When agriculture is getting too uniform: what intervention mechanisms to promote agrobiodiversity and agroecology practices?

Transcription

1 When agriculture is getting t unifrm: what interventin mechanisms t prmte agrbidiversity and agreclgy practices? La Upland Cnference, 2.1. Landscape appraches: engaging upland cmmunities in designing their wn develpment pathways March 13th 2017, Luang Prabang

2 Outline Landscapes and farming systems are getting t unifrm in the La Uplands Why prmting diversity? What interventin mechanisms t prmte agrbidiversity?

3 Farm level Landscapes and farming systems are getting t unifrm Adapted frm Lestrelin, 2015

4 Landscapes and farming systems are getting t unifrm Changes at farm level Crps specializatin: rice cultivatin (lwland/upland) as crnerstne f farming system + 1 majr cash crp fr capital accumulatin (lwland/upland) Livestck: Mst farmers usually still practice crplivestck systems in La Uplands but large livestck sld in plantatin areas (e.g. rubber areas) t avid crp damages by raming animals NTFP cllectin: trend t decrease in line with the decrease in fallws and frest areas (cnversin int agricultural land) and ver cllectin f frest resurces fr trade

5 Landscapes and farming systems Changes at field level are getting t unifrm Simplificatin f weed cntrl strategies Early 2000 s: diversified strategies that include fallw, rtatins, staggered swing, intercrpping, cmbinatin f S&B and sft tillage (heing, plughing with 2 wheels hand tractr), manual weeding and lcalized herbicide treatments, ~ 2010s: simplified strategies fr maize cultivatin based n heavy tillage (tractr pwered disc plughing) and systematic use f herbicide (pre and pst ) Decrease in Agrbidiversity in line with: Less cultivated species Less cultivars > rise f hybrids (maize) Changes frm intercrpping t mncrpping

6 Landscapes and farming systems are getting t unifrm Farmers engaged int diversificatin: Advanced land degradatin issues (e.g. increase in weed pressure, sil fertility depletin, sil ersin) that affect crp prductivity Market changes that affect crp prfitability (e.g. drp in prices r decrease in the prduct demand) e.g. Distress diversificatin related t the aftermath f the crp «bm» Bm Bust Need t prmte landscape and farming system diversificatin

7 Why prmting diversificatin? Fd security Ecnmic resilience Ppular wisdm «Dn't put all yur eggs in ne basket» Farmers that sell diverse prducts n diverse markets are better prtected frm the frequent price changes, and are nt dependent n a single buyer

8 Average number ha per husehld Diversificatin f farm activities Bten district Sayabury Other Pasture Rubber Teak Cassava Vigna Sesame Peanut Paddy rice Jb s tear Maize Average cultivated area per crp and per husehld Avg annual incme (x100lak) per HH Increase in verall HH incme Average incme per husehld Wrk in Thailand Off farm activities Pig raising Cattle buffal Crp prductin Average number ha per husehld Paklay district Sayabury Other Pasture Rubber Teak Cassava Vigna Sesame Peanut Paddy rice Jb s tear Maize Avg annual incme (x100lak) per HH Wrk in Thailand Off farm activities Pig raising Cattle buffal Crp prductin 2008 Adapted frm Lestrelin,

9 Why prmting diversificatin? Resurces cnservatin reducing envirnmental ftprints Diversified farming systems cntributes t better nutrients, water, and sils management, prvides better pest cntrl and pllinatin services (Kremen et al, 2012)

10 What interventin mechanisms t prmte agrbidiversity? Build n prgrams and actin plans related t agrbidiversity La NABP II ( )

11 What interventin mechanisms t prmte agrbidiversity? New assessment criteria and indicatrs The perfrmance f agriculture is still measured using the quantities f single cmmdities that are prduced and sld Need t incrprate the multiple benefits f agrbidiversity (e.g. effects n fd security, ecnmic resilience, and resurces cnservatin)

12 Behavir change cmmunicatin What interventin mechanisms t prmte agrbidiversity? Predminant farmer mindset: shifting frm 1 bm crp t the next ne The benefits frm diversified vs specialized farming systems culd be addressed using participatry simulatin games (e.g. EFICAS game) rund1 rund2 rund3

13 What interventin mechanisms t prmte agrbidiversity? Put diversity as a key element f participatry planning prcesses negtiatin with farming cmmunities Diversified farming systems must be adapted t lcal cnditins and can nly be effectively planned and managed frm the bttm up Diversity f landscapes and farming systems shuld be set as a key element f this negtiatin prcess Supprt the access t and the maintenance f diversified genetic resurces Identify with village cmmunities a diversity f genetic resurces in supprt t diversified farming systems, supprt village seed banks Technical service centers shuld be assciated in the prductin, cnservatin, prmtin, and distributin f diversified genetic resurces at district and prvincial levels

14 What interventin mechanisms t prmte agrbidiversity? Prmte Fd systems cncept and nt just value chain apprach There are many under utilized vegetables, fruits and nuts which can be prcessed lcally fr nutritin r sld fr high value prducts (Lquat, chestnut, Mak Khaen, etc.) Cnnect and prmte La lcal fd as surce f healthy chice turism, chef cmpetitins, etc. Link t knwledge resurces such as PhaKhaLa

15 Thank yu fr yur attentin