Rüegg, Johanna; Milz, Joachim; Tůmová, Barbora; Schneider, Monika; Velazquez, Fortunato; Yana, Walter and Dreher, Bastian (2022) Participatory training approach of sharing knowledge and research results for better adoption of organic cocoa agroforestry systems. Workshop at: 5 th world congress on agroforestry, Québec, Canada, 17. - 19.7.2022. [Completed]
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Summary
Agroforestry systems offer many benefits, such as diversifying incomes and reducing input costs. However, planning and managing diversified systems is knowledge intensive, and needs constant observation and adaptation to specific contexts by the farmers. Therefore, sharing knowledge between farmers, technicians and researchers critical for adoption of agroforestry systems that fit the respective situation and objectives.
The dynamic agroforestry community has developed some principles that can be applied for regenerating degraded land with agroforestry systems by combining a variety of species, focussing on diversity and synergies instead of simplification and competition. These concepts, together with practical experiences, and research results are a complex set of information to be complemented with local knowledge of farmers (e.g. on species’ use, available resources, local markets).
Here we share experiences from elaborating training materials and conducting a training of trainers based on research findings on cocoa agroforestry and practical experiences from working with dynamic agroforestry systems and organic cocoa for more than 25 years.
We used a set of training materials and methods for awareness raising for the environmental and social benefits of agroforestry systems, for example simplified research methods like infiltration measurements. Some practical visualizations e.g. for erosion on surfaces after slash-and-burn vs. slash-and-mulch, or dry run exercise for the installation and development of dynamic agroforestry plots. These methods help to understand processes that are happening on larger spatial or temporal scale. Field visits to research plots as well as farmers fields and discussions based on associated data were central.
In conclusion, sharing of scientific results combined with practical and visual experiences give technicians the confidence to multiply the experiences with their farmers. While demoplots are crucial for working with farmers, additional videos describing the design and management of agroforestry systems, farmers’ testimonials, and some research results directly from the field can be helpful.
EPrint Type: | Conference paper, poster, etc. |
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Type of presentation: | Workshop |
Keywords: | Agroforest, Kakao, Systemvergleich, Langzeitversuche, Aus- und Weiterbildung, Kurse, Beratung, Abacus, FiBL651660301 |
Agrovoc keywords: | Language Value URI English agroforestry http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_207 English cacao (plant) -> Theobroma cacao http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7713 English training materials http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_9000168 English training courses http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7862 |
Subjects: | Knowledge management > Research methodology and philosophy > Research communication and quality Knowledge management > Education, extension and communication "Organics" in general > Countries and regions > Bolivia "Organics" in general > Countries and regions > Latin America |
Research affiliation: | Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Crops > Special crops > Cocoa Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > International > Agroforestry Systems Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > International > Regions > Latin America & Caribbean |
Deposited By: | Rüegg, MSc Johanna |
ID Code: | 45322 |
Deposited On: | 04 Apr 2023 12:00 |
Last Modified: | 05 Apr 2023 12:31 |
Document Language: | English |
Status: | Unpublished |
Refereed: | Not peer-reviewed |
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