3.1 Roles and responsibilities of farmers and projects
Monitoring and evaluating agroforestry technologies on-farm involves both
farmers and project staff (generally extension workers). The different modes
of interaction between researchers and farmers that are common in agricultural
research [Biggs 1989] are also found in technology evaluation for
agroforestry. In a contractual mode of interaction the project contracts with
farmers to provide land or services. This approach is fairly common in
applied research projects, where agroforestry technologies are tested on
farms in diverse agroecological conditions. Trials are generally managed by
researchers without involvement by farmers. A consultative mode implies
that the project consults farmers about their problem and then develops
solutions. Until recently this has been the accepted mode of interaction in
projects [MUller and Scherr, in press].
Technical learning from the extension
process has generally been informal. In projects with an explicit research
component, extension and research have commonly been separate activities.
In a collaborative approach, farmers and the project collaborate as partners
in the technology evaluation process. Collegial interaction means that the
project strengthens farmers' informal technology testing and evaluation
activities. In the past years, a growing number of 'participatory'
agroforestry extension projects have emphasized these last two approaches.