Appropriate R&D support for forestry extension

An examination of the nature of information requirements for participatory extension effort in the implementation of community forestry and agroforestry projects (viewed here as promotion of the use of multipurpose trees and cropping systems to satisfy a diversity of local needs) for rural development. The authors suggest that obtaining such information will need a broadly conceived approach to research and development (R&D) which will require new kinds of linkages between R&D and extension activities. Approaches to maximum participation are discussed, and some of the more important research considerations for deciding 'what to extend' to any situation are highlighted. These include: choosing the right trees; choosing the right 'tree technology' (or 'cropping system' which needs a consideration of problems/potential/functions and functional combinations/locations/components (species)/arrangements/ management); combining structured inputs with open-ended participation; and organizational innovations. The last part of the paper discusses 'how to extend', and suggests the need for a new model incorporating the research needs of extension. This is envisaged as expanding upon the farming systems research (FSR) approach to technology generation by providing the missing link between research instituted at a research centre and extension work in the community. In some cases such links have already begun to evolve (informally) as: 'on-farm' or 'adaptive' research carried out by research institutions; 'extension trials' undertaken by extension agencies and development authorities; and monitoring and evaluation activities in community forestry projects. A new, more formal link is proposed here, and termed Extension R&D (or ER&D). The requirement for such a link in the implementation of agroforestry projects is also noted, as illustrated by the use of ICRAF's Diagnosis and Design (D&D) technology (an FSR approach which is sensitive to the tree components of farming systems, and is more explicit about system design questions). In both cases, the existing missing link is identified as the 'design' or 'engineering' step. The idea of ER&D is founded on the near equivalence of the adaptive research of FSR and the extension trials of extensionists. It is envisaged as operating via a community based ER&D change agent (who would combine the traditionally separate roles of researcher and extension agent) and work in a community based ER&D team, with local co-workers. The role of the ER&D agent is described and contrasted with that of the classical extension agent. Institutional and training aspects of the proposed model are discussed.

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