3.2 Types of information for technology evaluation
3.2.1 Information needs
An agroforestry technology may be defined as a practice which is specified
in terms of components, arrangements, locations, functions, users, management
and inputs [Scherr and Mfiller 1989]. An example would be a permanent,
densely spaced line of trees planted around field boundaries to keep
livestock out and cut back regularly for fodder (a specific version of the
agroforestry practice 'live fence'). The level of intensity of technology
evaluation activities will depend on how much is already known about the
technologies. In this respect three types of agroforestry technologies may be
distinguished: