To most smallholder livestock producers in Southeast Asia, planted forages are much more than simply a new variety of a crop with which they are already familiar. 'Planting forages' is an entirely new concept, requiring major changes in the way farmers think about and manage their crop-livestock systems. Such significant changes do not happen easily unless there are strong pressures for change...and these pressures are coming fast in Southeast Asia, in the form of disappearing traditional feed resources and rapidly increasing demand for livestock products. The most promising way to support the emergence of significant impacts from forages in smallholder livestock systems comes from matching the best varieties available with participatory approaches to research and extension. Since 1995, CIAT has been working with national partners throughout the region to apply this approach in six countries of Southeast Asia. To date two studies have documented and assessed the economic and social impacts of the new forage technologies on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. This publication refers to the second study carried out in Mindanao, Philippines, and Tuyen Quang, Vietnam. Participatory evaluation tools together with conventional survey techniques were used to compare the livestock production systems of early and recent forage adopters. Results were stratified by wealth categories and other important cultural factors. The studies document the scale of social and economic impacts and highlight lessons that have emerged for future development.  

Keywords: Feed crops; Pasture improvement; Socioeconomic environment; Animal husbandry; Innovation adoption; Farming systems; Economic analysis; Participatory research; Asia; Philippines; Viet Nam

Collaborative research with farmers, national research, extension service and CIAT in Hai District, Kilimanjaro region revealed that most farmers have not accessed research results effectively for a long time. Hence, adoption rate and impact have remained very low. Six methods/approaches have been selected and used by farmers to improve the dissemination of agricultural technologies to farming communities.  

Keywords: Diffusion of research; Farmers; Interest groups; Partnerships; Training; Participatory research; Africa

The participation of farmers in pest problem diagnosis, identification of solutions, experimentation, monitoring and evaluation as well as dissemination of pest management information, is one of the most appropriate and effective approaches for improved farm production. 

Keywords: Phaseolus vulgaris; Pest control; Integrated control; Rapid rural appraisal; Partnerships; Diffusion of research; Beans; Participatory research; Africa

[International Seminar-Workshop on Upland Rice Improvement for Latin America and the Caribbean] The CIRAD/CIAT upland rice project has regional scope and, over the years, has formed ties with the principal improvement programs in Latin America and the Caribbean. In 1999, an informal improvement network, known as GRUMEGA, was formed and is now coordinated by the project. The network's main objective is to integrate the region's upland-rice breeders. Its workshops help provide forums for exchanging ideas and experiences in managing conventional and population improvement, and developing segregating and fixed lines. Plant breeders also get a chance to practice participatory improvement by selecting germplasm under field conditions.  

Keywords: Oryza sativa; Upland rice; Plant breeding; Recurrent selection; Disease resistance; Temperature resistance; Research networks; Agricultural development; Tagosodes orizicolus; Top soil; Savannas; Participatory research; Eastern plains; Colombia; Latin America; Caribbean

Improving the sustainability of cassava-based cropping systems in Asia: A farmer participatory approach to technology development and dissemination. Poster.  

Keywords: Manihot esculenta; Cassava; Cropping systems; Participatory research; Erosion control; Sustainability; Extension activities; Partnerships; Innovation adoption; Asia

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