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Improving the sustainability of cassava-based cropping systems in Asia : A farmer participatory approach to technology development and dissemination
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Howeler, Rh Watananonta, Watana Tran, N. Q. |
| Copyright Year | 2002 |
| Abstract | Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is the third most important food crop in southeast Asia; the crop is usually grown by smallholders in marginal areas of sloping or undulating land. Farmers grow cassava because the crop will tolerate long dry periods and poor soils, and will produce reasonable yields with minimum inputs. Most farmers realize, however, that cassava production on slopes can cause severe erosion, while production without fertilizer or manure inputs will lead to a gradual decline in soil productivity. Current production practices may thus not be sustainable. Research has shown that cassava yields can be maintained for many years with adequate application of fertilizers or manures, and that there are various ways to reduce erosion. Adoption of erosion control practices, however, has been minimal as farmers generally see little short-term benefits, while initial costs of establishing these practices may be substantial. In order to enhance the adoption of soil conserving practices and improve the sustainability of cassava production under a wide range of socio-economic and bio-physical conditions, a farmer participatory research (FPR) approach was used to develop not only the best soil conservation practices, but also to test new cassava varieties, fertilization practices and cropping systems that tend to produce greater short-term benefits. The FPR methodology was initially developed in 2-3 sites each in China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. The methodology includes the conducting of RRAs in each site, farmer evaluation of a wide range of practices shown in demonstration plots, FPR trials with farmer-selected treatments on their own fields, field days with discussions to select the best among the tested practices, scaling-up of selected practices to larger fields, and farmer participatory dissemination to neighbors and neighboring communities. Based on the results of these trials, farmers in the pilot sites have readily adopted better varieties, fertilization and intercropping practices, and many farmers have adopted the planting of contour hedgerows to control erosion. In the second phase of this Nippon Foundation supported project, the farmer participatory approach for technology development and farmer-to-farmer extension is being further developed in 20 pilot sites each in Thailand and Vietnam, and in nine sites in southern China. Farmers are generally very interested in participating in the trials. After becoming aware of the seriousness of erosion in their cassava fields, they have shown a willingness to adopt simple but effective practices to reduce erosion while at the same time obtaining short-term benefits from the adoption of new varieties and other improved practices. The testing by farmers on their own fields of new cassava varieties and fertilization practices in addition to soil conservation practices was found to be of crucial importance for the adoption of more sustainable production practices. |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://www.sfst.org/Proceedings/17WCSS_CD/papers/0369.pdf |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://ciat-library.ciat.cgiar.org/Articulos_Ciat/0208_Improving_Sustainability.pdf |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://ciat-library.ciat.cgiar.org/Articulos_Ciat/poster_fpr.pdf |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
