Working group on training and extension

Training applicable to agro-forestry can be either formal (primary and secondary schools, technical certificate and diploma courses, and undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes) or non-formal (in-service or short-term training).

Formal Training

In primary and secondary schools, the curricula already contain agriculture. Agro-forestry principles should be introduced so that agriculture and forestry are no longer compartmentalized. Emphasis should be placed on the environment and the role of trees, food crops, and livestock within it. Current teaching materials need to be revised so that they reflect this emphasis, and practical work-for example, encouraging pupils to plant trees in the school garden-should be included.

Technical training at agricultural, forestry, and animal sciences colleges or schools should introduce the concept of agro-forestry as an integrated form of land use.

Undergraduate training should include practical exposure to the multiple use of land so that students derive an integrated view of land management. Students of forestry, agriculture, and animal sciences should be brought together in at least one course on land management which embraces the various disciplines and includes the concept of agro-forestry. A specialized course on agro-forestry is not necessary, but agro-forestry should be highlighted in other courses wherever possible.

Postgraduate training, in addition to emphasizing research in agro-forestry, should incorporate courses on land management. Such courses should stress the role of agro-forestry and should be offered to students of agriculture, animal sciences, forestry, etc.

Non-formal Training

Non-formal training in agro-forestry should be encouraged for all people who are responsible for the related disciplines, especially the teachers of formal training courses. In-ervice training can provide professional staff with the opportunity to gain experience and new ideas, and it may be undertaken on a South-South basis, sometimes across continents.

Universities should play a key role in non-formal training, as they provide a favourable environment for it. Research institutes and government departments could also provide training. Centres which have informed staff, appropriate infrastructure, research and study facilities, and field experiments should be used for agro-forestry training. International agencies may provide financial assistance and help in the organization of such courses. ICRAF is planning to initiate a programme of in-service training, and the UN University has been training a limited number of scientists on an international basis since 1978.

Priorities

Priority should be given to the inclusion of agro-forestry in training at the technical and non-university levels, as technical personnel carry out the actual work in the field. The first step is to train, perhaps through non-formal courses, teachers of these personnel so that they can provide the right type of leadership. Funding for non-university level training should come from national governments and, where necessary, international agencies.

Public Enlightenment

Introducing agro-forestry to the people is necessary. Radio programmes, newspaper articles, posters, and displays at agricultural shows are possible avenues.

Each country should form an agro-forestry committee that would include people from a range of disciplines and interests in land use and include the ministry of information. This committee would put forward ideas to national information services or other appropriate channels.

Publicity material, as with the composition of the national agro-forestry committees, depends on each country's circumstances. Universities should be enlisted to produce material, which may need translating into local languages, and could include posters, literature, films and filmstrips, and tapes for radio. The dissemination of such material could be done by various national agencies, including cooperative unions, adult education services, and the like.

Demonstration and experimental plots, sited in key locations and worked by field staff and selected local farmers, are essential. These should be financed by various national bodies and organized through the national agro-forestry committees.

Motivation of farmers is vital and can be aided by governments through guaranteed purchases of certain products such as pulpwood.