Accelerating agroforestry adoption: a case of Mozambique
In sub-Saharan Africa, smallholder rural farmers face critical problems of declining soil fertility and forest resource depletion, contributing to rampant poverty. Agroforestry has the potential to mitigate rural poverty and food insecurity. The major agroforestry dissemination constraints include improper translation of research results into easy and understandable training packages. Identification and building of rightful capacities for effective communication with rural communities has also been inadequate. ICRAF‘s multiple strategic partnerships in Mozambique have increased agroforestry awareness and adoption. Partnership memoranda of understanding (MoUs) enhanced interaction and collaboration among all the various agroforestry stakeholders. Hence, about 5000 rural households adopted agroforestry within two years of project implementation. Formation and training of local change teams in the ‘Pilot Scaling Up Areas’ (PSUAs) as contact farmers and trainers of fellow farmers was an effective dissemination pathway. Trainings and farmer-to-farmer exchange visits were among the successful communication strategies. Farmers and partners were trained in agroforestry options and in monitoring, evaluation and product processing. Scaling-up agroforestry widely requires farmers’ direct involvement in testing, adapting, and disseminating options.
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Publication year
2022
