Learning

N otes
ASRF SERIES 2017-14

Enhancing Agroforestry Implementation

through Study Tour on Agroforestry-based
Livelihood Improvement
INTRODUCTION pressures on the forest. This However, agroforestry is not
livelihood approach is consistent commonly practiced in Thailand.
Community forestry presents with His Majesty, the King To scale up its implementation,
a promising approach to Bumibol Adulyadej’s philosophy, RFD in cooperation with forest
achieve sustainable forest “Sufficiency Economy,” which communities and individual
management in Thailand. emphasizes moderation, households attempted
In 2000, the Royal Forest responsible consumption, and to establish agroforestry
Department (RFD) formally resilience to external shocks. demonstration sites for the
promoted community forestry public. This effort, however,
as a management strategy. Agroforestry is a sustainable land resulted in dismal figures with
About 9,015 villages covering an use system which integrates the only 132 CFs and 24 households
area of approximately 590,000 growing of agricultural crops and adjacent to CFs adopting
hectares were registered as forest trees on the same piece of agroforestry. Reportedly, lack of
community forests (CF). These land for maximum production confidence and knowledge on
CFs provide significant goods of food, fodder and wood, and agroforestry hinders adoption
and services, as well as cultural other products. It provides of this system among potential
enrichment, improving the lives substantial benefits such as: implementers.
and livelihood of the locals. increased household income,
soil erosion prevention, nutrient This ASRF project addressed this
RFD encourages adoption of capture and retention, and gap through the enhancement of
agroforestry as an alternative carbon sequestration, among capacity of on-farm practitioners
livelihood to support sustainable others. in agroforestry implementation
resource management and reduce through a study tour. The study
tour was held on 25–30 June 2016
and attended by 20 participants
living in CFs. Prior to the tour,
a review of three commonly
practiced agroforestry systems
was performed, namely: (1) alley
cropping, (2) home gardens, and
(3) plantation crops combination.
These are vital in site selection
as well as in the development of
agroforestry management plans.
Seven agroforestry sites located
in four provinces in the northern
Thailand were identified. These
were Ban Pha-Pai and Ban Huai
Rai in Phrae Province, Ban Na-
Po-Thon and Ban Nai-Pra-Dab in
Uttaradit Province, Ban Huai-Pla-
Lot and the Musur market in Tak
Province, and Ban Chiangrai-Lum
in Lampang Province.

This learning note is based on the final report of the project Enhancing Agroforestry Implementation through Study Tour on Agroforestry-Based Livelihood Improvement
under the leadership of Mr. Pralong Dumrongthai, ASFN National Leader and Mr. Komsan Rueangritsarakul, ASFN Focal Point, Community Forest Management Bureau, Royal Forest
Department of Thailand. For more details, contact +662 561 4292 ext 5644 or email pralong2000@hotmail.com; komsan.r@hotmail.com
After the visits, group discussions
were arranged to enhance
learning and facilitate knowledge
sharing. At the end of the tour,
participants were able to develop
their own workable agroforestry
plan. Likewise, the knowledge
gained from the experience
was disseminated to relevant
stakeholders.
KEY FINDINGS
The participants observed the
types of trees and crops grown
in different agroforestry systems,
as well as their benefits. Potential
challenges in implementing a
specific agroforestry system were
identified, such as consistency
to Buddhist beliefs, high cost
of management, maintainance
of farm records, and irrigation
requirements. Nevertheless,
participants were able to come up
with recommendations to address
these challenges.
The study tour contributed
to strengthening the
implementation of agroforestry
among on-farm practitioners.
The monitoring activity carried
out one month after the tour,
revealed that participants have
already made improvements
in their farm by employing
combination planting, alley
cropping, integrated planting,
and windbreakers. Different
trees/fruit trees, shrubs, herbs,
and vegetables were also
grown in their farms, with
some integrating fish culture
and livestock. Moreover, the
knowledge gained by the
participants has already rippled
to 338 CF members who also
adopted the agroforestry
model.
WAY FORWARD
Insights from the study
tour have the potential to
strengthen related schemes in
managing land and soil resources
in Thailand. For instance, the
recently established National
Land Policy Committee seeks
to resolve landlessness issues
and maximize sustainable use
of land. A project on “Creative
Forest Revenue,” will be
implemented under this scheme.
This aims to generate better
livelihood among participants by
employing agroforestry. Hence, it
can draw lessons from this ASRF
project to effectively accomplish
its objectives.
Through agroforestry
implementation, practitioners
are expected to develop
agroforestry management plans
at the household level and
help disseminate information
from the study tour to relevant
stakeholders.
 Key Messages

• Agroforestry, as a livelihood strategy in Social Forestry, provides ecological and economic benefits
to community. However, its adoption leaves a lot to be desired, particularly in the case of Thailand,
due to relatively high technical skills (and perhaps capital) that it requires. Capacity building and
trainings are needed to address this gap.

• Study tour and field exposure enabled stakeholders to learn the best practices and social forestry
technologies, such as agroforestry, from experts and practitioners, and to assess challenges that may
be encountered during implementation.

• Solutions to constraints and challenges are formulated through discussion among stakeholders.

• Field exposure participants can serve as models for other potential adopters in the community
where the ecological and economic benefits of the technology are demonstrated.

About ASRF
For more information, contact:
ASRF stands for ASEAN Working Group on Social Forestry (AWG-SF) Strategic
Response Fund, formerly ASEAN Social Forestry Network Strategic Response Fund. Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate
It is the AWG-SF flexible funding mechanism under the ASEAN-Swiss Partnership Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)
on Social Forestry and Climate Change (ASFCC). It is funded by the Swiss Agency SEARCA, College, Los Baños, Laguna 4031 Philippines
for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by SEARCA. The ASRF Tel: (+63 49) 536-2290; 554-9330 to 9337 ext 3412
is designed to enable the Leaders and Focal Points on Social Forestry of the ASEAN Fax: (+63 49) 536-4105
Member States (AMS) to quickly respond to emerging issues and challenges and Email: post@searca.org; asrf@searca.org
articulate policy recommendations on social forestry as it relates to climate change, Website: www.searca.org
food security, and poverty alleviation.