The idea of a organizing a symposium on “Intermediate systems” arose from two distinct but inter-related research projects: • FORRESASIA – “Alternative strategies for forest resource development: extractivism, agroforestry or plantations” – a project funded by the INCO programme of the IV th framework programme of the European Union (IC18- CT96-0077 – DG 12 MUYS). The main focus of this project was to compare the benefits, constraints and evolutionary trajectories of existing models of forest resource management, namely extraction of plant products from the wild, production in various forms of agroforest ry systems, and intensive production in specialized systems. The research was c onducted in Indonesia and the Philippines between January 1997 and December 2000. It involved eight research institutions and NGOs in these two countries, in addition to France, Norway and Spain. • An international comparative analysis of cases of NTFP commercialization, led by CIFOR. This project investigated the characteristics of products and their production, processing and trade to understand the role of NTFP commercialization in achieving conservation and livelihoods improvement. It included a total of 61 cases from 27 countr ies in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Tag: cultivation
Domestication of Dyera polyphylla (Miq.) Steenis in peatland agroforestry systems in Jambi, Indonesia
As part of a broader pattern of recovery after decline called forest transition, tree cover and carbon stocks have increased through agroforestry systems in many parts of Indonesia. The associated tree diversity transition implies that only the most useful parts of local tree flora are promoted. Swampland jelutong, Dyera polyphylla, has been domesticated in peat areas Jambi province, Indonesia. We discuss jelutong domestication in two coastal districts, referring to seven steps in a gradual change from products collected from communal natural forests to specific genotypes managed on private farms. Domestication of D. polyphylla in Jambi was in the initial stages three decades ago, when jelutong latex was directly tapped from the trees in its natural habitat of peat swamp forests. Tapping jelutong latex stopped in 2005 following the national regulation taxing forest products. Some farmers then started jelutong cultivation, motivated by the profitability of trading jelutong latex in the past. Our on-farm study showed that jelutong can be planted in various mixed agroforestry systems, with rubber, coffee or oil palm as dominants. Planted jelutong with good farm management showed diameter growth rates of 1.3 to 1.9 cm year−1. On-farm trials showed that dolomite as soil ameliorant did not affect diameter growth, but had some effect on height. Jelutong planted between young oil palm had the best performance, while jelutong that was underplanted in mature rubber gardens grew slowly. Slow market revival currently constrains further tree domestication of jelutong.
Linking resource supplies and price drivers: Lessons from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) price volatility and change, 2002-2017
Worldwide, one of the drivers of substitution and adulteration is the cost of the natural resources (plants, animals, fungi) that are ingredients of traditional medicines. Relatively few studies have been done that link prices of traditional medicine ingredients to what drives changes in price, yet this is an important topic. Theoretically, prices have been widely considered as an economic indicator of resource scarcity. Rare, slow growing medicinal plants sell for high prices and common, less popular species for low prices. Price levels also influence the viability of farming vs. wild harvest (and incentives to overharvest high value species when tenure is weak). Prices can also influence the harvesting or buying behaviour of harvesters, traders or manufacturers. When prices are high, then there is a greater incentive to use cheaper substitute species or adulterants. As previous studies on herbal medicine ingredients have shown, adulteration applies in a wide variety of cases, including to some Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) species.
Boswellia and Commiphora Species as a Resource Base for Rural Livelihood Security in the Horn of Africa: A Systematic Review
The dryland vegetation and particularly the Acacia-Commiphora woodlands support the livelihoods of approximately 52 million rural households in the Horn of Africa. Aromatic resins are valuable non-wood forest products (NWFPs) derived from Boswellia and Commiphora species in the drylands of this region. The study seeks to answer the following main questions: “What are the ecological and livelihood roles of resin producing species, and the role that people have in either degrading or restoring these ecosystems?” “Who are the participants in frankincense and myrrh production, processing, and trade, and how do these people interact?” “What is the current and potential future economic impact of frankincense and myrrh production and trade at the household level?” “What are the barriers to enhanced economic outcomes?” The study involves the use of PRISMA method—a systematic methodology to identify, select and analyze the recent literature on aromatic resins in relation to such factors as socio-economic situation, livelihood security, value chain, climate change adaptation, ecology and sustainable development in the Horn of Africa. Systematic identification of publications was conducted using several sources, including but not limited to electronic databases for literature search. Web of Science, Social Science Citation Index and Google Scholar and various scientific journals were investigated using search terms and restrictions. A total of 991 references were retrieved, but literature only published between 2003 to 2017 was selected, which led to the use of 51 works for full-text assessment. The results indicate that of the 51 selected studies, 45% focused on ecology and sustainable management, 31% on economic contribution and livelihood security, 20% on production and value chain development, and 4% on climate change adaptation and mitigation. It could be concluded that farmers’ adoption of Boswellia and Commiphora species as economic tree crops in the Horn of Africa has a distinct role in biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation by contributing to the sustainability of ecosystem functioning as well as improving household incomes and the rural livelihood security in general, and thereby facilitating poverty alleviation.
Agroforestry for Livelihoods of Smallholder Farmers in Northwest Vietnam – Research in Development
In Northwest Vietnam, rain-fed crop cultivation is dominated by monoculture maize,upland rice and cassava on sloping lands. The loss of topsoil during the rainy season leadsto a depletion of soil fertility and plant nutrients leading to reduction in crop yield. Farmershave to invest heavily in chemical fertilisers for the maize to remain productive comparedto the past. Harsh weather conditions also reduce yields or even lead to crop loss and makesoil and water conservation more difficult.The project has introduced trees in mono-cropped landscapes through agroforestry toreduce dependence on annual crops, as well as increase and diversifies incomes from treeproducts, while also conserving the natural resource base. The research approach combineddifferent activities, which support each other to be possible bring valuable researchresults to apply to reality. The agroforestry systems were designed through participatorywhich the scientific knowledge and local knowledge are combined. These established trialsare evaluated to find out the suitable options. The add value for agroforestry adoptionalso involved research on propagation of priority agroforestry species, small-scale nurserydevelopment, research and transfer processing techniques, exploring value-adding opportunitiesby smallholders and facilitating links between producers and other market actors.The research findings were spread through farm cross-visits, farmer field days and trainingsessions held at the test sites, accompanied by regular impact assessments. In addition,these findings were used to inform the communication strategies, policy dialogues, extensionand expansion activities through workshops, media products, extension materials andtraining. To promote the agroforestry adoption, the project has been developed at threelevels: Participatory Farmer Trials, Farmer Demonstration Trials and Exemplar Landscapeswhere the scientific knowledge and local knowledge are combined and utilised. Thisapproach is primarily based on the classic extension and dissemination theories, but highlightsthe important elements of collective action and social capital development amongfarmers, and between extension workers, local governments and researchers. The resultshave been found useful in demonstrating farmer adoption of agroforestry practices anddeveloping value chains and market linkages in varying contexts, and they support thelocal governments to define strategy development through policy interventions.
Jatropha bio-diesel production and use
The interest in using Jatropha curcas L. (JCL) as a feedstock for the production of bio-diesel is rapidly growing. The properties of the crop and its oil have persuaded investors, policy makers and clean development mechanism (CDM) project developers to consider JCL as a substitute for fossil fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, JCL is still a wild plant of which basic agronomic properties are not thoroughly understood and the environmental effects have not been investigated yet. Gray literature reports are very optimistic on simultaneous wasteland reclamation capability and oil yields, further fueling the Jatropha bio-diesel hype. In this paper, we give an overview of the currently available information on the different process steps of the production process of bio-diesel from JCL, being cultivation and production of seeds, extraction of the oil, conversion to and the use of the bio-diesel and the by-products. Based on this collection of data and information the best available practice, the shortcomings and the potential environmental risks and benefits are discussed for each production step. The review concludes with a call for general precaution and for science to be applied.
Pembangunan kebun bibit karet klonal
Crops such as cocoa potatoes soybean dairy and c
offee are economically important commodities in the
tsunami-affected districts in Aceh. Targeting the m
ajor crops CIRAD and local partners organised a
training on “Local Economic Resources Development”
(LERD) funded through the French public funds.
During the training potential of different product
s and commodities in the region as need for action
to
improve quality and productivity of these priority
commodities for promoting at national or internatio
nal
markets. The participants came from the representat
ives of farmers traders and technical ministries.
During the training cacao was identified as the mos
t potential for improving farmer income. Aceh
Development Agency in consultation with the Nationa
l Development Planning Agency (Bappenas)
Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) and
Syiah Kuala University (Banda Aceh) has
selected Pidie District in East coast of Aceh for
developing sustainable cocoa production in Aceh.
Growth, yield and economic potential of Strobilanthes cusia (Nees) Kuntze in underutilized bamboo stands in Indonesia
Strobilanthes cusia is a herb species of the Acanthaceae family. This plant is a well-known dye crop. A participatory experiment was conducted regarding S. cusia cultivation under bamboo stands. Strobilanthes cusia seedlings were planted in split plot design consisting of two treatments, with bamboo canopy cover (dense canopy, moderate canopy, sparse canopy, open area) as the main plots and the use of fertiliser (control, swine manure, NPK 16-16-16, NPK plus swine manure) as the sub plots, with each plot being 10 m2. Strobilanthes cusia seedling performance was best under sparse canopy, where on average shoot length was 22.80 cm, the number of leaves was 45.3, and leaf yield at the edge and middle of plot were 1.90 kg/plot and 1.86 kg/plot, respectively. Wet paste yield was best from S. cusia cultivated under the sparse canopy with NPK plus manure (337 g m−2) resulting in dried paste at 0.71 g m−2. Financial feasibility showed that intercropping S. cusia under a natural bamboo stand of Dendrocalamus asper delivered net present value of Indonesian Rupiah 28,951,568 (USD 1,587) with benefit cost ratio of 1.58.
Taxonomy, phylogeny, and successful cultivation of Marasmiellus scandens (Basidiomycota) associated with Aquilaria sinensis (agarwood tree) in China
Endophytic fungi are isolated from all parts of plants and several have been reported from Aquilaria sinensis and most of them are ascomycetous species. In this study, an endophytic Marasmiellus species collected from Aquilaria sinensis in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China was isolated. Phylogenetic analyses of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (nrITS) gene region and morphological analyses confirmed the endophytic fungus as Marasmiellus scandens. In addition, fruiting bodies of M. scandens were successfully obtained in sawdust grow bags. A full description, illustrations, cultivation results, and a phylogenetic tree to show the placement of M. scandens are provided. Marasmiellus scandens is reported here as a new country and host record. In addition, this is the first report of the M. scandens cultivation in its endophytic form.
Increasing rice productivity in degraded peatlands using improved planting methods and rice varieties
Sonor farming practical has become a habit for local community of South Sumatra. In fact, this agricultural practice still results in low production. This research was conducted to determine the comparison of planting methods by farmers with improving planting methods with 2 new high yielding varieties. This research was conducted in Perigi Village, Pangkalan Lampam District, Ogan Komering Ilir Regency, South Sumatra Province from December 2019 to April 2020. The research method used was a Split Plot Design with two factors, namely factor 1 was rice varieties and factor 2 was planting method, where the main plot was planting method including: T1: Broadcasting 25 kg/ha, T2: Broadcasting 75 kg/ha, T3: Legowo 2: 1 (20x40x10 cm), and T4: transplanting (20×20 cm) and the sub plot rice varieties, V1: Inpari 30 and V2: Inpara 3. There are 8 treatment combinations with 3 replications. The results showed that the improvement of planting methods showed an increasing in yield in terms of total tiller number, productive tiller number, grain number per panicles, grain weight panicles, grain weight per m2, and plant biomass. The Legowo method had higher productivity than otherplanting method with rice productivity 3.7 tonnes per ha. The Inpara 3 showed better growth and production on degraded peatlands.