Dear readers - Food and Agriculture Organization · 2010-09-07 · Leah P. Arboleda (Editor);...

APANews No. 30 July 2007 1

DISCLAIMER. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply theexpression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO and SEANAFE concerning the legal status of any country,territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delineation of its frontiers or boundaries. The viewsexpressed in this publication are those of the contributing authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of theeditor(s) of FAO and SEANAFE.

OUR ADDRESS. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 39 Phra Atit Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand;Website: http://www.fao.org and http://www.fao.org/world/regional/rap; E-mail [email protected]; SEANAFE c/oWorld Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)-Southeast Asia Regional office, PO Box 61, Bogor 16001, Indonesia; Website:http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/networks/Seanafe/Index.asp; E-mail [email protected]

PRODUCTION. Patrick B. Durst, Kenichi Shono, and Wilfredo M. Carandang (Editorial Consultants);Leah P. Arboleda (Editor); Rowena D. Cabahug (Editorial Assistant); Perseveranda G. Tubig and Reinelen M. Reyes(Production Assistants)

COVER PHOTO. Mr. Agustin Calanao applied his learnings in agroforestry on his three-hectare farm in BarangayNazuni, Dingle, Iloilo, Philippines, implementing various agroforestry systems. Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla),gmelina (Gmelina arborea), coconut (Cocos nucifera) and several fruit trees were planted along contours withpineapple, bananas, vegetables and other cash crops in the alleys. Mr. Calanao learned the practice ofagroforestry from a training conducted by the FAO-Technical Support for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development(TSARRD) in the 1980s. (Photo courtesy of the UPLB Institute of Agroforestry)

PRINTER. Thammada Press Co. Ltd., 86 Soi 501/1 Charansanitwong Road, Bangplad, Bangkok 10700 Thailand

Dear rDear rDear rDear rDear readereadereadereadereadersssssWelcome to the 30th issue ofAPANews! This issue includes severalinteresting articles on recentdevelopments in agroforestry. Wealso have several contributionspresenting findings of agroforestryresearch.

Two articles discuss non-wood forestproducts in this issue. One articlefeatures the findings of a researchthat explored various ways of storingrattan seeds to increase its viability.The article also presents acomprehensive overview of rattanseed storage and propagation inSoutheast Asia.

Another article discusses thepotential of integrating Burmabamboo in various farming systemsin India. As we all know, bambooculms are very much in demand asraw materials for furniture, baskets,incense sticks, and many otherproducts. The article discusses theresults of a study that integratesBurma bamboo with ginger in termsof constraints, prospects, andfinancial benefits.

There is also an interesting articlediscussing the potential of a biofuel-based agroforestry system. Thearticle discusses the potential ofintegrating Jatropha (Jatrophacurcas L.) in agroforestry systems to

produce vegetable oil. The oil is notonly rich in nitrogen, phosphorus andpotassium, but can also beconverted into industrial biodiesel.This article is indeed timely as recentresearch efforts are focusing onalternative sources of fuel andenergy.

Another article presents the resultsof a study that investigated thephysiological processes ofagroforestry systems in India. Thestudy focused on photosynthesis andother related growth parametersthat affect crop production undertree canopies.

In agroforestry promotion anddevelopment, the impacts of a five-year grassroots-oriented project ona people’s organization arepresented in an article from thePhilippines. The results of the impactevaluation affirmed agroforestry’spotential for increasing incomes offarmers, and at the same timeoptimizing land use. Moreimportantly, the article discusseshow the project was able toempower the people’s organizationto become self-sufficient and at thesame time provide relevantagroforestry extension services toothers.

We continue to featuredevelopments in agroforestryeducation and training through theSEANAFE News. Articles in this issueof SEANAFE News discuss aboutprojects on landscape agroforestry,and marketing of agroforestry treeproducts. There are also updates onits Research Fellowship Program andreports from the national networks ofSEANAFE’s member countries.

There are also information onupcoming international conferencesin agroforestry which you may beinterested in attending. Websitesand new information sources arealso featured to help you in yourvarious agroforestry activities.

Thank you very much to all thecontributors, and we eagerly lookforward to more of your interestingarticles! – The Editors

July 2007 APANews No. 302

agroforestry research

Exploring the possibility ofExploring the possibility ofExploring the possibility ofExploring the possibility ofExploring the possibility ofbiofuel-based abiofuel-based abiofuel-based abiofuel-based abiofuel-based agggggrrrrrofofofofoforororororestrestrestrestrestryyyyyR.S. Dhillon ([email protected]) and Nikhil Singh ([email protected])

India has a huge requirement forfuel. Non-renewable fossil fuels arethus being exploited at an alarmingrate to meet this demand. Thecountry’s domestic supply can onlyfulfill 22% of the country’s total fueldemand. Inevitably, the shortfall ismet by imported fuel.

Potentials of bio-fuel

A potential alternative to petro-based fuels is the biofuel. It can besustainable, renewable andecofriendly, and may substitute forfossil fuel in the future.

Growing biofuel crops in anagroforestry system can bringvarious benefits. At present, Indiahas about 175 M ha of wastelandswhich are in need of rehabilitation.These lands can potentially beplanted with trees/shrubs that bearoil seeds. Vegetable oil derivedfrom these plants is similar to that ofpalms and animal fat, and can beused to produce industrial biodiesel.When refined, the oil can beblended with petro-based diesel to20% of the volume.

One such example is Jatropha(Jatropha curcas L.). It is a shrub thatreaches 5-6m high, with spreadingbranches and stubby twigs. It startsfruiting two to three years aftertransplanting. It bears seedscontinuously for 50 years.

Jatropha

The seeds of Jatropha contain 30-40% oil. It is rich in nitrogen,phosphorous, and potassium. Asidefrom the oil, Jatropha produces highlitter fall, thus maintaining soilproductivity and promoting nutrientrecycling. Jatropha also has hardstems, grows rapidly, is drought-tolerant, and can be easilypropagated. This is a suitable crop

for integration in agroforestrysystems, especially when agroforestryis used to rehabilitate wastelands.

Biofuel-based agroforestry

Recognizing the potential ofJatropha, a study was conducted inHisar, India in September 2003 todevelop a Jatropha-basedagroforestry system.

Hisar is an arid area with an averageannual rainfall of 350-400 mm,occurring mostly (70-80%) during Julyto September. Aside from theseadverse climatic conditions, the soilsin Hisar are highly saline and havelow fertility.

For the study, six-month old nursery-raised Jatropha plants weretransplanted in two blocks atspacings of 5m X 3m. Monocroppingof Jatropha was done in one block,while Jatropha-based agroforestry

was established in another block.The Jatropha-based agroforestrywas planted with raya (Brassicajuncea) in the winter season, andmungbean (Vigna radiata) duringthe rainy season.

Results showed marginal differencesin the growth of Jatropha betweenthe two treatments. The majority ofthe Jatropha plants startedflowering and fruiting a year afterplanting. This is in contrast withearlier reports that Jatropha startsflowering and fruiting three yearsafter being transplanted. In northernIndia, flowering in Jatropha occurstwice a year - during March-Juneand September-December.

Jatropha is a monoecious plant thathas separate male and femaleflowers within the sameinflorescence. Thus, honeybees, ants,thrips, butterflies, and flies are

Continued on page 4

Fruits of Jatropha(Jatropha curcas L.)

Raising Jatrophain the nursery.



Studying rattan seedStudying rattan seedStudying rattan seedStudying rattan seedStudying rattan seedgggggerererererminaminaminaminamination and stortion and stortion and stortion and stortion and storaaaaagggggeeeeein Southeast Asia andin Southeast Asia andin Southeast Asia andin Southeast Asia andin Southeast Asia andNorNorNorNorNorthertherthertherthern n n n n TTTTThailandhailandhailandhailandhailandRick Burnette ([email protected]) andBob Morikawa ([email protected])

needed for cross-pollination. Annualflowering crops may be plantedbetween Jatropha plants in anagroforestry system to attractinsects needed to ensure cross-pollination. This will help maximaizethe fruit yield of Jatropha. The fruitsof Jatropha turn yellow as a sign ofmaturity 2-4 months after flowering.

In the study, the average seed yieldobtained during the first year was198 kg/ha. This is expected toincrease up to 10,000 kg/ha whenJatropha plants reach 6-7 years old.

In India, Jatropha seeds cost 5-10 Rs/kg, depending on their quality. Thus,a farmer can earn extra income fromintegrating Jatropha in hisagroforestry farm.

At present, Jatropha cultivation isstill a new concept in India. MostIndian farmers are venturing into thisfor the first time, and they are stillunaware of the appropriate

Exploring theExploring theExploring theExploring theExploring thepossibilitypossibilitypossibilitypossibilitypossibility...............Continued from page 3

agronomic/silvicultural practices forcultivating Jatropha. There is thus adire need to standardize suchpractices, and at the same timecontinuously explore the integrationof other biofuel crops in agroforestrysystems.

The authors work at the Department ofForestry, CCS Haryana AgriculturalUniversity, Hisar-125004, India.

Jatropha-basedagroforestry system.

Jatropha in boundaryplantation.

Rattan is a very diverse plant groupin the palm family. Best known for itsuse in furniture construction, rattancan also be used in making baskets,mats and ropes, and consumed asfood and medicine. In Vietnam,rattan is used in constructingbicycles (Nguyen and Ngo, 1996).

Although various species have beenintroduced in South and CentralAmerica, rattan is most abundant inSoutheast Asia and Africa. It isconsidered an economically

important nonwood forest product(NWFP) in a number of SoutheastAsian countries. Because of this, thenatural population of rattan hasbeen decreasing in many forestareas.

Rattan in Southeast Asia

Planting of rattan. Cultivating rattanto reduce the harvesting of wildrattan is being tried in a number ofcountries, including Malaysia andThailand. Malaysia has had

commercial plantations of rattansince the 1970s. Rattan plantationsin Malaysia begin to mature in fourto five years and become ready forharvesting after 10 years(Manokaran, 1984). The Royal ForestDepartment of Thailand maintains1,000 ha of rattan plantations(Vongkualong, 2002).

Experiments with intercroppingrattan and rubber in peninsularMalaysia showed that some speciessuch as C. manan, C. scipionum, andC. palustris were suitable forintercropping (Ali and Raja Barizan,2001). These studies showed that 4-7-year-old rubber trees are best forintercropping with C. manna. Thecane harvest should also be timedto coincide with plantationreplacement. Low branchingvarieties of rubber are best suitedfor the climbing rattan.



Meanwhile, other plants, such as oilpalm and bamboo, are also beingstudied as possible intercrops withrattan in Malaysia.

In the Philippines, NGOs havepromoted small-scale agroforestrywith rattan and perennial crops.Rattan seeds are broadcasted andlater transplanted into properspacing. Private companies in thePhilippines have likewise establishedcommercial plantations, but haveexperienced problems withpoaching (Baja-Lapis, 1996).

Farmers in Kalimantan, Indonesia,have been practicing a swiddenform of rattan intercropping withupland rice and other componentssince the mid-9th century. Theharvest of rattan begins 7-8 yearsafter establishment, and peaks ataround 25 years. In recent years,competition from commercial oilpalm and pulp plantations hasthreatened this form of rattanfarming. In some cases, thiscompetition had led to armedconflicts (Belcher, 2001).

In Sulawesi, Indonesia, Calamuszollingeri has been successfullyintercropped with coffee andcacao. Nursery-raised seedlingsshowed a better survival rate(96%)than cuttings (61%) after 20 months.Plants with greater sun exposure onwell-drained soils demonstratedbetter performance (Siebert, 2000).The amount of light required foroptimal growth varies by species at30-80% (Yin et al., 2000).

In Thailand, small-scale cultivation of

rattan for its edible shoots has beenpromoted by the Royal ForestDepartment since 1991. This practicewas brought to Lao PDR in 1994 andhas spread quickly (Evans andSengdala, 2002). In this system, rattangrown under full sunlight was moreproductive.

Propagation of rattan in SoutheastAsia. Nursery protocols for rattanpropagation have been establishedin several countries. The timing ofseed collection is important sinceimmature seeds show low rates ofgermination. Once the seeds aremature, their scales should separateeasily and the inner seed coat shouldbe dark (Dransfield, 1996). Innortheast India, mature seeds havebeen reported to appear yellowishwhite with ruptured scales (Bora etal., 2000). They also showaccumulated thorns, inflorescencebranches, and pericarp fragments onthe ground as a result of animalfeeding (Ahmad and Hamzah, 1984).The pulp of mature fruits in somespecies is sweet (Seethalakshmi,1989).

Bora et al. (2000) recommend thecollection of seeds from plants thatare at least 6-m tall. Alloysius (1996)noted that seed collected inplantations from the first floweringshowed lower quality and reducedgermination. Collected seeds shouldimmediately be packed in bags thatallow aeration but can also be keptmoist. Temperature during transportshould not exceed 28°C (Mohd et al.,1994). Upon arrival at the nursery site,the seeds should be spread out and

The pericarp and sarcotesta of rattan seedsare removed using mortar and pestle.

Rattan seeds are washed, treated withfungicide, and placed in plastic screen.

kept cool and moist until processing.

Processing and planting should takeplace as soon as possible. Theremoval of the pericarp andsarcotesta, the fleshy pulp aroundthe seed, helps increasegermination rates in most species(Ahmad and Hamzah, 1984; Bora etal., 2000; Evans and Sengdala, 2003;Mohd et al., 1994; Singh et al., 1989).In Thailand, C. perigrinus showed 91%germination in 12-35 days with thesarcotesta removed (Vongkualong,1984).

A number of techniques have beendeveloped to remove the pericarpand sarcotesta. These includebeating or stepping on the seeds tobreak the pericarp, rubbing theseeds between gunny sacks or on awire mesh to remove thesarcotesta, pre-soaking the seedsfor 24-48 hours, or using a blenderwith the blades taped or covered.Removal of the hilar cover alsohelps increase germination rates(Evans and Sengdala, 2003).

Seed processing should be donecarefully, especially if the hilarcover is removed, to avoiddamaging the seeds and therebyresulting in lower rates ofgermination. Soaking the processedseeds in cold water for seven dayscan increase germination rates(Evans and Sengdala, 2003).Seethalakshmi (1989) recommendssoaking the processed seeds for 48hours to induce fermentation, andthen discarding the seeds that float.Treating C. latifolius with heat at40°C for 48 hours also increased

germination. The cleanedseeds should be treatedwith fungicide beforesowing (Mohd et al., 1994).

Processed seeds should besown in raised beds orboxes, or on trays untilgermination takes place,before being transplanted

Continued on page 6



to polybags (Mohd et al., 1994).Large seeds should be sown at 2cm x4cm spacing with the seed porepointed upwards to hastengermination (Ahmad and Hamzah,1984; Mohd et al., 1994). Smallerseeds can be broadcasted.

Nursery beds should consist of asand:soil mix (1:4 or 1:3). Sown seedsshould be covered with 3cm ofsawdust and watered regularly(Ahmad and Hamzah, 1984). Farmersin northeast India sow C. erectus innursery beds, covered with a 5cmlayer of mixed sand and manure, anddry grass (Haridisan, 1996). For C.manan and C. caesius, germinationshould take place in 2-3 weeks.When seedlings are 2-3-cm tall, theyshould be transplanted to polybags.Seedlings should not remain in the

Studying rattanStudying rattanStudying rattanStudying rattanStudying rattanseed...seed...seed...seed...seed...Continued from page 5

nursery for more than a year (Ahmadand Hamzah, 1984).

Some rattan species can also bepropagated from suckers or rhizomes(Yusoff and Manokaran, 1984).Harvested suckers should be kept toa length of 20-25 cm (Haridisan,1996). Although Haridisan reportedlittle success with stem cuttings,Siebert (2000) reported 61% survivalwith cuttings of C. zollingeri. Suckersshould be harvested at thebeginning of the rainy season andtreated with rooting hormonebefore planting (Seethalakshmi,1989).

It is best to plant rattan seedsimmediately after harvest. Theyshould not be allowed to dry asseeds kept under dry conditions onlymaintain viability for two weeks,compared to two months undermoist conditions (Bora et al., 2000).

Studies have shown that seeds ofC. simplicifolius stored in wet sand at5-8°C had a 70% germination rateafter three months (Yin, 2000).Seeds of Daemonorops margaritaestored in a medium of crushedcoconut shells, with moisture kept at55-65% and sealed in a plastic bag(with a plastic tube to maintainaeration) at 15°C, were able tomaintain a germination rate of64-71% after six months (Yin and Xu,2000). In another study, cleaned andfungicide-treated C. tenuis seedsstored over water inside a sealedcontainer at room temperaturemaintained their viability for oneyear. The box was openedperiodically to maintain aeration

(Kundu andChanda,2001).

Rattan inThailand

There areover 80species of

Rattan seeds are placed in a plastic tubover water at room temperature.

Storage containers aresealed to maintain thehumidity of the rattan seeds.

Storage containers are periodically openedto allow aeration of the rattan seeds.

rattan found in Thailand, mostly fromthe genus Calamus (Vongkualong,2002). A one-hectare plot in theKhao Chong National Parkcontained 11 different rattanspecies with a total stem length ofover 2,300 m. Most of these werebeing used to make furniture (Bogh,1996). The most common specieswere Calamus peregrinus and C.rudentum, with an annual growth of1.24 m/year and 1.42 m/year,respectively.

The most economically importantrattan species in Thailand areC. longisetus, C. rudentum,C. peregrinus, C. caesius, C. manan,and C. wailong (Vongkualong, 2002).Rattan furniture manufactured inThailand is considered to be of highquality in many markets. However,forest law prevents the harvesting ofwild rattan. Hence, a considerableamount is imported from othercountries such as Indonesia,Myanmar, Lao PDR and China.

The rattan species found in northernThailand are distinct from thosefound in the southern portion. Theiruse as a traditional food source issignificant (Anderson, 1993). Thedisappearance of rattan fromnorthern Thailand has forced hilltribepeople to go to Myanmar to harvestrattan.

Studying rattan seed storage.To find a way for extending thestorage of viable rattan seeds, theUpland Holistic DevelopmentProject (UHDP), with technicalsupport from Floresta International,conducted a rattan seed storagetrial at the UHDP Agroforestry andSmall Farm Resource Center in MaeAi, Thailand in 2006.

Approximately 500 seeds ofCalamus wailong were soaked inwater for a week. The water waschanged daily. The pericarp andsarcotesta were then removed usinga mortar and pestle. The seeds wererinsed with water and rubbed on a#4 screen to remove any residualsarcotesta. The seeds were thenplaced in a breathable plastic



Continued on page 8

Rattan seedsgerminatingafter sixmonths instorage.

screen, and then in a sealed plastictub over water at roomtemperature.

Likewise, approximately 500 seeds ofDaemonorops jenkinsiana weretreated in the same way. All theseeds were then treated withfungicide (Solaxyl) to inhibit moldgrowth (which has started on theseeds of C. wailong). Fungicide wasapplied as dry powder. The seedswere then placed in a breathableplastic screen, and then in a sealedplastic tub over water at roomtemperature. The sealed containerwas opened periodically, and theseeds were removed temporarily toallow aeration.

The storage method ofDaemonorops jenkinsiana wassimilar to a method done in Chinawhich allowed the seeds to beviable for up to a year.

Study Results

The storage practices for the rattanseeds were maintained for sevenmonths. The containers were openedperiodically (a few times monthly)with the seeds being aerated formore than a few minutes at a time.

After a month, the rattan seeds wereexamined each month to determinethe degree of viability. During thistime, roots had begun to emergefrom a large number of seeds. Sixmonths after, at least 75% of theCalamus wailong and Daemonoropsjenkinsiana seeds had emergingroots. Thus, the study demonstratedthe following:

The viability of rattan seeds of C.wailong and D. jenkinsiana couldbe extended from the usualperiod of less than a month to atleast several months. Thegermination rate at this durationis over 75%.

Prolonged storage greatlyextends the viability of thesespecies, which is useful whenshipping rattan seeds.

Seeds of these rattan speciesneed not be immediately sownafter harvest, as their viability

can be maintained even afterprolonged storage.

Additional work needs to be done inthe following areas:

Studying the storage viability ofall five indigenous rattans thatare often used in the agroforestryprograms of UHDP. This willdetermine if all species can bestored for longer periods.

Future studies can determine ifcommercial fungicides areneeded to store rattan seeds.

Studies may also be conductedto determine how long rattanseeds can be stored withoutspoilage. Mr. Rick Burnette can becontacted at the Uplands HolisticDevelopment Project (UHDP), P.O.Box43, Fang, Chiang Mai 50110 Thailand.Mr. Bob Morikawa can be contacted atFloresta USA, 4903 Morena Blvd, Suite1215, San Diego, California 92117,USA.

References

Ahmad DH, Hamzah A. 1984. Nursery techniques forCalamus manan and C. caesius at the Forest ResearchInstitute nursery, Kepong, Malaysia. from Wong KM,Manokaran N. (editors). Proceedings of the rattanseminar. Oct. 2-4, 1984. Malaysia. Rattan InformationCentre. http://www.inbar.int/publication/txt/INBAR_PR_04.htm

Ali ARM, Raja Barizan RS. 2001. Intercropping rattanwith rubber and other crops. Unasylva. vol 52.http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=///docrep/003/x9923e/x9923e00.htm

Alloysius D. 1996. Reproductive biology of rattans.from Rao, A.N. and V. Ramanatha Rao, 1997. Rattan-Taxonomy, Ecology, Silviculture, Conservation, GeneticImprovement and Biotechnology. Proceedings ofTraining Course cum Workshops, 14–26 April 1996,Sarawak, Sabah. IPGRI-APO and INBAR, Serdang,Malaysia.

Anderson EF. 1993. Plants and people of the GoldenTriangle: Ethnobotany of the Hill Tribes of NorthernThailand. Dioscorides Press.

Baja-Lapis A. 1996. Philippine rattan resources,production and research. from Rao, A.N. and V.Ramanatha Rao, 1997. Rattan-Taxonomy, Ecology,Silviculture, Conservation, Genetic Improvement andBiotechnology. Proceedings of Training Course cumWorkshops, 14–26 April 1996, Sarawak, Sabah. IPGRI-APO and INBAR, Serdang, Malaysia

Belcher B. 2001. Rattan cultivation and livelihoods: thechanging scene in Kalimantan. Unasylva. vol. 52. http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=///docrep/003/x9923e/x9923e00.htm

Bogh A. 1996. Abundance and growth of rattans inKhao Chong National Park, Thailand. Forest Ecologyand Management. 84:71-80.

Bora HR, Pathak KC, Rawat V. 2000. Cane (Rattan)diversity of North East India and its sustainableutilization. from Arunachalam A, Khan ML. (editors).

2000. Sustainable management of forests-India,International Book Distributors, Dehra Dun

Burnette R. 2005. Agroforestry options for smallupland farms of the Golden Triangle. Upland HolisticDevelopment Project, Mai Ai, Thailand.

Dransfield J. 1996. The rattan taxonomy and ecology.from Rao, A.N. and V. Ramanatha Rao, 1997. Rattan-Taxonomy, Ecology, Silviculture, Conservation,Genetic Improvement and Biotechnology. Proceedingsof Training Course cum Workshops, 14–26 April1996, Sarawak, Sabah. IPGRI-APO and INBAR,Serdang, Malaysia.

Evans TD, Sengdala K. 2002. The adoption of rattancultivation for edible shoot production in Lao PDRand Thailand—from non-timber forest product tocash crop. Economic Botany 56(2):147-153.

Haridasan K. 1996. The silvicultural scenario ofcanes in North Eastern India with reference toArunachal Pradesh. from Rao, A.N. and V. RamanathaRao, 1997. Rattan-Taxonomy, Ecology, Silviculture,Conservation, Genetic Improvement andBiotechnology. Proceedings of Training Course cumWorkshops, 14–26 April 1996, Sarawak, Sabah.IPGRI-APO and INBAR, Serdang, Malaysia

Kundu M, Chanda S. 2001. Preliminary studies ondesiccation and storage of Calamus tenuis Roxb. seed.in Newsletter project on handling and storage ofrecalcitrant and intermediate tropical forest treeseeds. (9):29-31

Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. 2005. Rattan. http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ksheets/rattan.htmlManokaran N. 1984. Biological and ecologicalconsiderations pertinent to the silviculture of rattans.from Wong KM, Manokaran N. (editors). Proceedingsof the rattan seminar. Oct. 2-4, 1984. Malaysia. RattanInformation Centre. http://www.inbar.int/publication/txt/INBAR_PR_04.htm

Mohd WRW, Dransfield J, Manokaran N. (editors).1994. Nursery techniques for rattan. InternationalNetwork for Bamboo and Rattan. http://www.inbar.int/publication/txt/INBAR_Technical_Report_No02.htm

Nguyen TT, Ngo TMD. 1996. Silviculture andutilization of rattans in Vietnam. from Rao, A.N. andV. Ramanatha Rao, 1997. Rattan-Taxonomy, Ecology,Silviculture, Conservation, Genetic Improvement andBiotechnology. Proceedings of Training Course cumWorkshops, 14–26 April 1996, Sarawak, Sabah.IPGRI-APO and INBAR, Serdang, Malaysia



Seethalakshmi KK. 1989. Nursery and plantingtechniques for canes. Evergreen-Trichur. 22:3-5

Siebert SF. 2000. Survival and growth of rattanintercropped with coffee and cacao in the agroforestsof Indonesia. Agroforestry Systems. 50: 95-102.

Singh S, Ray BK, Gogoi S, Deka PC. 1999. Germinationof rattan seeds in vivo and in vitro conditions.Annals of Biology Ludhiana. 15(1):9-12. from CABabstracts 1999.

Vongkualong I. 1984. A preliminary study of thegermination and some ecological aspects of Calamusperegrinus in Thailand. from Wong KM, Manokaran N.(editors). Proceedings of the rattan seminar. Oct. 2-4,1984. Malaysia. Rattan Information Centre. http://www.inbar.int/publication/txt/INBAR_PR_04.htm

Vongkualong I. 2002. Thai rattan in early 2000. fromRattan: Current research issues and prospects forconservation and sustainable development. FAO. http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=////docrep/003/y2783e/y2783e16.htm

Yin GT. 2000. Cultivation methods for Calaumussimplicifolius. from Xu HC, Rao AN, Zeng BS, Yin GT(editors). Research on Rattans in China-Conservation,cultivation, distribution, ecology, growth, phenology,silviculture, systematic anatomy and tissue culture.IPGRI-APO, Serdang, Malaysia. http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/publications/HTMLPublications/576/ch14.htm#Cultivation%20methods%20for%20Calamus%20simplicifolius

Yin GT, Xu HC. 2000. Suitable storage conditions forseeds of Daemonorops margaritae. from Xu HC, RaoAN, Zeng BS, Yin GT (editors). Research on Rattans inChina-Conservation, cultivation, distribution, ecology,growth, phenology, silviculture, systematic anatomyand tissue culture. IPGRI-APO, Serdang, Malaysia.http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/publications/HTMLPublications/576/ch09.htm#Suitable%20storage%20conditions%20for%20seeds%20of%20Daemonorops%20margaritae

Yin GT, Xu HC, Zhang WL, Fu JG, Zeng BS. 2000.Cultivation of rattan species. in H.C. Xu, A.N. Rao, B.S.Zeng and G.T. Yin (editors) . Research on Rattans inChina, Conservation, cultivation, distribution, ecology,growth, phenology, silviculture, systematic anatomyand tissue culture. IPGRI-APO, Serdang, Malaysia.

Yusoff AM, Manokaran N. 1984. Seed and vegetativepropagation of rattans. from Wong KM, Manokaran N.(editors). Proceedings of the rattan seminar. Oct. 2-4,1984. Malaysia. Rattan Information Centre. http://www.inbar.int/publication/txt/INBAR_PR_04.htm

Studying rattanStudying rattanStudying rattanStudying rattanStudying rattanseed...seed...seed...seed...seed...Continued from page 7

PPPPPotential ofotential ofotential ofotential ofotential of Bur Bur Bur Bur Burma bambooma bambooma bambooma bambooma bamboofffffor inteor inteor inteor inteor integggggrrrrraaaaation with vtion with vtion with vtion with vtion with variousariousariousariousariousfffffarararararming systems in Indiaming systems in Indiaming systems in Indiaming systems in Indiaming systems in India

Coorg district in Karnataka state,southern India, covers a land area of4,104km2. It consists of 48% naturalforests and 32% private coffeeplantations. The rest are non-forested areas where paddycultivation is the dominant land use.

Recently, however, the productionof paddy rice has been decliningand yields are no longer sustainable.Moreover, the conversion of paddyfields to monocropping of ginger(Zingiber officinalis) and lack of laboravailability have adversely affectedthe income of communities.

To address these issues, thepossibility of integratingDendrocalamus brandisii (Burmabamboo) as part of an agroforestrysystem is being explored.

The potential of Burma bamboo

Burma bamboo has been grown byenterprising farmers since beingintroduced to Coorg in 1915. Theculms of Burma bamboo are smoothand around 25m tall with a diameterof 13-30cm. The walls are 1.7 to 3cmthick, with an internodal length of30-60cm. Its straight growth andthornless nature, unlike the otherlocal bamboo species such asBambusa bambos, makes Burma

S.Viswanath ([email protected]) and Dhanya.B ([email protected])

bamboo an attractive species forintegration with various farmingsystems (e.g. ginger cultivation,sericulture, and others).

Studies of households in Coorg bythe Institute of Wood Science andTechnology (IWST), Bangalore,revealed that carefully managedblock plantations of D.brandisii maybe a viable alternative inabandoned paddy fields because itrequires very low financial inputs.Most of the costs are incurred in itsinitial establishment and protection,and almost no costs are incurredduring maintenance, except for theannual marking and harvesting ofculms.

Assuming 278 plants per hectareplanted at 6m x 6m spacing, culmscan be harvested at the rate of 2culms/clump in the third year to 10culms/clump from the 8th to the 40th

year. Each culm can fetch up toUS$1.14-1.25 (at US1$ = 44 Indianrupees) in the market at currentprices.

Ginger cultivation is currently thepreferred land use in unutilizedpaddy fields in Coorg, even though itentails high labor and financialinputs. Drastic fluctuations in gingerprices (US$6-57/kg) and incidences

A 30-year-old unharvestedclump of Burma bamboo(Dendrocalamus brandisii)with more than a thousandculms.



Harvesting, transport, and use ofBurma bamboo as fence for gingercultivation.

10% 15% 10% 15%

1 Ginger + rice (sequential intercropping 4968 3148 1.52 1.47

2Burma bamboo (Block plantation at 6m x 6m spacing)

9232 4714 3.75 2.90

3Burma bamboo + Ginger (Block plantation at 6m x 6m spacing)

11307 6182 3.1 2.4

4Burma bamboo + Ginger (Block plantation at 6m x 10m spacing)

8143 5144 2.71 2.27

Net present value (US$) Benefit-cost ratioType of farming systemSl. No.

Table 1: Financial analysis of different farming systems in a hectare of uplandpaddy field in Coorg district at different discount rates.

of soft rot disease in water-loggedconditions often make themonocropping of ginger anunreliable enterprise.

Because it is a soil-exhaustive crop,ginger cannot be cultivatedcontinuously. Hence, a gap of fiveyears is needed between twosuccessive crops of ginger. This gap iswhat the intercropping of ginger withBurma bamboo hopes to dispose of.Intercropping of the two crops canoffer better returns due to multipleyields. However, the two crops needto be managed properly to avoidcompetition.

One concern that needs to beconsidered is the difficulty ofintercropping in Burma bambooplantations. The culms of Burmabamboo grow fast. Hence, theyshould be harvested regularly topromote good plantationmanagement.

If Burma bamboo is integrated withginger in block plantations, a spacingof 6m x 6m for Burma bamboo can beused to establish four rows with 10ginger beds in each row. It is possiblefor ginger to flourish in betweenbamboo rows in the initial year.However, light availability for gingerwill be reduced as the bamboosgrow. In this type of plantingconfiguration, one more croprotation of ginger comprising tworows between the bamboo rows, isstill possible in the fifth year.

At a spacing of 6m x 10m for Burmabamboo, intercropping is possible forlonger periods, up to the 15th year.Although the number of ginger bedrows may decrease progressively(from 6 rows in the first year to onlyone row in the 15th year), benefit-costanalysis revealed that D.brandisiiintercropped in ginger plantations isstill viable (Table 1).

The high Net present value (NPV) andBenefit-cost (B/C) ratio of Burmabamboo cultivation can beattributed to the low financial inputsneeded and sustained yield.Intercropping with Burma bamboo

can also reduce the costs of gingercultivation. An example is the costincurred in mulching. Mulchingginger can now be done using thecopious leaf litter from the Burmabamboos.

Intercropping of Burma bambooswith ginger, at 6m x 6m spacing,maximizes the NPV. Increasingbamboo spacing to 6m x10m toaccommodate more intercroppedginger rotations may not be asprofitable as the wider spacingarrangement results in lower NPVand B/C values.

Constraints and prospects

Inadequate planting stock. Althoughstudies have proven the financialviability of D.brandisii cultivation asan attractive alternative forunutilized paddy fields in Coorg, aninadequate supply of qualityplanting materials is considered amajor constraint.

To address this issue, IWSTconducted preliminary trialsfocusing on the selection ofcandidate plus clumps (CPCs) ofD.brandisii based on morphologicaland physical properties, and themacropropagation of materialsfrom CPCs to produce qualityplanting stock.Further macropropagation trialsthat used offset culm cuttings,rhizomatous branch cuttings, andculm cuttings from CPCs revealedthat horizontally planted culm

cuttings resulted in 90% success inrooting, which was much highercompared to vertically plantedrhizomatous branch cuttings inpropagation beds. A project is nowbeing implemented by the NationalMission on Bamboo Applications,New Delhi and the Vegetative

Continued on page 10



Propagation Centre (VPC) inPonnampet, Coorg to produce50,000 rooted cuttings every year tomeet the increasing demand for theBurma bamboo in Coorg.

Value-added feature and additionalmarkets. Other value-addedfeatures of Burma bamboo can alsohelp increase the income of farmers.The morphological features ofD.brandisii culms make ideal rawmaterials for incense stick making.This is a popular industry with anestimated market of 40,000-50,000tons per annum. One culm ofD.brandisii used to make incensesticks can provide a revenue ofabout US$4.5. The local sale of asingle culm, meanwhile, can onlyfetch US$1.14-1.25.

PPPPPotential ofotential ofotential ofotential ofotential of Bur Bur Bur Bur Burma...ma...ma...ma...ma...Continued from page 9

Different methods of vegetativepropagation of Burma bamboo.

Automated incense stick making usingBurma bamboo.

Value-added products from Burmabamboo.

These potentials can indeed provideincentives to farmers in Coorg toplant Burma bamboos, especially iflinkages with the markets of Mysore,adjoining Coorg, are established.Mysore is one of the biggest marketsfor bamboo. Their bamboo suppliesmainly come from the Northeasternpart of India. If tapped, Coorgfarmers can have additional marketsfor their bamboos.

Bamboo shoot processing. Anotherexciting prospect is the processingof bamboo shoots. Bamboo shootsare consumed as shoot gratings,shoot slices, and shoot pickles.Bamboo shoot pickles is a traditionaldelicacy in Coorg. Nearly 10,000seedlings of Dendrocalamus asper,an edible species of bamboo, weredistributed to farmers during ameeting of entrepreneurs in Coorg inJuly 2006.

The shoots of Burma bamboo arealso edible. They are low in fatand good sources of soft fiber.In fact, Burma bamboo islisted among the top fiveedible species of bamboos inthe world. However, its foodvalue is not recognized inCoorg. This is the reasonbamboo shoot processing isnow being promoted through

the innovative programs of self-helpgroups.

Policy restrictions. Aside from thelack of quality planting materials,the policies and regulations inKarnataka are not conducive tobamboo farmers. Although bamboohas been exempted from plantingpermits within Coorg, they are stillsubject to felling restrictions andtransit permits. This constrains thetransportation of bamboos to andfrom markets, and the establishmentof linkages with new markets.

Policy makers are just now realizingthe need to modify existing statelaws regarding the harvest andtransportation of Burma bamboowhich are cultivated on a large-scale. Policy changes can helpenhance the systematiccommercialization of bamboo,ensure a proper supply of qualityplanting materials, increaseexposure to scientific managementpractices, promote value-addedfeatures, raise awareness of theeconomics of bamboo cultivation,and encourge the establishment ofmarkets for bamboo within andoutside Coorg. The authors work atthe Tree Improvement and PropagationDivision, Institute of Wood Science andTechnology, Malleswaram, Bangalore, India.




Ecophysiology of cropsEcophysiology of cropsEcophysiology of cropsEcophysiology of cropsEcophysiology of cropsgrown under poplar treegrown under poplar treegrown under poplar treegrown under poplar treegrown under poplar treecanopycanopycanopycanopycanopy

In Punjab, India, farmers arerecognizing the potential ofagroforestry in diversifying thepractice of traditional agriculture toensure a stable income.

The introduction of short rotationexotic trees such as Populusdeltoides, Eucalyptus tereticornis,Leucaena leucocephala and Meliacomposita has encouraged farmersto venture into agroforestry. Eventhough the integration of timbertrees does not contribute much tothe annual production, fruit trees,vegetables, flowers, medicinalplants and other high value cropscan compensate for the neededregular income.

Tree-crop integration leads tocomplex interactions among thebiophysical components such aslight, space, water and nutrients. Inagroforestry, these key componentscomplement each other, therebycontributing to the success ofagroforestry systems.

Trees influence the variousenvironmental factors that influencethe growth of plants, especiallythose grown under shade. Amongthese factors is PhotosyntheticallyActive Radiation (PAR). PAR isimportant as the radiant energycaptured by the plants is utilized inphotosynthesis, which in turndetermines biomass production andyield. In agroforestry, PAR andtemperature are reduced, whilehumidity is increased. It is thereforecritical to investigate thephysiological processes ofagroforestry systems, especiallythose related to the photosynthesisof plants grown under the canopy oftrees.

W.S. Dhillon ([email protected]), H.V. Srinidhi([email protected]) and Sanjeev K. Chauhan([email protected])

Photosynthesis-relatedparameters affectingintercropping

A study was conducted to examinethe photosynthesis-related parametersaffecting theintercropping of turmeric(Cucuma longa) andsoybean (Glycine max)under the canopy of two-year old poplar trees.These poplar trees wereplanted at 6m X 6mspacing.

During the month of May,turmeric and soybeanwere sown in betweenthe poplar trees. The plotwithout poplar treesserved as control. The netphotosynthesis (Pn), PAR, IntercellularCO2 (Ci), transpiration rate (E) andstomatal conductance (C) weremeasured for 9 to 11 hrs every week.This lasted from 45 to 130 days aftersowing. Measurements were madeusing a portable photosynthesissystem (CID 340, CID Inc., USA).

Fifty fully expanded leaves, in bothopen and under the poplar treecanopy, were measured.Measurements were not taken duringcloudy and rainy days. The Pn/E ratio(water use efficiency) and Pn/ Ci ratio(carboxylation efficiency) were alsocalculated.

The canopy of the poplar trees wasmeasured in terms of leaf area index.The average leaf area indexrecorded was 0.40. The canopy ofpoplar is shown in Figure 1.

Light interception increased withtime in proportion to canopy cover.Results showed a minimum of 55%light interception at the time ofsowing, and a maximum of 70% after130 days of sowing. Reduced airtemperature and increase inrelative humidity were alsorecorded (Figure 2).

The relative PAR showed adecreasing trend. This may be dueto the increase in tree canopycover, and seasonal changes.Significant variations wereobserved in the rates ofphotosynthesis, transpiration,stomatal conductance, andintercellular carbon dioxideconcentration in both the crops inopen and under tree canopy.

Fig. 1. Turmeric (Cucuma longa) grownunder poplar-pear combination.

Fig. 2. Microenvironmental parametersin open and shaded conditions.


agroforestry promotion and development

Evaluating the impacts ofEvaluating the impacts ofEvaluating the impacts ofEvaluating the impacts ofEvaluating the impacts ofASPECTS in Mindanao,ASPECTS in Mindanao,ASPECTS in Mindanao,ASPECTS in Mindanao,ASPECTS in Mindanao,PhilippinesPhilippinesPhilippinesPhilippinesPhilippines

The Agroforestry Support Program forEmpowering Communities TowardsSelf–Reliance (ASPECTS) wasinitiated by the Institute ofAgroforestry, University of thePhilippines Los Baños (UPLB) and FordFoundation in 1998. The five-yearprogram was implemented in threesites – one each in Luzon, Visayasand Mindanao.

In Mindanao, ASPECTS wasimplemented in Claveria, MisamisOriental. Project implementers in theMindanao site were the MisamisOriental State College of Agricultureand Technology (MOSCAT), theDepartment of Environment andNatural Resources (DENR), localgovernment units, Landcare

Richmund A. Palma ([email protected])

Philippines, and the WorldAgroforestry Centre (ICRAF).

ASPECTS

ASPECTS aimed at developing agrassroot-oriented extension modelthat simultaneously addresses thetwin objectives of communityempowerment and advancement ofagroforestry education. At the sametime, it enabled the communities toestablish and maintain extensionservices that facilitate linkages withadjoining communities, localgovernment units, and other sourcesof development assistance.

Among the 24 barangays in theMunicipality of Claveria, BarangaySta. Cruz was identified as the

The net rate of photosynthesis andtranspiration was higher in openconditions than in the tree-cropinterface. But the internal CO2content recorded higher valuesunder shade.

In the open, the Pn/E ratio ofturmeric, which indicates water useefficiency, was higher (0.0042) thanin the shade (0.0034). Thecarboxylation efficiency (Pn/Ci) ofturmeric, which indicates productionpotential, was also maximized(0.062) in open conditions.

A similar trend was observed in thesoybean crop. It obtained highervalues for Pn/E and Pn/Ci at 0.0045and 0.058, respectively, in openconditions. Soybean grown undershade resulted to 0.0031 Pn/E and0.033 Pn/Ci. .

Assessing photosynthesis efficiency

Photosynthesis efficiency isinfluenced by the sensitivity of thestomata to variations in theenvironment, especiallytemperature and water availability.Under stress conditions, stomatalfunctioning appears to be a majorlimitation to CO2 influx, therebyreducing the level of photosyntheticproduction. In the present study,there was no significant variation inthe stomatal conductance in thecrops grown under poplar canopiesand in open conditions.

Furthermore, the strong correlation(> 0.85) between internal CO2content and net photosynthesisruled out the possibility of stomatallimitation due to water stress. Theseresults thus support the absence ofcompetition for moisture betweenpoplar trees and intercrops, whichmay be due to their varied rootdepths.

Ecophysiology ofEcophysiology ofEcophysiology ofEcophysiology ofEcophysiology ofcrops...crops...crops...crops...crops...Continued from page 11

Competition is expected inintercropping. This usually resultsfrom nutrient stress, which mayinhibit plant growth under treecanopies. Several studies havereported that photosyntheticcapacity is directly related to leafnitrogen content. A reduction innitrogen availability negativelyinfluences Rubisco enzyme activity.

The leaf nitrogen content in turmeric(1.32%) and soybean (2.54%) grownunder the canopies of the poplartrees did not differ from that grownin open conditions (1.41% forturmeric and 2.67% for soybean).

However, crops grown under shadedconditions gave lower yields ascompared to those grown in openconditions. In the study, turmeric hada 14% reduction in yield, andsoybean 17.6%. This indicates thatPAR was indeed the major limitingfactor of crops grown under shadedconditions.

Recommendations

Pruning is recommended to negatethe effect of tree canopies. Pruningmust be practiced to preventpossible competition for light,nutrients, water, and others as thetrees become mature.

Future studies may focus onbelowground competition fornutrients, partition of water usebetween trees and crops, and otherrelated areas. Long-term studies areneeded to assess the actualpotential of growing crops undertree canopies, including theidentification of crops that performwell under such conditions. Theauthors work at the Department ofHorticulture or Department of Agronomy,Agrometeorology and Forestry, PunjabAgricultural University, Ludhiana 141 004India.


agroforestry promotion and development

A study was conducted to determinethe differences that have occurredin the socioeconomic status of theSUGA members. The evaluation wasdone in terms of improvements inincome, changes in the state of farmdevelopment, and use of culturaland management practices inagroforestry. The study also aimed atfinding out the extent ofdevelopment of the Community-Managed Agroforestry ExtensionServices (CMAFES).

CMAFES is the ultimate goal ofASPECTS at the local level. It is therealization of an extension servicedeveloped by the farmersthemselves to address their ownneeds and that of the adjacentcommunities. Part of this extensionservice was the implementation oflivelihood projects and outreachprograms, and establishment offarmer-training centers, communitynurseries, and demonstration farmsthat emphasized the farmer-to-farmer approach.

Using complete enumeration, datawere gathered throughquestionnaires and interviews of 68farmers who were all members ofSUGA. The questionnaires andinterviews focused on the impacts ofASPECTS on the members’socioeconomic development, andcultural and management practicesin agroforestry. The study alsodetermined the extent of SUGA’sCMAFES. The paired t-test was usedto analyze the data.

Impacts on the livesof the SUGA Members

Income of the SUGA members. Thestudy showed that the income of thefarmers before the implementationof the ASPECTS Program averagedUS$196.00. After the implementationof ASPECTS, their income improvedto US$391.00. The mean difference inincome before and after the projectwas US$125.00. This may beattributed to significant changes inthe state of farm developmentamong the SUGA members.

Utilization of agroforestry practices.SUGA members no longer practicedmonoculture but rather combinedifferent crops in variousagroforestry systems, whileintegrating other technologies. Theagroforestry systems in practiceincluded alley cropping or contourfarming, the planting of naturalvegetative strips (NVS), improvedNVS, woodlots or tree plantations,silvipasture (planting of treescombined with the raising ofanimals), protein bank, greenmanure, and aquasilviculture.Aquasilviculture is the planting offruit trees adjacent to an inlandfishpond.

Extent of the CMAFES development .Within five years, ASPECTS wassuccessful in enabling SUGA tobecome a self-reliant andsustainable organization. ThroughASPECTS’s various activities, SUGAwas able to build its capacity, anddeveloped and implementedtraining programs for non-members.These training programs wereconducted in the training hall thatSUGA established, by the expertsthat they established links with. Todate, SUGA has offered trainingprograms on banana production,agroforestry establishment,anthurium production, inland fishdevelopment, nurseryestablishment, and grafting.

In addition, the SUGA membersbecame innovative farmers –developing and implementingagroforestry projects that combinefruit tree plantation, bananaproduction, timber trees, inland fish,and swine production. They wereable to use the knowledge gainedfrom ASPECTS to source funds ontheir own.

Moreover, SUGA members whowere trained in developing projectproposals were able to come upwith projects that were given grantsby the Provincial Agriculture andNatural Resources Office, DENR, and

partner community. The activities ofASPECTS included the establishmentof a people’s organization inBarangay Sta. Cruz – the Sta. CruzGrowers Association (SUGA). SUGAwas identified as a partner inimplementing ASPECTS.

Other activities included thetraining of selected potential farmerleaders of SUGA in UPLB,implementation of onsite livelihoodtrainings, and the establishment of acommunal farm, farmer-trainingcenter and a nursery demonstrationfarm.

Barangay Sta. Cruz and SUGA

The study was conducted inBarangay Sta. Cruz, which wascomposed of 272 households withan average household size of sixmembers. Twenty percent (20%) areHiga-onons (indigenous culturalcommunities), and the rest areVisayan migrants (65%), Ilocanos(10%) and Ilonggos (5%). The chiefmeans of livelihood is farming.

Barangay Sta. Cruz has an elevationof 600 to 900 m asl. It has Jasaanclay soil, with low to moderatefertility, suitable to the cultivationof agricultural crops and fruit-bearing trees. The climate is Type 2,which is characterized by theabsence of a distinct dry season andpronounced rainfall from Novemberto January.

As a partner of ASPECTS, SUGA wasregistered at the Securities andExchange Commission (SEC) in June1998. It was established with aninitial membership of 28 farmers.Eventually, the membershipexpanded to 68.

SUGA obtained an agreement withDENR through the Community-BasedForestry Management (CBFM)Program to manage of 395 ha offorestlands. These lands are part ofthe Pugaan River Watershed Area.

Evaluating the impacts Continued on page 14


agroforestry education and training

local government units. Theseprojects involved the establishmentof anthurium, banana, fruit trees andtimber tree plantations, andintegration of soil and watermanagement technologies inagroforestry farms.

Conclusions

ASPECTS has indeed brought aboutpositive changes in thesocioeconomic status and technicalcapacity of SUGA members. Themembers have a betterunderstanding of agroforestry andthe use of agroforestry technologies,livelihood support, capacitybuilding, and linkages. The memberswere transformed into innovativefarmers, and SUGA has become asustainable and self-reliantorganization. The author works at theMisamis Oriental State College ofAgriculture and Technology, Claveria,Misamis Oriental, Philippines.

References

Institute of Agroforestry. 1998. Agroforestry SupportProgram for Empowering Communities Towards Self –Reliance (ASPECTS) in Sustainable Development ofthe Uplands Projects. Annual Report. University ofthe Philippines Los Baños, College of Forestry andNatural Resources.

Nagtalon, J.A., Sitoy, H. and L.B. Lagat. 2001.Empowering Communities for Agroforestry: TheASPECTS Experience in Misamis Oriental StateCollege of Agriculture and Technology, NorthernMindanao, Philippines. Paper presented during theConservation Farming Movement, Inc. AnnualConference held at SEARCA Auditorium, UP LosBaños College, Laguna on November 14-15, 2001.

Evaluating theEvaluating theEvaluating theEvaluating theEvaluating theimpacts...impacts...impacts...impacts...impacts...Continued from page 13

The International symposium onmethodologies for integratedanalysis of farm production systemsis scheduled to be held 10-12September 2007, in Catania, Sicily,Italy. Dubbed as Farming SystemsDesign 2007, the symposium aims toprovide opportunities to shareknowledge across the disciplinesthat concern farming systemanalysis, design and innovation;compare approaches being used/developed; and identify availableoperational tools and futureresearch needs.

This symposium was organizedbecause of the growing interest inagricultural systems that servemultiple purposes.

Sessions will focus on the followingthemes, with their correspondingtopics:

1. Farm-regional scale design andimprovement

Biophysical and economictrade-offs in farming; Farm models and market

interactions; Model-based intervention in

land management practice andpolicy; Multipurpose farming systems; Risk assessment and trade-off

analysis for integrated farmingsystems; and Adapting farms to an uncertain

future climate.

2. Field-farm scale design andimprovement sessions

Novel productions systems (e.g.bio-energy) and systems formarginal areas;

Agricultural management infuture studies;

InterInterInterInterInternananananational symposium ontional symposium ontional symposium ontional symposium ontional symposium onfffffarararararming systems design toming systems design toming systems design toming systems design toming systems design tobe held in Italybe held in Italybe held in Italybe held in Italybe held in Italy

Integrating genetics andmanagement in improvedproduction systems;

Production system sustainabilityand externalities;

Sustainability indicators at thefarming systems level;

Paddock/farm/catchmentmodel platforms; and

Integrating mechanistic modelsand expert knowledge.

Poster sessions will be heldconcurrently in all sessions. Thesymposium will also produce aproceedings that contains extendedabstracts for each oral and posterpresentation. At the same time,specific papers will be invited by thescientific committee to besubmitted as full papers in specialissues of key journals (e.g. EuropeanJournal of Agronomy, AgriculturalSystems, Environmental Modellingand Software).

This symposium is being organized bythe European Society for Agronomy,the International EnvironmentalModelling and Software Society, theAmerican Society of Agronomy, andthe International Farming SystemsAssociation. It is being supported bythe Società Italiana di Agronomia,and the Agricultural ResearchCouncil, Italy.



Interested agroforestry practitionersare invited to the SecondInternational Symposium on Multi-Strata Agroforestry Systems withPerennial Crops, to be held at CATIEfrom 17 to 21 September 2007, inTurrialba, Costa Rica.

With the theme, “Making ecosystemservices count for farmers,consumers and the environment,”the symposium aims to inspireparticipants to intensify their effortsin developing and adoptingsustainable agroforestry practicesthat focus on the integration oftrees and perennial crops (primarilycoffee, cacao, oil palm, coconut,fruit trees, tea and rubber). Moreimportantly, the symposium willdiscuss strategies to successfullypromote multi-strata agroforestrysystems in tropical areas, particularlyin areas considered as biodiversityhotspots.

Objectives

Organized by the International Unionof Forestry Research Organizations(IUFRO), the symposium specificallyaims to:

Document and synthesize theresults of research and pilotprojects that link sustainablemanagement andenvironmental services oftropical perennial cropagroforestry systems. Theseservices include biodiversityconservation, water quality,watershed protection, climatechange mitigation andadaptation, and soil and naturalresources conservation.

Enhance cooperation betweenresearch institutions, andgovernmental, non-governmental, and privatesectors involved in promotinggood agricultural practices inagroforestry.

Multi-strMulti-strMulti-strMulti-strMulti-straaaaata ata ata ata ata agggggrrrrrofofofofoforororororestrestrestrestrestryyyyysystems symposium slatedsystems symposium slatedsystems symposium slatedsystems symposium slatedsystems symposium slatedfor September 2007for September 2007for September 2007for September 2007for September 2007

Prepare recommendations forfuture research priorities, andpolicies to facilitate theadoption of these perennial cropagroforestry systems

Sessions

The symposium is organized into foursessions:

1. Field level

This session will focus on the impactsof trees on the productivity andprocesses (e.g. effects of shadespecies on microclimate, soil,underlying crop productivity andquality, and pests and diseases) ofagroforestry systems with perennialcrops (especially cocoa, coffee, tea,rubber, fruit trees, coconut and oilpalm)

2. Landscape and regional levels

This session will discuss thequantification and valuation ofenvironmental services of perennialcrop agroforestry systems. Theseinclude research methodologies forupscaling (pilot to the landscapeand regional levels), and reports onpilot implementation of projects withlocal or international schemes thatreward farmers for environmentalservices.

3. Scientific research

Results from scientific research willbe presented. Topics include thevalidity and feasibility of thetechnical guidelines (e.g. goodagricultural practices, including treecover threshold levels), proposedcriteria and indicators to monitor allagroforestry products and services,and the economic implications ofthese guidelines, criteria andindicators for producers and ruralcommunities.

4. Social and economic importanceof agroforestry products

This session will discuss experiencesgained from diversifying farmers’revenues, valuing medicinal andindigenous tree species, anddeveloping commodity valuechains through producer-traderalliances and enhanced businessskills of farming communities.

Oral and poster presentations, andplenary discussions will comprise thediscussion of these sessions.

Emerging knowledge on agroforestrypractices and presentations on thesocioeconomic, political andenvironmental aspects of tropicalagroforestry will also be discussed.

The symposium will emphasizedocumentation and valuation of theeffects of agroforestry practices onbiodiversity conservation,environmental services andeconomic sustainability.

For more information, contactPhilippe Vaast, Correspondent ofCIRAD for Central America([email protected] [email protected]), John Beer,Director of the Department ofAgriculture and Agroforestry ofCATIE ([email protected]), FergusSinclair, Senior Lecturer at theUniversity of Wales, Bangor andEditor-in-Chief of AgroforestrySystems ([email protected]),and Jean-Marc Boffa, seniorresearcher at ICRAF([email protected]).



The Philippine AgroforestryEducation and Research Network(PAFERN) trained 26 lecturers fromits academic and research memberinstitutions and one Chairpersonfrom a member non-governmentorganization. The training wasconducted 29-31 May 2007, at theTraining Center for TropicalResources and EcosystemsSustainability (TREES), University ofthe Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), aspart of the second phase ofSEANAFE’s project on Markets forAgroforestry Tree Products (MAFTPs).

The training made use of five casestudy materials from Indonesia, LaoPDR, Philippines, Thailand andVietnam to help participants teachsome of the key themes/modules ofthe marketing curricular framework.The framework was developed

PPPPPAFERN conducts trAFERN conducts trAFERN conducts trAFERN conducts trAFERN conducts training ofaining ofaining ofaining ofaining ofteacteacteacteacteacherherherherhers and trs and trs and trs and trs and trainerainerainerainerainers ons ons ons ons onmarmarmarmarmarkkkkketing aeting aeting aeting aeting agggggrrrrrofofofofoforororororestrestrestrestrestry try try try try treeeeeeeeeeproductsproductsproductsproductsproductsIsabelita M. Pabuayon ([email protected])Rowena D. Cabahug ([email protected])Stella Villa A. Castillo and and Marlo D. Mendoza ([email protected])

during the first phase of SEANAFE’sMAFTPs project. Each case study hada set of guide questions andsuggested activities. These weresimulated during the trainingdepending on the key theme/module being discussed. Theseactivities are in line with SEANAFE’saim to integrate marketing in theagroforestry curriculum of PAFERNmember-institutions with a focus onits practical applications.

A field trip to visit private businessenterprises was also included in thetraining. It demonstrated the actualapplications of certain marketingmodules. To facilitate teamwork andlearning, exercises were alsoprovided to extract theparticipants’ ideas on the particularknowledge, skills and attitudes thatagroforestry students should

develop when it comes tomarketing. Insights andrecommendations on the potentialapplications of the learnings toPhilippine Agroforestry Tree Products(AFTPs) were also discussed.

Major outputs of the training wereaction plans to integrate marketinginto the agroforestry curriculum ofthe participating institutions.

The lessons gained and documentedfrom this training will be compiled byPAFERN through the AFTPs PhilippineMarketing Team, and will becomepart of their Phase 2 MAFTPs Report.These will contribute to theTeacher’s Guide that SEANAFE hopesto produce by the end of 2007.

Support for this project came fromthe Swedish InternationalDevelopment Agency (Sida),through the World AgroforestryCentre (ICRAF).

For more information, contactDr. Isabelita M. Pabuayon, TeamLeader (E-mail:[email protected]).

WWWWWorororororking toking toking toking toking towwwwwararararards theds theds theds theds thesustainasustainasustainasustainasustainability ofbility ofbility ofbility ofbility of P P P P PAFERNAFERNAFERNAFERNAFERN

The potential of agroforestry insustainable upland developmentand natural resource managementhas been recognized by governmentand non-government organizations.Likewise, there are now 35 statecolleges, universities and privateschools offering various agroforestryeducation programs. But just like anyfield of discipline, agroforestryeducation is confronted with anumber of issues, concerns andchallenges.

In 2001, the Philippine AgroforestryEducation and Research Network

Leila D. Landicho([email protected])

(PAFERN) was formally organized tobuild institutional and humancapacity to help strengthenagroforestry education, researchand development programs. ithopes to promote closer linksamong the agroforestry institutionsto address the issues and concernsfacing agroforestry developmentand promotion in the country. Untilnow, PAFERN has been working inpartnership with the Southeast AsianNetwork for Agroforestry Education(SEANAFE) and the SwedishInternational Development

Cooperation Agency (Sida). PAFERNrealizes the importance of beingproactive when it comes to ensuringits survival. Hence, the network hasinitiated efforts to explore ways ofsustaining its activities beyond 2009.

One such effort is the NationalResource Mobilization Workshopheld on 18-19 December 2006 at theUniversity of the Philippines LosBaños, College, Laguna. Theworkshop aimed at developing anational resource mobilizationframework to guide PAFERN ingenerating and mobilizing resourcesfor agroforestry development in thePhilippines.

The workshop was divided into twosessions:


information resources

The Center for International ForestryResearch (CIFOR) released newpublications on forest rehabilitation –three in Asia, and two in LatinAmerica. These publications areresults of the Review of forestrehabilitation initiatives - lessons fromthe past (REHAB) project, whichaimed to identify the approachesthat have sustained forestrehabilitation in different situationsand those that had positive impactsto the stakeholders.

The outputs of the project consistedof country syntheses on the lessonslearned from the variousrehabilitation efforts in each country,and databases. The publications arepart of the project’s effort todisseminate the findings and helpdesign and implement future forestrehabilitation projects.

These publications are:

1. Meza, C. Sabogal. C., de Jong, W.2006. Rehabilitación de areasdegradadas en la Amazoniaperuana: Revisión de experiencias ylecciones aprendidas. Bogor,Indonesia, CIFOR. Country casestudies on Review of ForestRehabilitation Initiatives: Lessonsfrom the Past. 106p.

2. Chokkalingam, U., Carandang, A.P.,Pulhin, J.M., Lasco, R.D., Rose JaneJ.P., Toma, T. 2006. One century offorest rehabilitation in the Philippines:Approaches, outcomes and lessons.Bogor, Indonesia, CIFOR. Countrycase studies on Review of ForestRehabilitation Initiatives: Lessonsfrom the Past.

3. de Jong, W.; Do Dinh Sam; TrieuVan Hung. 2006. Forest rehabilitationin Vietnam: histories, realities andfuture. Center for InternationalForestry Research (CIFOR), Bogor,

CIFOR releases newCIFOR releases newCIFOR releases newCIFOR releases newCIFOR releases newpublications on forestpublications on forestpublications on forestpublications on forestpublications on forestrehabilitationrehabilitationrehabilitationrehabilitationrehabilitation

Indonesia. Review of ForestRehabilitation: Lessons from thePast. 76p.

4. Chokkalingam, U.; Zhou Zaichi;Wang Chunfeng; Toma, T. 2006.Learning lessons from China’s forestrehabilitation efforts : national levelreview and special focus onGuangdong Province. Center forInternational Forestry Research(CIFOR), Bogor, Indonesia. Review ofForest Rehabilitation: Lessons fromthe Past. 159p.

5. Almeida, E.; Sabogal, C.; Brienza,S., Jr. 2006. Recuperação de areasalteradas na Amazônia Brasileira:experiências locais, liçõesaprendidas e implicações parapolíticas públicas. Center forInternational Forestry Research(CIFOR), Bogor, Indonesia. Review ofForest Rehabilitation: Lessons fromthe Past. 202p.

All publications are available onlineat http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/rehab.Hardcopies can be obtained fromCIFOR.

Popi Astriani ([email protected])

1. Presentation of development trends in agroforestry

This session served as an opportunityto give update on the recent trendsin agroforestry, including theproposed establishment of theNational Agroforestry DevelopmentProgram (NAFDP). This session alsoprovided a venue for discussing thepriority activities and thrusts ofpotential funding institutions andproject partners - i.e., Foundation forthe Philippine Environment (FPE), thePhilippine Tropical ForestConservation Foundation, Inc(PTFCFI), Development Bank of thePhilippines (DBP), Department ofEnvironment and Natural Resources(DENR), Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), World Agroforestry Centre(ICRAF), and the Philippine Councilfor Agriculture, Forestry and NaturalResource Research andDevelopment (PCARRD).

2. Formulation of the resourcemobilization framework foragroforestry development in thePhilippines vis-à-vis the currenttrends and priority thrusts of thepotential funding institutions andproject partners

The workshop participantsdeveloped five project designs,which will be submitted toappropriate funding institutions.These projects focused on efforts tostrengthen agroforestry education,promote agroforestry research,enhance farmer and communityempowerment, intensify policyadvocacy, and enhance enterprisedevelopment.

The two-day workshop was attendedby 21 participants representing theselected member institutions ofPAFERN, the members of the PAFERNBoard, potential funding institutions,SEANAFE Technical Adviser, andproject partners.


information resources

Farming Systems and Poverty:Improving Farmers’ Livelihoods in aChanging World. Written by JohnDixon, Aidan Gulliver and DavidGibbon, this book presents theresults of a joint study by FAO andthe World Bank to contribute to theupdating of the World Bank’s RuralDevelopment Strategy. It describes72 major farming systems in sixdeveloping regions. These farmingsystems have been classified basedon the available natural resourcebase, dominant pattern of farmactivities and household livelihoods,including the relationship tomarkets, and intensity of productionactivities, among other key criteria.

The farming systems were describedin terms of trends and issues. Theauthors also identified the prioritiesand main strategies for povertyreduction, and the factors thatdetermine the growth potential ofeach system.

For more information, contact JohnDixon at [email protected]. A 49-page summary of this publication isavailable in PDF format at http://www.fao.org/farmingsystems/.

In Focus: Comanagement of NaturalResources Local Learning for PovertyReduction. Written by Stephen Tylerand published by the InternationalDevelopment Research Centre in2006, this book presents the conceptof comanagement – the“collaborative arrangements inwhich the community of localresource users, local and seniorgovernments, and otherstakeholders share responsibility andauthority for managing a specifiednatural resource or resources.”Comanagement is considered oneapproach to natural resourcemanagement that can help improvethe livelihoods of poor people, andat the same time protect andenhance their natural resource base.

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Information in this book are basedfrom more than a decade ofresearch across developingcountries, and presents case studiesfrom Bhutan, Cambodia, China,Ecuador, Lebanon, and Vietnam.One key message that the bookpresents to resource managers,policymakers, researchers, anddevelopment practitioners is thatproposed solutions to NRM problemsare effective and sustainable ifdriven by the knowledge, action,and learning of the local users.

For more information, visit http://www.idrc.ca/in_focus_comanagement.

Online database on agroforestryspecies research in India. Indianresearch on Pongamia, Jatrophaand other agroforestry species aremade available online by theAgroforestry DatabaseDevelopment Programme (INARIS),Indian National Research Centre forAgroforestry, Jhansi (UP), with thesupport of the World Bank.Pongamia and Jatropha seeds arebeing used to produce biodiesel,

hence the timeliness of thisdatabase.

The database contains over 700records of research on agroforestryspecies that have been publishedbetween 1971 and 2005. For furtherinformation, visit http://mirror.inaris.gen.in/net.

People, Forests and Trees in West andCentral Asia: Outlook for 2020. ThisForestry Paper (No. 152) presents theresults of the Forestry Outlook Studyfor West and Central Asia(FOWECA). Governments, civilsocieties, farmers and the privatesector in the countries of West andCentral Asia have been makinggreat strides in improving themanagement of forest and treeresources.

This paper presents the variousdevelopments in forestry covering23 countries in West Asia, CentralAsia and the southern Caucasus.Contents include probabledevelopments, regional and globalissues that should be considered indeveloping national policies andprograms, and proposed strategiesto enhance the contribution offorests and trees to society. Formore information, visit http://www.fao.org/docrep009/a0981e/a0981e00.htm


websites

Useful websitesUseful websitesUseful websitesUseful websitesUseful websitesSustainable Agriculture Researchand Education (SARE)

SARE promotes farming systems thatare environmentally sound andprofitable through research andeducation grants. It also fundsprojects, conducts outreachactivities for improving agriculturalsystems, develops databases, andpublishes handbooks, e-books, freebulletins and many others. For moreinformation, visit http://www.sare.org/publications/diversify/diversify06.htm.

Integrated Water Resource Managementby the Implementation of Improved Agro-Forestry Concepts in Arid and Semi-AridAreas in Latin America (WAFLA)

The website offers publications anddocuments on the fundamentals ofagroforestry, best practices and ex-amples, desertification in Latin America,water management, forestry, and stake-holder involvement. It also features adatabase of agroforestry species in aridand semi-arid areas of Latin America andlinks to agroforestry directories, networks,organizations, agroforestry projects inLatin America, research centers anduniversities. For more information, visithttp://www.wafla.com/184.0.html?&L=1.

Center for International Forestry Research(CIFOR)

Highlights of the CIFOR website are its variouspublications ranging from articles, books,computer-based tools (e.g., TROPIS), paperseries, briefs, to its online Polex. The websitealso features information on CIFOR’s variousresearch undertakings. For more information,visit http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/Publications/Detail?pid=1534.

Call fCall fCall fCall fCall forororororcontributionscontributionscontributionscontributionscontributionsWe are inviting contributions for the32nd and 33rd issue of the Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter(APANews) on or before 29 Februaryand 30 June 2008, respectively. Letus help you share the relevantprograms and projects that you aredoing in the areas of agroforestryresearch, promotion anddevelopment, and education andtraining.

Contributions for agroforestryresearch may contain results ofshort- and long-term studies onagroforestry.

Contributions for agroforestrypromotion and development maycontain information on variousextension services aimed atpromoting and developingagroforestry among communities.

Contributions for agroforestryeducation and training may contain

announcements on conferences,symposiums, training opportunitiesand other news on the variousefforts being made towardgenerating more agroforestryprofessionals and practitioners, andproviding venues for interpersonalsharing of agroforestry information,and networking opportunities.

We will also help you announce newinformation sources and usefulwebsites.

For several years now, APANews hascontinued to reach out to peoplefrom various sectors. We are thusrequesting interested contributors toadopt the simple, straightforwardand popular style in writing thearticles instead of that used injournals. By adopting the popularwriting style, your articles can helpfarmers, development agents,researchers, practitioners and otherinterested individuals in coping with

the challenges of promoting anddeveloping agroforestry in theirrespective countries, and at anylevel of project or researchimplementation.

FAO and IAF editors would like toaccommodate as many articles aspossible in every issue. Hence, kindlylimit your contributions to 1 000words, and include good-qualityphotographs (scanned at 300 dpi)that are properly labeled andreferred to in the text. Please don’tforget to include your completecontact details, especially your E-mail address, should the readershave questions, clarifications orrequests for further information.

Kindly send contributions throughE-mail as attachments or via snailmail in diskettes/CD-ROM or printedform to the FAO/RAP Office or to theUPLB Institute of Agroforestry, 2/FTamesis Hall, College of Forestry andNatural Resources, UP Los Baños, POBox 35023, College, 4031 Laguna,Philippines; Fax +63 49 5363809;E-mail [email protected],[email protected].

State of the World’s Forests 2007. Thisbiennial publication of FAO has beenconsistent at providing a globalperspective on the environmental,economic and social aspects of theworld’s forests. This seventh editionevaluates the efforts being madetowards achieving sustainable forestmanagement (sfm).

The first part describes the progresstowards sfm in the region. Theregional reports focus on the seventhematic elements of sfm: 1)extent

of forestresources,2)biologicaldiversity,3)forest healthand vitality,4)productivefunctions offorestresources,5)protectivefunctions offorest

resources, 6)socioeconomicfunctions, and 7)legal, policy andinstitutional framework. Thesethemes have been agreed upon asforming the framework forsustainable forest management ininternational fora. Data presented inthe first part came from the resultsof the Global Forest ResourcesAssessment 2005.

The second part presents key issuesin the forest sector, while describingthe state of knowledge or recentactivities in 18 areas of interest inforestry. These include climatechange, forest landscaperestoration, forest tenure, invasivespecies, wildlife management andwood energy. For more information,visit: http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/a0773e/a0773e00.htm

Traditional Trees of Pacific Islands:Their Culture, Environment, and Use.Edited by Craig R. Elevitch andpublished by Permanent Agricultural

Resources in July 2006, this bookillustrates the importance of wiselychoosing tree species to plant. Itpresents over 800 photos describingthe stages in the lifecycle of trees,including the processes of graftingand transplanting. It also providesinformation on propagation,harvesting, and establishment ofnatural plantations in the PacificIslands. For more information, [email protected]

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