Agroforestry and sustainable vegetable production in Southeast Asian watershed: a baseline study

Work on vegetable-agroforestry compatibility is advancing rapidly with new findings that narrow the focus and advance the socio-economic work on the adoptability specific technologies. The drip irrigation work is successful and looks like it will be spreading quicklyin the locality. Market value chain analyses identified several areas for further study, particularly concerning the introduction of indigenous species such as Katuk, Kucai, and Malunggay. Policy analyses in Vietnam and the Philippines determined that overall policiesare supportive; however, these policies overwhelmingly benefit large-scale farmers. Further, it is recommended that incentives for good environmental practices are best negotiated at the local rather than the national level. Computer simulations of soil erosion are demonstrating that conservation practices, used by SANREM farmers for many years, need to be disseminated more widely. A communication study in Vietnam concluded that a participatory approach is more likely to achieve success with indigenous people, than the traditional technology transfer approach used with recent migrants. The gender work is gearing up with a gender awareness workshop under preparation. It was found that innovative strategies such as publication of techno-guide, pamphlets, and video documentation of farming practices enhanced farmer’s awareness and knowledge of vegetable-agroforestry systems.

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