11 pages., via online journal, This paper discusses the role of the community in agroforestry technology development and the extension approaches that have been used to spread sustainable agroforestry practices. It begins by stressing the importance of active community participation in the development of appropriate and sustainable agroforestry interventions for small holder farmers in the tropics. This is seen as essential because farmers understand their complex biophysical, socio-cultural and economic environment better than anyone else. It is therefore imperative that the community be involved in the whole process of technology development right frøm problem identification to technology transfer. Similarly, problem identification and prioritisation by, consensus of the community is seenas crucial, as is the role of indigenous knowledge in designing technologies that are cost effective, relevant and easily adoptable. Equally important is that interventions be tried out with a few farmers before involving the whole community and that farmers develop a monitoring system within their means that is effective in assessing the performance of these technologies. The paper concludes that a community-based extension system should be institutionalised in order to ensure sustainability in the transfer of the technologies. The system should be able to lead to the building of the capacity of the local farming community to continue utilising and transferring these technologies to solve their problems and ultimately creating sustainable fanning systems.
Chamala, Shankariah (author) and Shingi, P.M. (author)
Format:
Book chapter
Publication Date:
1997
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C19805
Notes:
Pages 195-201 in Burton E. Swanson, Robert P. Bentz and Andrew J. Sofranko (eds.), Improving agricultural extension: a reference manual. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy. 220 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 147 Document Number: C23419
Notes:
From the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, University of Kentucky, Lexington. 5 pages., Describes the role of Extension in helping tobacco growers and their communities adapt after more than 65 years of participation in the federal government's efforts to control and support tobacco prices in the United States.
Page 68 in Extension Circular 541, Review of Extension Research, January through December 1961, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. Summary of thesis for the master of science degree in radio and television, University of Illinois, Urbana. 1961. 72 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C17110
Notes:
Pages 43-70 in Gwyn E. Jones and Maurice J. Rolls (eds.), Progress in rural extension and community development, Volume 1, Extension and rural advantage in rural development. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester. 336 pages.
