diameter timber. Therefore, if crop production is a priority, tree farmers should plant timber species that are less competitive or plant trees at low densities in other farm niches away from crops

The Fruits and Vegetables Industry in Indonesia: Production and Limited Access to Market

Smallholder producers of fruits and vegetables in the Nanggung sub-district of West Java, Indonesia practice a multicropping system of agriculture on less than two acres of land. Agricultural practices in this area are still crude, with little or no inputs such as fertilization or modern irrigation. When water is available, the furrow irrigation system is used at best. Although banana is one of the income-generating crops, farmers grow it in combination with other fruits such as durian, mangosteen, rambutan, jackfruit, and with vegetables such as chili peppers, tomatoes, sweet corn, and green beans under non-intensive management. Although market-survey reports show that the demand for these fruits and vegetables is greater than the supply, the farmers not only have limited access to markets but produce inferior quality and limited quantity (Fonsah 2003). Due to these limitations, this study is aimed at developing new markets, creating new distribution systems and market channels, and seeks ways to improve those already existing.Agribusiness, Crop Production/Industries, Marketing,

The management of tree genetic resources and the livelihoods of rural communities in the tropics: non-timber forest products, smallholder agroforestry practices and tree commodity crops

Products and services provided by trees in forests and farmland support the needs and promote the wellbeing of hundreds of millions of people in the tropics. Value depends on managing both the diversity of tree species present in landscapes and the genetic variation within these species. The benefits from trees and their genetic resources are, however, often not well quantified because trade is frequently outside formal markets, there is a multiplicity of species and ways in which trees are used and managed, and genetic diversity within species is frequently not given proper consideration. We review here what is known about the value of trees to rural communities through considering three production categories: non-timber products harvested from trees in natural and managed forests and woodlands; the various products and services obtained from a wide range of trees planted and/or retained in smallholders’ agroforestry systems; and the commercial products harvested from cultivated tree commodity crops. Where possible, we focus on the role of intra-specific genetic variation in providing support to livelihoods, and for each of the three production categories we also consider wider conservation and sustainability issues, including the linkages between categories in terms of management. Challenges to ‘conventional wisdom’ on tree resource use, value and management – such as in the posited links between commercialisation, cultivation and conservation – are highlighted, and constraints and opportunities to maintain and enhance value are described

Potential of Agroforestry Practices in Multifunctional Landscapes for Enhancing the Livelihoods of Local Dwellers in the North-Western Charlands of Bangladesh

Char is any accretion in a river course that extends or establishes new land. A well-planned integrated land-use system combining woody perennials (agroforestry) can ensure sustainable, environmentally friendly climate resilience land-use systems and livelihood options on charland. To date, no systemic investigation of charland land agroforestry has been undertaken. A comprehensive study of the potential of agroforestry systems in charland areas was conducted using qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Two methods were employed: structured questionnaire interviews and botanical surveys. Findings revealed that considerable variation exists in both charland and mainland areas in terms of socio-demographic characteristics. Both tree and agroforestry knowledge of mainland farmers is greater than that of charland farmers. Charland dwellers sell almost all their farm products, while most mainland farmers consume their products. Agroforestry-related communication between extension workers and farmers is limited in both ecosystems. However, farmer interaction with extension workers is far less common in charland areas. Mainland farmers are satisfied with their homestead production systems, whereas cha land farmers face huge problems with the free grazing of cattle and goats. Mainland farmers think quality planting materials and fencing systems are key issues. Leafy short-rotation vegetables and climbing vegetables are more common in charlands. Other common marketable vegetables are tomato, brinjal, carrot, cauliflower, and cabbage. All fruit trees common on charland are more frequently found in the mainland areas. In the case of timber, eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) is more common on charland, whereas mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) frequency is higher in the mainland. Medicinal trees are uncommon in both ecosystems except for neem (Azadirachta indica). Through proper training and motivation of farmers, there is a vast scope to increase tree and vegetable diversity in charland farms

Tree Culture of Smallholder Farmers Practicing Agroforestry in Gunung Salak Valley, West Java, Indonesia

This paper investigates the types of agroforestry system that exist in Gunung Salak Valley, West Java, Indonesia in order to characterize the differences in their basic structure and associated crop plant diversity. Data were collected through rapid rural appraisal, field observation and focus groups, followed by household survey of a sample of 20 agroforestry farmers. Five main agroforestry systems (homegardens, fruit tree system, timber tree system, mixed fruit�timber system, and cropping in the forest understory) exist in the study area, and all of them exhibit a noticeable diversity in terms of both species composition and utilization. Products from farming accounted for an average 24 % of household income. They comprised agroforestry products which contributed IDR 3.25 million/year and other agricultural products contributing IDR 1.66 million/year. The observed agroforestry systems include not only a form of forest dominated by �cultivated trees�, but also an anthropogenic vegetation formation derived from agricultural antecedents. In land-use classifications agroforestry systems are not recognized as forestry, but like forests they provide tree products and services. Classification will always be disfunctional if a binary system is applied, thus a more sophisticated approach should be adopted that incorporates the economic and environmental characteristics of a wider range of systems

Agroforestry - The Most Resilient Farming System for the Hilly Northwest of Vietnam

Over 94% of the land of northwestern Vietnam is classified as sloping. Population growth has exerted pressure on local natural resources, with agricultural expansion on steep slopes resulting in forest degradation, landscape fragmentation and severe environmental consequences. Efforts to restore forest ecosystems have been made by the government, however, as the livelihoods of 80% of the population depend on agriculture, the reconversion of land to forest has proven to be an inappropriate solution. Agroforestry offers a potentially sustainable land-use solution, which could re-establish forests, restore ecosystem services, and stabilize local livelihoods. In this paper, we assess the potential of agroforestry development in the region based on the results of two interrelated surveys conducted in 21 representative villages in six districts of three northwestern provinces: 1) a farming system diagnosis implemented in 17 representative villages; and 2) an agroforestry adoption survey with 210 households practising agroforestry in 14 villages. The analysis was strengthened by four years’ experience in implementing an extensive agroforestry project in the region. The studies focussed on assessing key benefits and constraints of existing farming systems, including agroforestry practices, adopted by farmers and identifying the potential for agroforestry development in the region. The results showed that the dominant farming system in the north-western provinces was monoculture of staple crops on slopes, which provided relatively low economic returns. Soil erosion, land degradation, and water shortages resultant from intensive farming practices were the most significant environmental issues in the area. Tree-based farming systems were rare and mostly a result of spontaneous adoption by farmers. Given the mountainous landscape and the need for soil stabilization, agroforestry was seen by farmers as a viable approach. Improving the existing and adopting new, integrated agroforestry systems were identified as viable ways toward sustainable livelihoods in Northwestern Vietnam

Agroforestry - The Most Resilient Farming System for the Hilly Northwest of Vietnam

Over 94% of the land of northwestern Vietnam is classified as sloping. Population growth has exerted pressure on local natural resources, with agricultural expansion on steep slopes resulting in forest degradation, landscape fragmentation and severe environmental consequences. Efforts to restore forest ecosystems have been made by the government, however, as the livelihoods of 80% of the population depend on agriculture, the reconversion of land to forest has proven to be an inappropriate solution. Agroforestry offers a potentially sustainable land-use solution, which could re-establish forests, restore ecosystem services, and stabilize local livelihoods. In this paper, we assess the potential of agroforestry development in the region based on the results of two interrelated surveys conducted in 21 representative villages in six districts of three northwestern provinces: 1) a farming system diagnosis implemented in 17 representative villages; and 2) an agroforestry adoption survey with 210 households practising agroforestry in 14 villages. The analysis was strengthened by four years’ experience in implementing an extensive agroforestry project in the region. The studies focussed on assessing key benefits and constraints of existing farming systems, including agroforestry practices, adopted by farmers and identifying the potential for agroforestry development in the region. The results showed that the dominant farming system in the north-western provinces was monoculture of staple crops on slopes, which provided relatively low economic returns. Soil erosion, land degradation, and water shortages resultant from intensive farming practices were the most significant environmental issues in the area. Tree-based farming systems were rare and mostly a result of spontaneous adoption by farmers. Given the mountainous landscape and the need for soil stabilization, agroforestry was seen by farmers as a viable approach. Improving the existing and adopting new, integrated agroforestry systems were identified as viable ways toward sustainable livelihoods in Northwestern Vietnam