Participatory Methods in Research and Extension for Using Forages in Conservation Farming Systems: Managing the Trade-offs between Productivity and Resource Conservation

摘要

This paper reviews recent experiences related to the development and adoption of forages used for both ruminant nutrition and erosion control. It examines both technical and institutional innovations that were combined into successful adoption processes. It also highlights the interaction between the technical components and the institutional arrangements that have facilitated the dissemination of soil conserving practices through farmer-led organisations. Some forms of contour hedgerow systems combine erosion control on sloping land with the provision of added ruminant fodder for the farm enterprise. Others, for example, vetiver grass hedgerows, are employed basically to conserve soil, water and nutrients, while still others, such as alley cropping, are used with the objective of both erosion control and fertility improvement. The first section of the paper gives background on the current state of knowledge about the various practices, and the directions toward systems that are more attractive to farmers. The second section discusses the benefits and constraint of different systems. The third section presents results from researchermanaged and farmer participatory research (FPR) trials on the effectiveness of various contour hedgerow systems to control erosion in cassava-based cropping systems on sloping land. It describes the potential and constraints of the various species or systems used, and indicates under what circumstances they are most likely to be adopted by cassava farmers. The fourth section describes a participatory research process that led to the identification of natural vegetiative strips as a farmer-preferred and widely adopted practice in the uplands of the southern Philippines. The final section discusses the evolution of a farmer-driven Landcare movement in the Philippines, and highlights the potential for this institutional innovation to spread knowledte about forage production systems, and provide a mechanism for involving large numbers of farmers in adaptive research to experiment with forage production systems.