Browsing by Subject "Subsistenzwirtschaft"
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Publication Conversion of subsistence farming to sustainable agroforestry in the Midhills of Nepal : participatory action research in system development(2015) Schick, Alina; Hoffmann, VolkerIn the Midhills of Nepal, agriculture is practiced mostly as subsistence farming on often small-sized terraces. Nowadays there are often only a few trees left in cultivated areas, which leaves the soil bare for several months of the year, mostly in winter. Degeneration processes by environmental influences on bare terraces, and a deficiency of organic material lead to poor soils and consequently to a reduced harvest. A rising population leads to a fragmentation of farms by spreading estates, thus leading to ever smaller-sized cultivated land areas. These often and increasingly do not produce enough food to feed farmers and their families. The possibilities of work in other income sectors are limited. Consequently, some farmers leave their land and move to Kathmandu. To break this chain it is necessary to develop new survival strategies. One solution is to ensure that existing farms can produce enough food to feed themselves and sell to make a living. This can theoretically be achieved by alternative farming methods and the introduction of new techniques. Agroforestry with its mixed farming styles and aspects of permaculture can eventually help to ameliorate the soils and provide extra nutrition and income through a perennially mixed plant production system that also includes several cash crops. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the actual situation of farmers in the region of Kaule, Nepal, and to assess the system change from subsistence farming to agroforestry. An existing agroforestry farm established in Kaule about 15 years ago will serve as a reference. For the system change to agroforestry several hypotheses were put forward on the assumption of the stated problems. These hypotheses have been tested by several methods such as socioeconomic and ecological field surveys, in combination with qualitative social research methods like interviews, questionnaires, protocols and direct observations. The results were then ordered in case studies per household and later accumulated into comparative group observations. The system change was then contextualised to a situation-based functional theory of adoption and diffusion of innovations in social systems. This study report is the written monitoring result of the three initial project years from 2009 to 2011 in Kaule, and in some cases supplemented by additional data from earlier and later years. Data on income and expenses, work distribution within the families, soil quality and biodiversity have been selected. General descriptions of farming methods and reports on several training sessions are also included, as well as the assessment of terrace sizes and meteorological data. After comparing single household situations in the case studies with those of accumulative group observations, two different livelihood strategies were found that seemed to be sustainable for the current situation in Kaule. One strategy is where several parts of families merge together to create bigger social structures and combine their land in bigger scales to produce their livelihood. Alternatively, like the case of the agroforestry farm, the other strategy is part-time farming with enhanced cultivation methods for nutrition and income production, in addition to external work based on higher education. When agroforestry was compared to a situation-based functional approach to describe its potential for adaption and diffusion, it was found that agroforestry in its complexity is difficult to establish and places high expectations on adopters. For households that cultivate only a few plants for personal consumption, agroforestry is not suitable, although they can adopt single elements of the package. The introduction of new plants and methods into farming systems needs to be preferentially planned by marketing prospects. The potential of diffusion of the innovation depends on the necessary support. Even though agroforestry, in the form it has been promoted by the project, is relatively complex, it allows farmers to choose out of its multitude of elements which ones to adopt. The adoption of further farming methods and plants and also additional components like composting or beekeeping can be further developed over time. The potential of agroforestry to enhance soil quality and to contribute to better crop production became apparent when it was compared to other project farms. The potential of diffusion of agroforestry to other farms in the area is possible, as long as suitable local structures like demonstration farms and locally organized project structures are established and continual trainings are organized. A mixture of self-help and external support is therefore favorable.Publication Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Sekundärwalderhaltung im Bundesstaat Sucre, Venezuela - Brachewirtschaft, Agroforstsysteme und forstliche Nutzung in der kleinbäuerlichen Landwirtschaft -(2003) Valqui Haase, Alexis Holger; Heidhues, FranzHalf a billion people are considered as direct actors of tropical deforestation. Especially those, who live in the tropics in forest areas or nearby forests as peasants and landless people. They use and destroy the tropical forests by trying to secure the subsistence of their families. This study analysis the leading socio-economic and legal factors of the use and destruction of forest ecosystems in the small scale agriculture of the Paria Region, in the State Sucre, Venezuela. In the Paria Region the small scale agricultural systems secure their subsistence especially trough the cultivation of agricultural products in fallow systems and agroforestry systems. Following questions are treated: In which way does the agrarian reform law and the local land tenure as well as the forest law and the forest politics influence the protection of forests by peasants? How does the landuse systems contribute to the income and subsistence assurance of peasant families as well as to deforestation? Which functions does the forests fulfil from the point of view of the peasants and what benefit could they realise from the forests? A quantitative and qualitative approach was chosen. Standardised survey as well as econometric and statistical data analysis methods, like Cluster analysis and logistical regression, are combined with semistructured interviews and qualitative analysis methods. Conclusions: Forests are seen in the agrarian reform law as well as at community level primarily as a reserve for agricultural land. The "agrarian occupation" which follows the principle, land is owned by them who use it, is an instrument to avoid land concentration. But in countries like Venezuela it has also deforestation as consequence, where forests are seen as land that is not in use. The fact that forests are seen as land that is not in use or even useless land is reinforced by the restriction which peasants are confronted with, due to the forest law and it's implementation, when they wanted to use the forests for income generation. Also the function of the forests as supplier of subsistence goods for the families is loosing importance because of the substitution of this goods by industrial ones. This restriction and development has the consequence that peasants become more and more "disinterested forests managers". The comparison of the fallow systems and agroforestry systems of the Paria Region shows that agroforestry systems are relative better from the view of income generation and forests conservation. They have a lower land productivity, but they have a relative high work productivity and generated better distributed income. On the other side they are less forest destructive. In most of the cases they can be even seen as secondary forests.