Day one

0800 - 1000 hrs.

WORKSHOP ADMINISTRATION; EXPECTATIONS; GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Objective:

Participants will understand the administrative procedures for the week. They will come to agreement on the goals and objectives of the IST and understand the agenda and training methodology to be utilized.

Procedure:

· Explain the session.

· Participants divide into pre-defined groups to identify individual expectations of the IST and of the workshop staff.

· As a group, list expectations.

· Staff then presents their perceived goals and expectations and compare them to those of the participants.

· Training agenda is presented and discussed.

· Modification in goals and objectives as well as the agenda are made to meet new expressed needs and a final version is agreed upon.

· The Adult Learning Theory is discussed.

Resources:

Newsprint, markers, masking tape.

DAY ONE

1015 - 1115 hrs.

COUNTERPARTS

Objective:

To understand the importance of working in the field as a team. To develop a stronger and more confident working relationship and understanding among PCVs and their HCN counterparts.

Procedure:

· Trainer leads discussion on what it means to be a counterpart.

· Divide into counterpart teams (PCV & HCN) and list their motivations for working in development.

· Small groups present lists and report on their motives. Trainer then leads discussion concerning common motives listed.

· Trainers conduct role play between PCV and HCN simulating a counterpart team working relationship. It should be done by a female and male trainer.

· Trainer leads discussion of role play.

Resources:

Newsprint, markers, and two trainers for role play.

1115 - 1200 hrs.

WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT (WID) SLIDE SHOW AND DISCUSSION

Objective:

The participants will recognize and be able to discuss the role of women in the development process and more specifically in forestry and to that end, the importance of integrating women into the community analysis and project planning procedure.

Procedure:

· Women in Development slide show presentation.

· Trainer leads discussion of the slide show and how it relates to women in forestry, more specifically, women's role in forestry in the respective work sites/countries of the trainees.

· Discuss how women can be integrated into the project planning process.

· Discuss the counterpart roleplay done in an earlier session and the relationship between the female PCV and her male HCN counterpart.

Resources:

Women in Development Slide Show.

1330 - 1515 hrs.

CONCEPTS OF AGROFORSTRY, HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT; CLASSIFICATION AND COMPARISON OF AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS

Objective:

The participants will have an understanding of the history and development of agroforestry and be able to discuss and classify different agroforestry systems and state their advantages and disadvantages.

Procedure: Lecture should include:

· An historical perspective of traditional agroforestry systems beginning with slash and burn agriculture through its stabilization. Include cultural changes through time and its effect on the system of agriculture practiced.

· Several ways of classifying agroforestry systems (by spatial arrangements, by sequence and by major product).

· How different components within an agroforestry system utilize the different soil and light stratas.

· Process of selecting the appropriate combination of crops, animals and trees for agroforestry systems.

· Discussion of lecture.

Resources:

Handout: New Directions in Agroforestry:

The Potential of Tropical Legume Trees;
Selection of Legume Trees for Agroforestry. By Dr. Napoleon Vergara.

DAY ONE

1530 - 1630 hrs.

ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION

Objective:

The participants will have a general understanding of the problems, their origins and the effect that the loss of tropical forests is having on the ecology. They will then be able to discuss potential solutions and how those solutions relate to their involvement in development assistance.

Procedure:

Through group discussion, led by a trainer, the participants will be able to:

· Identify the ill effects of deforestation on the ecology.

· Identify the origins/causes of deforestation both natural and those induced by humans.

· Propose and discuss possible solutions to the problems deforestation poses on the ecology and relate those potential solutions back to their particular work sites.

1630 - 1730 hrs.

LAND USE PLANNING

Objective:

The participants will have a working understanding of the methodology and the sequence of events that go into land use planning and its implications on project success or failure.

Procedure: Lecture should include:

· Definition of land use planning: A process of judging the best use of a piece of land to achieve the goals of the users.

· Guidelines for setting goals and objectives in land use planning. Process should include data gathering within the community concerning their needs and the parcel of land to be utilized.

· How and what kind of information to be researched in the land use planning process.

· Instructions for mapping a land use plan.

1745 - 1830 hrs.

PRESENTATION OF AGROFORESTRY PROJECTS

Objective:

The participants will have a clear understanding of what the objective of the group agroforestry project is and the steps to take to reach that objective.

Procedure:

· Trainer explains to the participants that they will be conducting a site survey in a local community.

· The methodology for the site survey is briefly explained. Further the participants are informed as to the type of data to collect and who in the community is best to interview as they attempt to obtain the needed information. Participants are reminded of the morning session regarding the role of women in development.

· It is explained to the trainees that they will be expected to do an oral presentation at the end of the training.

NOTE

The original expectation was for the participants to design an agroforestry system based on information gathered during their community field visit. As a result of several group discussions throughout the training, the style and content of presentations were left to the discretion of each group. This produced some very interesting presentations ranging from the intended agroforestry plan to what would the next step be in the community analysis/information gathering process.

END OF EACH DAY

REVIEW AND PROCESSING

Objective:

For each participant to have a clear understanding of the day's activities and how they relate to the overall goals and objectives of the IST. To provide an opportunity for the review of the next days activities and objectives.

Procedure: Trainer leads a group discussion which should include:

· A review of each session and whether the session objectives were met.
· Discussion of any unfinished sessions.
· Feedback on how training is proceeding.
· A review of the next day's schedule and goals.

NOTE

The review and processing session was repeated at the end of each day.

Day two

0800 - 1600 hrs.

FIELD TRIP TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Objective:

For participants to practice extension techniques and site survey methodologies while gathering information to be used in their agroforestry reports.

Procedure:

· The large group divides into six predetermined small groups and are transported to different local communities.

· Each group is assigned a trainer who acts as a passive observer during the site survey/information gathering process. This is done so that the trainers have a complete understanding of the information gathered to be better prepared for the discussion of the group presentations made at the end of training.

Resources:

Packed lunches.

NOTE

The field trip requires excellent advance planning. Those communities to be visited by the participants should be contacted well in advance and follow-up visits by the trainers should be made prior to the appointed date for the field exercise. The communities should be made aware of the process and what the trainees will be doing, do not raise the communities expectations. It can be quite disruptive to the "going-one" of a community if a large unexpected group of outsiders descends on them without ample advance warning.

1630 - 1730 hrs

ECOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ADVANTAGES OF AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS

Objective:

The participants will have an understanding of the ecological, economic and social benefits of utilizing agroforestry systems. They will, upon return to their work sites be able to incorporate this information into their programs and extension activities.

Procedure: Lecture should include:

· Generalized and specific ecological benefits (general: reduction of pressure on forest lands, protection of upland ecological systems; specific: reduction of soil erosion and increase in soil fertility).

· Economic benefits for individuals, communities and entire regions through an increase in product output which should have a proportional increase in the level of farmer income.

· Social benefits, i.e., improved rural living standards, improved nutrition and health conditions and the stabilization of upland communities.

· Discussion.

1730 - 1800

REVIEW & PROCESSING (same as day one)

1800 - 1900 hrs.

SLIDE PRESENTATION

Objective:

To provide an opportunity for sharing information on the work and specific forestry projects and practices of the participants in their work site/country. This session attempts to provide an opportunity for participants to discuss the similarities of their projects and successful and unsuccessful solutions applied to problems they have encountered on these projects.

Procedure:

Slide show presentation and discussion is lead by three of the countries participating. This activity is repeated throughout the training program to allow participants who came with slide shows an opportunity to present them.

NOTE

This was a fun activity, enjoyed by all the participants as well as the staff. It relaxed and lcoclosened-upsened-up the participants and got more of an informal atmosphere established.

Day three

0800 - 1000 hrs.

NITROGEN FIXING TREES (NFT): THEIR ROLE IN AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS - POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND LIMITATIONS

Objective:

The participants will be able to define Nitrogen Fixing Trees and identify certain genera and species of the best potential NFTs. They will also be able to explain to farmers, the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing NFT species in their fields in agroforestry systems.

Procedure: Lecture should include:

· Sources of nitrogen and how it is introduced into the soil (atmospheric, biological and nonbiological sources).

· The effect of erosion on the soil and how NFTs can help prevent erosion while at the same time improving the nutrient content of the soil.

· Taxonomy of NFTs and the three subfamilies of legumes: Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae, Papilionoideae.

· The nonleguminous tree genera that fix nitrogen, principally, Alnus and Casuarina.
· The many uses of NFTs species e.g., fuelwood, fodder, timber, ornamentation, etc.
· The advantages and disadvantages of fast growing NFTs.

Resources:

Handout: Nitrogen-Fixing Tree Resources: Potentials and Limitations. By J.L. Brewbaker, R. Van Den Beldt and K. MacDicken.

DAY THREE

1015 - 1200 hrs.

NITROGEN FIXING TREES. SPECIES SELECTION AND REGENERATION

Objective:

The participants will understand the importance and methodology of species selection. They will be able to propogate NFTs by various methods and understand proper management of seedlings both in the nursery and on plantations.

Procedure: Lecture should include:

· The methodology of proper species selection; environmental requirements, community needs and purpose of planting.

· Seed selection and preparation.

· Different methods of propagation; nursery (both in containers and bare root), vegetative propagation, and direct seeding.

· Nursery management and the use of bacterium and rizobium.

· The importance of weed control and the nutrient requirements of NFTs in plantation management.

1325 - 1500 hrs.

AGROFORESTRY PROJECT PLANNING

Objective:

The participants will have a working understanding of the "systems" approach to planning.

Procedure: Lecture should include:

· Definition of a system: "a whole which consists of component parts that are interdependent and interacting such that a change in one component results in a chain of reactions which results in changes in the other components and in the whole".

· Definition of planning: "the careful process of identifying and selecting the best alternative means for achieving a set of objectives and goals".

· Steps in systems planning (emphasis should be made that throughout the planning process, members of the community participating in the project should be included in each step):

a) Identify goals and objectives,

b) determine problems and constraints,

c) identify all possible options for achieving goals,

d) narrow options down to the practical and practicable,

e) using technical, economic and social data gathered within a community; compare remaining options,

f) select with the community the best option.

· Emphasize the importance of looking at existing traditional agroforestry systems when selecting final project plan.

· Participants should be reminded that agroforestry is an option, it is not a panacea.

Resources:

Handout: New Directions in Agroforestry:

The Potential of Tropical Legume Trees;
Initial Tasks in Agroforestry Projects. By Dr. Napoleon Vergara.

DAY THREE

1515 - 1715 hrs.

AGRICULTURAL CROPS IN AGROFORESTRY

Objective:

The participants will be able to select compatable food, fodder and tree crops to best fit expressed needs of community and growing conditions of the area. They will have a general technical understanding of the production of food crops.

NOTE

The actual planning process of selecting the appropriate components in an agroforestry plan has already been discussed. This session is focused more on the technical aspect of food crops production. Lecture should be delivered by an agronomist.

Procedure:

Lecture should include:

· How to develop a management plan for agricultural crops and how it relates to and complements the management plan of tree crops (i.e., farmer is more sensitive to weeding food crops than tree crops and will therefore indirectly weed tree crops when weeding food crops).

· A discussion of different crop characteristics that should be taken into consideration when planning combinations (e.g., shade tolerance, rooting depth, rate of growth, height at maturity, nutrient requirements [nutrient producer or consumer], watering needs).

· Emphasis should be made again that final selection process should be heavily geared towards the expressed needs and eating habits of the community.

1715 - 1745

REVIEW & PROCESSING

Day four

0800 - 0900 hrs.

SILVO-PASTORAL SYSTEMS: CATTLE UNDER TREES

Objective:

For the participants to have a working knowledge of and be able to discuss the integration of animals (both large and small) into an agroforestry system. In this relationship the animals can serve as an active component, e.g., grazing in a field under trees, or as a passive component, e.g., utilization of leaf litter as fodder.

Procedure: Lecture should include:

· Discussion of animals most commonly found on farms within the training participants countries and the feeding and grazing needs of those animals.

· How those feeding and grazing needs can be met through agroforestry, e.g., planting pasture grasses under trees; using hedgerows of leguminous forage trees, i.e., leucaena; planting shade trees in existing pastures etc.

· The symbiotic relationships between certain animals and plants.

· The nutritive and economic benefits of silvo-pastoral systems.

DAY FOUR

0900 - 1000 hrs.

AGROFORESTRY AND FUELWOOD PRODUCTION

Objective:

To provide the participants with information on the production of fuelwood in forest plantations, and integrating this information into agroforestry systems. They will understand the difference between tree production for fuelwood as compared to traditional forestry plantations and the intense management needs of these fuelwood systems.

Procedure: Lecture should include:

· The difference between traditional forestry plantations and fuelwood production; fuelwood production requires shorter rotations, higher planting density and more intensive management practices.

· The basics of management practices; i.e., managed more like agricultural crops; when to harvest, how often to harvest etc.

· The importance of proper species selection to suit the characteristics and capabilities of the land.

· Land availability should be determined with the farmer. It may be decided to plant in blocks or as live fences, hedges or on other underutilized areas.

· The process of choosing species and the importance of setting up trial plots for growth rates - How to set them up and evaluate their results.

· Two different aspects of sustainable plantation management: fertility management and soil erosion control.

Resources:

Handout: Production of Fuelwood and Small Timber in Community Forestry Systems. By Kenneth MacDicken

DAY FOUR

1015 - 1200 hrs.

SUSTAINED PRODUCTION OF FODDER AND FERTILIZER IN AGROFORESTRY

Objective:

The participants will have an understanding of the management practices in agroforestry to achieve sustained fodder and fertilizer production.

Procedure: Lecture should include:

· Distinction between food products, wood products and green biomass.

· Discussion of the best fodder producing tree species.

· Methods of fodder harvest; direct and indirect and the associated advantages and disadvantages.

· The concept of carrying capacity carrying capacity of a land area for livestock as it relates to fodder availability.

· Timetable for trimming trees for best production of fodder and/or green manure, compared to the production of fuelwood.

· Economics of trimming trees for fodder and/or green manure production.

· Impact of solar energy and soil nitrogen on fodder production.

· Acacia and other fast growers and precautions that should be taken if they are included in an agroforestry system geared to fodder production (non-palatability).

· Effects of green manure consumption on cattle; specifically mimosene in Leucaena and hair loss in cattle and swine.

Resources:

Handout: New Directions in Agroforestry:

The Potential of Tropical Legume Trees;

Sustained Outputs From Legume-Tree-Based Agroforestry Systems. By Dr. Napoleon Vergara.

DAY FOUR

1200 - 1630 hrs.

FREE TIME

Objective:

Participants were given this time to relax, tour the city of Honiara, swim, scuba dive, snorkle, work on their agroforestry projects, and in general, provide a break in the hectic training schedule.

NOTE

This time was not originally scheduled into the agenda; however, due to the intensive schedule, we thought that this would be an excellent replacement for a session which was combined with another.

1630 - 1800 hrs.

EXTENSION TECHNIQUES AND PRACTICES

Objective:

The participants will have an understanding of what it means to be an "extensionist" and be able to discuss what is involved in the extension process.

Procedure: Lecture should include:

· A definition of an extensionist: A person who helps people understand; a middle person between farmers and farmers, farmers and researchers, farmers and other extensionists, farmers and organizations.

· Steps in the extension process:

- information gathering,
- planning (with farmer participation),
- communicating (how to communicate information to others),
- education and training,
- implementation of the plan (either with an individual farmer, a group or community),
- follow-up and evaluation (stress the importance of maintaining contact with the people after implementation).

· Communication methods (ask participants what they have used);

- individual contact,
- group meetings,
- demonstrations in the field,
- demonstration plots,
- field days,
- mass media,
- materials and audio visual aids (pamphlets flyers, posters, slides, movies, etc.).

· Discussion should include techniques that the participants have utilized both successfully and unsuccessfully. A link between the material presented and its importance/relevance to the trainee's agroforestry projects should be made.

1800 - 1830

REVIEW & PROCESSING

Day five

0800 - 0900 hrs.

ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF AGROFORSTRY PROJECTS

Objective:

The participants will understand the methodology of determining the economic feasibility of agroforestry projects and therefore have the capability to determine whether a project should be implemented now, at a later date, or not at all.

Procedure: Lecture should include:

· An explanation of the need for economic evaluation, both preproject evaluation to determine if a project is economically feasible and postproject evaluation to ascertain whether the project is a success or failure.

· Factors that go into an economic evaluation:

- Scope of evaluation: level of evaluation, individual family plots, entire community or entire watershed.

- The time horizon: the time span to be included in the calculations of economic feasibility/evaluation of a project.

- Data collection: information on all physical inputs, outputs and residuals generated by the project.

- Valuation: the worth attached to benefits and costs.

- Discount rate: a determination of present value of all costs and benefits that will occur throughout the life of the project.

· Economic evaluation techniques with simple examples.

Resources:

Handout: New Directions in Agroforestry:

The Potential of Tropical Legume Trees;

Economic Evaluation of Agroforestry Projects. By Dr. Napoleon Vergara.

DAY FIVE

0900 - 1200 hrs.

SEED COLLECTION AND STORAGE (LECTURE AND FIELD)

Objective:

Participants will have a working knowledge of several methods of collecting and storing seeds. To provide an opportunity to practice this newly acquired skill of seed collection.

Procedure: Trainer gives lecture and leads group discussion:

· Methods of seed collection.

· Different types of seeds, e.g., fruit, hard coat, soft coat, winged, pulpy, etc.

· Various ways to store seeds and precautions that should be taken; i.e., precautions against fungal infections, insect damage, heat and frost damage, etc.

· Field trip to collect seeds.

NOTE

A location should be selected prior to the field trip. There should he a variety of tree species with at least a few of them in the seed bearing stage of development if possible.

1300 - 1815 hrs.

FRUIT TREES - GRAFTING AND PRUNING: "HANDS ON" PRACTICE

Objective:

The participants will be instructed in the selection of proper grafting materials (scion, root stock) and be able to graft fruit trees using a couple of methods. They will understand the principals and importance of pruning trees.

Procedure: Lecture and demonstration should include:

· Explanation of the purpose and advantages of grafting fruit trees;

- to achieve desired variety of fruit with stock adapted to local conditions,

- to gain time - grafted trees begin bearing fruit earlier than trees produced directly from seeds,

- to assure genetic purity,

- for repair purposes - renewing an old tree or repairing girdled trunks caused by rodents or mechanical damage.

· The process of selecting proper root stock and scions for grafting. Point out those characteristics desired in both.

· Review of the principles of pruning;

- space for every branch and a branch for every space,

- watch the timing - generally in the lowest growth period (dormancy) of the tree,

- prune so that the tree can heal clean cuts, no projecting stumps so that rain will not collect in the cut.

· Practice both grafting and pruning.

Resources:

Fruit tree seedlings, scions, grafting knives, sharpening stone, horning oil, pruning shears.

NOTE

It is desirable to have actual fruit tree seedlings to graft. Make arrangements to get them prior to the start of training.

1815 - 1845

REVIEW & PROCESSING

Day six

0800 - 1415 hrs.

AGROFORESTRY PRESENTATIONS BY PARTICIPANTS

Objective:

To provide an opportunity for the project groups to present their final agroforestry project to the large group for discussion, critique and feedback.

Procedure:

Forty-five minutes is allotted to each group to give their presentation. The format of the presentation is left to the discretion of each group. There should be time allocated for questions and feedback.

1415 - 1515 hrs.

REVIEW OF EXPECTIONS & THE COUNTERPART RELATIONSHIP

Objective:

To provide an opportunity to review the importance of working as a team and how it is relevant to the subjects covered in the workshop. To review the original goals and expectations of the workshop and ensure that they were met to the full satisfaction of the participants.

Procedure:

Trainer leads a discussion to review the importance of working as a team in the field. Trainer also puts up the original flip charts with the participant's goals and expectations and reviews them.

Resources:

Original flip charts with participant's goals and expectations.