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Does training in dynamic agroforestry change doing, organising, meaning, and knowing in smallholder systems in Bolivia?

Männle, Julia; Rüegg, Johanna; Milz, Joachim and Probst, Lorenz (2023) Does training in dynamic agroforestry change doing, organising, meaning, and knowing in smallholder systems in Bolivia? In: Tielkes, Eric (Ed.) Tropentag 2023. Competing pathways for equitable food systems transformation: trade-offs and synergies. Book of Abstract, CUVILLIER Verlag, Göttingen, p. 291.

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Document available online at: https://www.tropentag.de/2023/proceedings/proceedings.pdf


Summary in the original language of the document

Bolivia is among the countries with the highest deforestation rates in Latin America due to the expansion of commercial agriculture, timber production, and mining activities. At the same time, smallholder farmers face challenges such as the impacts of climate change, soil degradation, and unstable market prices. Local and international actors have promoted dynamic agroforestry (DAF) as an approach to improve living conditions, restore natural habitats and increase adaptive capacity for over two decades. Currently, stakeholders involved in promoting DAF in the Alto Beni region of Bolivia seek to understand better how the approach has integrated with and potentially changed local socio-ecological realities. Accordingly, our goal was to explore whether DAF training and the possible implementation of DAF have contributed to new ways of doing, knowing, meaning, and organising in smallholder agroecosystems in the study area. We draw on relational concepts, including nonhuman agency and the emphasis on dynamics and processes, to frame our research interest. We used participant observation, interviews, narrative walks, and a mapping exercise to address the research question with twenty farmers and other stakeholders in the region. Preliminary results indicate that participating in the DAF training has indeed created space for exchange, reconsideration, and re-strengthening of social-ecological relations. By engaging more deeply with the roles and needs of flora, fauna and soil, feelings of kinship were rekindled, according to participants. We suggest that this perception shift towards reciprocity and care will play a major role in initiating long-term changes in farming practices. The participants also attempted to raise awareness and encourage their family and community members to cease practicing shifting cultivation and to diversify their production systems. Ongoing follow-up activities and consistent communication with promoting organisations will be essential for maintaining the relationships established through the training and for ensuring the continuation of the newly implemented agroforestry systems.


EPrint Type:Conference paper, poster, etc.
Type of presentation:Poster
Keywords:Agroforestry, Bolivia, change processes, relationality, Abacus, FiBL6524603, FiBL65245, SysCom Bolivia
Agrovoc keywords:
Language
Value
URI
English
agroforestry
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_207
English
Bolivia -> Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_331403
Subjects: Crop husbandry > Production systems
Knowledge management > Education, extension and communication
"Organics" in general > Countries and regions > Bolivia
Research affiliation:Austria > Univ. BOKU Wien
Bolivia
Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Knowledge exchange > Advice
Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > International > Agroforestry Systems
ISBN:978-3-7369-7880-5
Related Links:https://systems-comparison.fibl.org/
Deposited By: Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau, FiBL
ID Code:52814
Deposited On:12 Mar 2024 13:18
Last Modified:13 Mar 2024 11:17
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Peer-reviewed and accepted

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