Trees on the Farm : Assessing the Adoption Potential of Agroforestry Practices in Africa

Most published books on agroforestry have focused on biophysical aspects. There has been a lack of scientifically rigorous information about the socioeconomic features of agroforestry, and the adoption of agroforestry practices by farmers. This book fills that gap by assessing the adoption of selected agroforestry practices developed with African farmers, describing methods, and drawing out the implications for research, development, and policy. The volume includes five case studies of research conducted in Kenya and Zambia to evaluate the adoption potential of agroforestry. The cases illustrate methods of farm and village technology design, testing, and analysis that are applicable to a wide range of natural resource management practices. Along with the case studies, the contents also include chapters on: methods for assessing agroforestry adoption potential, promoting new agroforestry technologies: policy lessons from on-farm research, and assessing adoption potential: lessons learned and future directions. Contributors......Page 8 Foreword......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 11 1 Introduction......Page 12 2 Methods for Assessing Agroforestry Adoption Potential......Page 22 3 Assessing the Adoption Potential of Improved Fallows in Eastern Zambia......Page 48 4 The Adoption Potential of Short Rotation Improved Tree Fallows: Evidence from Western Kenya......Page 76 5 Assessing the Adoption Potential of Hedgerow Intercropping for Improving Soil Fertility, Western Kenya......Page 100 6 Farmer-designed Agroforestry Trials: Farmers’ Experiences in Western Kenya......Page 122 7 Calliandra calothyrsus: Assessing the Early Stages of Adoption of a Fodder Shrub in the Highlands of Central Kenya......Page 136 8 Promoting New Agroforestry Technologies: Policy Lessons from On-farm Research......Page 156 9 Assessing Adoption Potential: Lessons Learned and Future Directions......Page 180 Glossary......Page 196 Index......Page 200 ISBN-13: 9780851995618 Contributors 8 Foreword 10 Acknowledgements 11 1 Introduction 12 2 Methods for Assessing Agroforestry Adoption Potential 22 3 Assessing the Adoption Potential of Improved Fallows in Eastern Zambia 48 4 The Adoption Potential of Short Rotation Improved Tree Fallows: Evidence from Western Kenya 76 5 Assessing the Adoption Potential of Hedgerow Intercropping for Improving Soil Fertility, Western Kenya 100 6 Farmer-designed Agroforestry Trials: Farmers’ Experiences in Western Kenya 122 7 Calliandra calothyrsus: Assessing the Early Stages of Adoption of a Fodder Shrub in the Highlands of Central Kenya 136 8 Promoting New Agroforestry Technologies: Policy Lessons from On-farm Research 156 9 Assessing Adoption Potential: Lessons Learned and Future Directions 180 Glossary 196 Index 200 Annotation A number of books exist which consider the biophysical aspects of agroforestry. However, there has hitherto been a lack of information about the socioeconomics of agroforestry, and its adoption by farmers, following rigorous scientific methods. This book fills this gap by assessing the adoption potential of selected agroforestry practices, describing the methodologies and drawing out implications for research and development. It includes five case studies conducted in Kenya and Zambia