Thesis (Ph. D.)--Auburn University. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Duke University, 1993. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Queensland, 2005. / Includes bibliography.

Satisfaction of basic needs is among the priority objectives of the Bangladesh government, a priority reflected in the forestry sector. Elaborate programmes have been chalked out in both public and private sectors. This study attempts to assess performance of a public sector social forestry project in Bangladesh in terms of basic needs fulfilment of participating rural farmers. `Thana Afforestation and Nursery Development Project' is a major social forestry project in Bangladesh, covering the whole country except the Sundarbans mangrove forest and the hill forests in the east. The project has several components, major among which are agroforestry (AF) and woodlot (WL) schemes. The project started in revised form in 1991-92. This research attempts to study the consumption pattern of basic needs goods (food and non-food) of participants and the project's contribution to satisfying basic needs. Rajshahi Division comprises north west Bangladesh and supports a large area of social forestry plantations. A stratified multi-stage random design was adopted for sampling participants. Stratification was based on agro-ecological zones (AEZs), while the stages consisted of districts, villages and participants. The sample consisted of 180 participants (90 each from AF and WL) from 32 villages distributed in five districts and in five agro-ecological zones. A household questionnaire survey was administered to participants to apprehend various aspects like socio-economic profile, basic consumption needs, involvement in the project, benefits derived, and knowledge, awareness, attitude and opinions. Tree growth measures of participants' plots were also recorded to estimate expected final return, since no plot has been harvested, despite reaching the rotation age in 1998. Data analyses on socio-economic aspects of participants reveal that most males and females occur in the most economically active age class. 54% are literate with 24% having primary education. Agriculture is the main occupation (54%), while 32% have other occupations like tradespersons and professionals. Seasonal employment is dominant (57%) depending upon the nature of agriculture. Most households (42%) reported monthly income in the range Tk. 1000-2000. AF plots are mostly in the range 0.2-0.4 ha while WL plots are larger (0.4-1.0 ha). Although the project is designed for landless farmers, in reality only 17% of farmers were genuinely landless, the remainder having their own land in the range 0.02-0.11 ha. Own land of AF and WL farmers is highly unequally distributed with Gini concentration ratio (GCR) of 0.60 and 0.61 respectively. 75% of participants have cattle (2 or more head). Food consumption of participants has been studied to some depth, food being the most important basic needs item. Participants consume 1010 gms of food per head per day, rice and vegetables constituting 55% and 22% of average daily food basket. Energy and protein consumption are relatively high in the national context (2427 Kcal and 72.38 gms per head per day). They derive higher food value from all major food items except fish and fruits, which are dearer and less available items in Rajshahi (also explained by income elasticity and regression analysis results). Poverty analysis tells quite an encouraging story: poverty head count ratio (HCR) of 21.4, compared with national HCR of 47.5. AF farmers are less poor (HCR 20.76) than WL farmers (HCR 22.05). Depth of poverty is higher for WL farmers, while severity of poverty is higher for AF farmers. Income inequality of participants is less than both national and rural distributions (GCR of 0.35, compared to 0.43 and 0.38 respectively). WL farmers suffer less income inequality. Incidence of poverty is lowest in TMF zone and highest in LBT zone, although income inequality is lowest in the latter zone. Both schemes are profitable in all AEZs, with the WL scheme promising greater returns per ha and HBT zone showing the highest NPV value. Mean financial IRRs are high: 57% for AF and 48% for WL. Conversely, financial BCRs are higher for WL plots (5.32) than for AF plots (3.32). Altogether, WL plots generate higher financial revenues than AF plots over the project life (8 years). Sensitivity analyses show that both schemes are financially robust under differing site and cost conditions. Per capita per day basic needs income needed to satisfy the minimum caloric requirement, derived from both food and non-food items, has been estimated as Tk. 16.00. Basic needs outcomes of the combined analyses show that both schemes successfully fulfil the basic needs of participants and WL is more promising. LBT zone ranks first in the AF scheme, while HBT zone provides the highest per ha per year basic needs value.

Silvopasture is a land-use management practice which intentionally integrates trees, forage, and livestock. It is increasingly prevalent in outreach and extension, yet considerations for adoption are complex. The implementation of a cost-share initiative for silvopasture created by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in Virginia in 2011 provides an opportunity for landowners to establish silvopasture systems on their properties, thus diversifying land management and income, as well as providing environmental benefits. However, research on who might adopt silvopasture and why is needed. For this research, a mail survey was distributed to 307 cost-share enrollees in NRCS' livestock limitation initiatives and 139 were returned (45.3%). The first objective of this survey was to gauge interest in two forms of silvopasture implementation: a) thinning a woodlot and b) planting trees in a pasture. Furthermore, the study was utilized to test which hypothetical benefits might increase a livestock producers' interest in either implementation form. Results show that respondents preferred thinning to planting but risk and uncertainty were perceived in both. Environmental outputs and assistance from technicians increased interest in both practices over economic benefits; however, livestock performance was most important. Literature on the topic aligns with findings and highlights that more research is needed to understand risk, environmental, and resource-related factors. The second objective was to measure interest in silvopasture and classify respondents based on their operational or their beliefs-based characteristics and assess which classification set mattered more. Results indicated that interest in silvopasture varied but the majority (60%) indicated they were either interested or very interested. Two-step cluster analysis was used to classify respondents based on their operational considerations and a combination of Exploratory Factor Analysis and K-means clustering was used to group livestock producers according to their beliefs on traditional and land-use values. A Kruskal-Wallis independent samples analysis for each classification revealed no statistically significant differences in the interest in silvopasture between operational groupings. Conversely, there were statistically significant differences in silvopasture interest according to beliefs-based classifications. These results suggest that operations of livestock producers do not matter as much as their attitudes and beliefs related to the practice. A cross-tabulation of the operational classification and beliefs cluster resulted in no correlation. Literature suggest both operational characteristics and producer beliefs may matter in agroforestry adoption, but that positive or negative correlation in terms of interest may vary. / Master of Science / Silvopasture is a agroforestry conservation practice that integrates trees, forage, and livestock in a managed system. The adoption of this practice is complex, though education on the practice has been increasing. A cost-share initiative for silvopasture was created by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in Virginia in 2011, which creates the opportunity to implement silvopasture systems on landowner properties. This system could lead to more diversification of land and income, as well as providing environmental benefits. However, more research is needed. A mail survey was sent to 307 NRCS cost-share enrollees who were managing livestock and 139 were returned. The survey had two objectives; the first was to measure interest in the two forms of silvopasture implementation: a) thinning a woodlot and b) planting trees in a pasture. Hypothetical benefits which might increase a livestock producers’ interest in thinning or planting for silvopasture was also measured. Results show that respondents had a preference for thinning over planting. Economic benefits were not as effective in increasing interest compared to environmental outputs and assistance from technicians; however, livestock performance was most important. Findings were aligned with literature on silvopasture and agroforestry but more research is needed. The second objective was to measure interest in silvopasture and classify respondents based on their operational or their beliefs-based characteristics and to see which classification set mattered more. Results indicated that interest in silvopasture varied but the majority (60%) indicated some level of interest. Statistical analyses were used to classify respondents based on their operational considerations and used to group livestock producers according to their beliefs on traditional and land-use values. Outputs showed no statistically significant differences between operational groupings and their interest in silvopasture. There was a statistically significant difference in silvopasture interest according to beliefs-based classifications. These results indicate that the operations of livestock producers do not matter as much as their attitudes and beliefs on the practice. Previous literature indicates that both operational characteristics and producer beliefs may matter in agroforestry adoption, but interest may vary regardless.

Thesis (MScFor)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Agroforestry researchers in Eastern Zambia have identified improved fallows as an intervention for soil fertility problems faced by small-scale farmers. In both on-station and on-farm research experiments which have been conducted since 1989, results have shown that improved fallows can mitigate soil degradation and eventually improve land productivity. Both researchers and extensionists have since embarked on disseminating these fallows to the farming community. Researchers were initially entirely dependent on the conventional agricultural extension services to disseminate the technology to the farmers but the process was slow and so was the uptake for the technology by farmers. As researchers were anxious to see that farmers took up improved fallows in a fastest possible way, they opted to use alternative dissemination pathways such as farmer trainers and local leaders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the three dissemination pathways and determine their effectiveness as regards improved fallows. This study assumed that farmers were not taking up improved fallows because they lacked knowledge of it, and also that the lack of knowledge was exacerbated by the ineffective pathway used to reach the farmers. The study was conducted in Chadiza, Chipata and Katete districts of Eastern Zambia. Data were collected using questionnaires in 28 villages across the three districts. Included in the sample were 296 small-scale farmers for whom this technology is intended. Additionally, 51 farmer trainers, 15 local leaders and 14 agricultural extension officers were interviewed as disseminators of this technology. Farmers were randomly sampled; local leaders were systematically sampled while a total enumeration was done for farmer trainers and agricultural extension officers present at the time of the interviews. This study found that 92% of the farmers were aware of the technology, with 68% having only known about it between 1998 and early 2000. This was the period when farmer trainers were already working. Farmer trainers were source of initial information to 41% of the farmers and yet they only started working recently. Although 92% of the farmers had heard about improved fallows, only 33% had ever planted some. Ten percent cf the entire population of farmers could be said to have adopted improved fallows because they have planted more than one fallow. Lack of knowledge is therefore not the only reason that farmers were not taking up improved fallows. Farmer trainers were found to currently be a more effective dissemination pathway as they were able to reach more farmers even in areas where agricultural extension officers had not been before. Local leaders have not been involved with disseminating improved fallows. Agricultural extension officers were hampered by lack of resources but were still trying to assist farmers with resource assistance from external institutions such as NGOs. The findings point to a need for participatory extension approaches as well as participatory monitoring and evaluation systems. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agrobosbou-navorsers in Oos-Zambië het braaklandbewerking geïdentifiseer as ingryping in grondvrugbaarheidsprobleme wat ondervind word deur boere wat op klein skaal boer. Die resultaat van eksperimente wat gedoen is as deel van beide proefplaas- en plaasnavorsing sedert 1989 het daarop gewys dat die bewerking van braaklande die agteruitgang van grond kan temper en geleidelik die produktiwiteit daarvan kan verhoog. Navorsers sowel as voorligtingsbeamptes het sedertdien onderneem om braaklandbewerking aan die boeregemeenskap bekend te stel. Navorsers was aanvanklik ten volle afhanklik van die konvensionele landbou-voorligtingsdienste om die verspreiding van tegnologiese kennis onder boere te hanteer. Hierdie verspreidingsproses was egter stadig en die boere het ook te lank geneem om die tegnologie in werking te stel. Aangesien dit vir die navorsers belangrik was dat boere braaklandbewerking so spoedig moontlik begin. het hulle daarop besluit om alternatiewe metodes van kennisverspreiding te gebruik. Hierdie alternatiewe metodes het behels dat inligting versprei is deur opleidingsbeamptes onder boere sowel as deur plaaslike leiers. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die drie kanale wat gebruik is om inligting te versprei, te ondersoek en die effektiwiteit daarvan vas te stel. Hierdie studie het voorveronderstel dat boere nie braaklandbewerking gebruik nie omdat hulle nie oor die nodige kennis beskik het nie, en dat die gebrek aan die nodige kennis veroorsaak en vererger is deur die oneffektiewe kanale wat gebruik is om die inligting onder boere te versprei. Die studie is uitgevoer in die distrikte Chadiza, Chipata en Katete van Oos-Zambië. Data is ingesamel deur die gebruik van vraelyste in 28 dorpe dwarsdeur die drie distrikte. Dié steekproef sluit 296 boere in wat op klein skaal boer en op wie dié tegnologie gemik was. Onderhoude is gevoer met 'n aantal addisionele persone, as verspreiders van tegnologiese kennis, bestaande uit Slopleidingsbeamptes onder boere, 15 tradisionele plaaslike leiers, en 14 landbou-voorligtingsbeamptes. Boere is lukraak getrek vir die steekproef Plaaslike leiers is sistematies getrek, terwyl die totale aantal opleidingsbeamptes en landbou-voorligtingsbeamptes wat teenwoordig was ten tye van die onderhoude, as proefpersone gebruik is. Daar is bevind dat 92% van die boere bewus was van dié tegnologie, waarvan 68% eers tussen 1998 en vroeg 2000 daarvan gehoor het. Dit was die periode waarin opleidingsbeamptes alreeds onder die boere werksaam was. Opleidingsbeamptes was vir 41% van die boere die bron van die oorspronklike inligting, en tog het hulle onlangs eers onder die boere begin werk. Alhoewel 92% van die boere al van die bewerking van braaklande gehoor het, het slegs 33% al ooit braaklande aangelê. Daar kan gesê word dat tien persent van die totale boerebevolking braaklandbewerking prakties toegepas het omdat hulle meer as een bewerkte braakland aangelê het. Die gebrek aan kennis is daarom nie die enigste rede vir boere se traagheid om die praktyk van braaklandbewerking te aanvaar nie. Opleidingsbeamptes blyk tans die mees effektiewe verspreiders van inligting onder boere te wees aangesien hulle daartoe in staat was om meer boere te bereik, selfs in gebiede waar landbou-voorligtingsbeamptes nog nooit voorheen was nie. Plaaslike leiers was nie betrokke by die verspreiding van braaklandbewerking me. Landbou voorligtingsbeamptes is gekniehalter deur'n gebrek aan hulpbronne, maar het steeds probeer om boere by te staan met behulp van bystand wat verleen is deur eksterne instellings soos Nie-Regeringsorganisasies (NRO's). Dié bevindinge dui op 'n behoefte aan voorligtingsbenaderings sowel as monitering- en evalueringstelsels wat deelnamegeoriënteer is.

No description available.

This study reviews the upgrading of forestry training in Indonesia comprising public, private and local people. The principal aim of this study is to investigate if, and how, forestry training can meet the needs of Indonesia forestry sector as methods of sustainable forest management are developed. Sustainability of forest resources and its underpinning by human resource development systems and processes are currently the primary issues and serious challenges for Indonesia forestry sector. The current capacity of forestry training in Indonesia is considered inadequate to meet the challenge. Forestry training managers and trainers in both public and private sectors, timber company managers and workers, and local people were involved in the human resource development processes to meet the new requirements and to see through the remaining traditional forestry training at the same time. Consideration was given to the weakness of the capacity of the current forestry training and the needs for improvement. The literature review took a theme approach covering the fields of human resource development processes, training and development, the six Indonesia five - year development plans, the guidelines for sustainable forest management of Indonesia and the International Tropical Timber Organisation. The main focus for obtaining data with respect to the respondents and informants was the changes brought about by training. The methodology centred on the design and use of a questionnaire with return rate of 55% from eighty managers of forest concessions, 80% from ten heads of public forestry training centres and 60% from eight private forestry training centres. In addition, a formal interview was conducted with HPH managers, APHI representatives, Forestry officials, local government, and trainers. Semi - structured interviews were conducted with villagers and HPH workers. Observations were conducted of villages within KPHP pilots in Riau, Jambi, Central Kalimantan, and East Kalimantan concerned with Forest Village Development. Teaching sessions of trainers graduated from OTTA at the Wolverhampton University were also observed. These data formed the basis of an analysis of the gap between the ideal future forestry human resource capacity and the current provision in relation to sustainable forest management. Analyses of quantitative data were conducted based on descriptive statistics using Excel. The approach to qualitative data was from open to axial and selective coding. In this study the limitation of upgrading forestry training emerged. This limitation is also endorsed by the users of the training programmes. The forestry extension activities are seen as an integral part of human resource development processes and as such must be with the respect to the forestry training programmes. The sustainable forest management can be justifiably incorporated within the upgrading forestry training. The only high standard of forestry training that can assure a success of forestry development is by providing welltrained foresters. Training has to become a strategic preoccupation of senior executives and top trainers as agent of change, which induces positive work attitudes, commitment, discipline and professionalism.

No description available.

No description available.