Status Of Vetiver Grass In Upland Farming Development In
Indonesia (Contradiction Between Soil Conservation And Farmers'
Utility Orientation)
Agus Hermawan. Institute for the Assessment of Agricultural
Technology Agency for Agricultural Research and Development
(IAAT-AARD), Indonesia.
There are two kinds of soil conservation techniques developed by
Farming Systems Research (FSR) component of Agency for
Agricultural Research and Development (AARD) of Indonesia, i.e.
mechanical and vegetative. Vegetative soil conservation includes
cropping pattern arrangement, tree plantation, grasses and
legumes as terraces strengthen on strips and alley cropping
systems. In that case, vetiver as grass barrier could control run
off and decrease 'CP' factor and land erodability lower than
control plot, as well as increase organic matter on soil. On
alley system, vetiver could control erosion to 13.21 and 0.56 ton
at second and third years respectively (in average erosion on
control plot was 120.08 ton/year), while height of ridge soil at
third year was 29.7 cm lower than Flemingia (38.9 cm) and
Caliandra (39.7 cm). But, adoption of farmers' upland on vetiver
plantation were low. Resources limitation of upland farmers led
them on short term orientation, and they only adopt technologies
that give direct benefit. In that case, farmers more prefer plant
other grasses (such as king grass, elephant grass and setaria) or
legumes (Fiemingia, Gliricidia, Leucaena, etc.) on alley system.
Grasses and legumes were planted by famers for fodder and fuel
wood, but not for soil conservation orientation. Lower forages
production and palatability of livestock on vetiver grass
compared with other grasses and legumes being the cause.
The Adoption Of Vetiver Extension For Highland Farmers
Vitat Tachaboon. Hill-tribe Welfare Division, Public Welfare
Department, Thailand.
The objective of this study is to investigate the adoption
behavior and the cultivation of Vetiver by farmers in the
highlands by collecting data from the areas under the
responsibility of the Hill Tribe Development Centers, covering 14
provinces with a sampling of 1,433 farmers.
It was found that 401 farmers or 27.98 percent of the sampled
farmers had grown Vetiver since 1992, which occupied 35.45
percent of the holding areas of the Vetiver growing farmers.
There were 18.70 percent of Vetiver growing farmers planning to
grow more Vetiver in 1995.
As for the reasons to participate in the Vetiver growing project,
74.81 percent of farmers claimed that the reason was from the
introduction of the project officials, there were 14.96 per cent
wished to replace other alley crops, 66.58 percent to reduce soil
erosion, 47.88 per cent to improve soil fertility and 17.95 per
cent wish to keep using their land forever. Besides, there were
30.17 percent of farmers who joined the Vetiver growing project
in order to obtain land ownership or land rights.
Studying the use of land between the Vetiver rows revealed that
most farmers were using every field every year. For the use of
Vetiver, 45.14 percent of Vetiver growing farmers made use of it,
commonly used for feeding animals. Besides, the 33.67 percent of
growers also introduced Vetiver growing to the other persons,
which mostly their neighbors and relatives.
In terms of farmers' attitudes towards the effect of Vetiver
growing; the study showed that both the Vetiver growers and non
Vetiver growers had similar opinions of requiring more labour and
time for Vetiver management.
The analysis of relationship between the adoption of Vetiver and
certain socioeconomic factors using Chi-square test revealed that
the differences of ethnicity, social status, number of family
labour and sources of information were significantly correlated
with growing Vetiver. It was also found that the farmers who used
to grow other alley crops grew higher proportion of Vetiver than
the ones who had never grown alley cropping before.
Studying the relationship between the information transferred
from various sources and the reasons to participate in Vetiver
cultivation project showed that the farmers who received the
information from the other sources that were not persons or that
were not involved with persons had a smaller proportion of land
use between the Vetiver row than the ones who received from the
person or person-involved sources. It was also found that the
farmers who participate in the Vetiver project concerning erosion
control had a higher proportion of land use between the Vetiver
row, as well as a more expansion than the one who joined the
project because of the other reasons.
Environment And Socio-Economic Values Of Vetiver; A Miracle
Grass.
MD. Faziul Huq. Proshika 1/1 -9A, Section -2, Mirpur-2, Dhaka-
1216, Bangladesh
Vetiver is a familiar grass growing on the flood plain soil of
Bangladesh. It is commonly grown as a fodder in the rural areas.
In the rural condition, this grass has high economic value.
Vetiver is a fast growing species of indigenous fodder. The
plants become 2-3 feet high with leaves and soft body. The leaves
and stems are soft and palatable to the animals. The marshy and
wet land is favorable for vetiver cultivation. The small scale
dairy and livestock farmer cultivate this grass in their limited
Agricultural land in between two principal crops. Sometimes
Vetiver is cultivated as a relay crop. The vetiver has high
nutritive value for Dairy cattle and Beef fattening animals. The
goat and sheep herders also use the fodder as a popular forage.
The animals with other balanced feed and vetiver show a
remarkable body of gain within a short period. Small scale
farmers benefit both socially and economically. The cultivation
of vetiver helps both soil erosion and fertility of the land
which gives environmental protection. So the socio-economic value
of vetiver is quite satisfactory for the poor farmers in a
country like Bangladesh.
Socio-Economic Dimensions Of Vetiver In Rainfed Areas Of
Karnataka (India)
K.N. Ranganatha Sastry. State Government of Karnataka, India
The vegetative measures for soil and moisture conservation is
most warranted for various reasons like protection of ecology and
environment, cost effectiveness, sustenance, simplicity in
adoption, familiarity of operations among the farming community.
This is being increasingly felt at academic, policy and planning
levels. There is a need to translate this concept sufficiently at
the execution level. Among the various species available for
vegetative approach, Khus (Vetiveria zizanioides) has various
uses because of its versatile features. It can function as an
independent measure, can initiate vegetative measures with other
species, supplement other species in vegetative measures. Because
of simultaneous existence of Xerophytic and Hydrophytic
characters (as revealed by structure of its tissues), it can
adapt under various agro-climatic settings. The cost of
multiplication of slips, planting, developing into a hedge and
maintenance is far less compared to earthen and masonry measures.
Once introduced into a region and the farmers are convinced, it
can expand without the intervention of government agencies. These
facts have been supported by tables, photographs and slides as
experienced in Karnataka (India).
Uses Put Of Vetiver Nigritana In Northern Nigeria -- A Case Of
Bauchi State
Ahmed U. Ibrahim. Bauchi State Agricultural Development
Programme, Soil Conservation /Agroforestry Component, Nigeria.
The paper high lights the uses which Vetiver nigritana is put to
in Northern Nigeria. The locally available grass species in the
region is known by the local farmers as a gift of nature to
settle farm boundary disputes from many centuries ago.
The uses of the grass include, hedge rows, farm boundaries
demarcation, thatch, mat, mulen, rope, hand crafts, and pest
repellent. Supporting evidence with film slides and some
empirical data are provided. Vetiver nigritana has established
it's potentials from it's vast uses as important in both
soil/moisture conservation and source of revenue generation to
the African peasant farmer.
Farm Household Center: A Basis For Extension And Transfer Of
Vetiver Technology.
Kuscahyo Budi Prayogo. Agricultural In formation Center -Central
Java., Indonesia
The existing situation related to vetiver extension activities in
Central Java is discussed. Although Java is the leading producer
of vetiver oil, in some places people are convinced that vetiver
actually causes erosion. Farmers themselves think that vetiver is
not profitable economically. These problems basically show the
failure in executing extension and research approaches. Upland
watershed farming system need to be approached and analyzed from
three key perspectives, i.e. technical factor, socioeconomic
factors and agroecological factors.
Socioeconomic factors have great influence in determining farmers
preferences in doing their farming system. Vetiver, as a single
plant is considered unprofitable. That is the reason that farm
household living in upland watershed are more likely to choose
other grasses. However, as an integral part of an upland farming
development, vetiver has the best role in controlling soil and
water erosion. It is essential to reconsider the way researchers
and extension workers do their activities in upland watershed.
Cost Comparison In Producing Vetiver Grass From Different
Methods Of Production
Sumol Sopakorn, Wichai Suwanakert and Darunee Kaewvichien. Land
Development Department, Ministry of Agricultural and
Cooperatives, Bangkok, Thailand.
According to the high demand of using vetiver grass for soil and
water conservation from many government agencies, it is necessary
to find the best and quickest method of producing vetiver grass
for good quality, low cost etc.
The study was carried out into 2 steps:
(1) By planting vetiver directly into the plastic bag, the field
and greenhouse.
(2) After the first step divided the tillers of vetiver grass
from the plastic bag, field and greenhouse and plant them again
in the plastic bag.
The results from the study showed that the cost of producing
vetiver grass were:
1. Cost for the first step
1.1 Cost of producing vetiver's shoot in the plastic bag was 0.12
Baht.
1.2 Cost of producing vetiver's shoot in the field was 0.08 Baht.
1.3 Cost of producing vetiver's shoot in the greenhouse was 0.20
Baht.
2. Cost for the two steps
2.1 Cost of producing vetiver's shoot again from the plastic bag
was 1.65 Baht.
2.2 Cost of producing vetiver's shoot again from the field was
1.61 Baht.
2.3 Cost of producing vetiver's shoot again from the greenhouse
was 1.73 Baht.
Note 1 US$ = Baht 25
Alternative Dissemination .. Bridging The Gap
Stephen Rwangyezi. Ndere Troupe, Cultural Performers and
Promoters, Offices at National Theatre Building, Uganda.
The Educational methods that were introduced in Africa during the
second half of the 19th century by the first missionaries and
which formed the basis for schools, were completely different
from those that tradition had developed since the existence of
the African continent.
Whereas in traditional Africa, education was informal-learning
through work. play or conversation, and where every body was a
teacher-at any time and anywhere, (except for specialised
education like medicine which was done through apprenticeship),
the European education emphasised selection and isolation of
learners, keeping them in partial prisons called schools, run by
"artificial creatures" code-named teachers, who were
slaves to books called syllabi and to a bell that signified
change of periods and subjects irrespective of whether the
previous ones had been understood or not. Only the financially
capable parents managed to send their children to these
privileged Centres-Schools.
The result of the collision of these two completely different
educational systems was class creation. The "Modern"
system produced a powerful minority group of "social
misfits" that control political power from remote centres
called towns and cities. These people, unfortunately disregard
the vast "Unschooled" rural based majority as
primitive, obstinate, fatalistic, retrogressive and peculiarly
impervious to any form of civilization-a condemned group to be
ignored until they die off.
Far from dying off, however, the rural majority, interact with
nature. Using crude methods, they produce the food and the
children that keep feeding the cities and the whole country.
They, however, view the elites as an unrealistic and not
down-to-earth lot.
The mutual suspicion that developed between the products of the
two educational systems is, in our opinion largely responsible
for the gross lack of complimentality in addressing Africa's
problems such as malnutrition, high mortality rates, political
confusion, wars etc. etc.
If, therefore, we are to talk about development that is
environmentally friendly, then we must talk about effective
COMMUNICATION and DIALOGUE with the rural population. But since
the majority of them neither read nor write, given that radio and
television, leave alone electric power, are a luxury of the rich
city dwellers, considering that the rural peasant is depending on
their muscle power therefore with serious time constraints
(cannot afford the luxury of spending 'endless' hours in boring
lectures and seminars) we must find in interesting, familiar and
friendly method to disseminate vital information and stimulate
open and sincere dialogue.
Farmer Participatory Selection Of Vetiver Grass And The Most
Effective Way To Control Erosion In Cassava-Based Cropping
Systems In Vietnam And Thailand.
Reinhardt Howeler, CIAT, Thailand
Research has identified various effective ways to reduce erosion
in cassava-based cropping systems, including the use of vetiver
grass. However, few of these practices are presently used by
farmers. To enhance the adoption of soil conservation practices
by cassava farmers, a Farmer Participatory Research (FPR)
methodology was used in two pilot sites each in Thailand,
Vietnam, China and Indonesia to test and select the most
effective practices. Farmers in Thailand and Vietnam selected
vetiver grass contour barriers as one of 4 - 5 treatments they
wanted to test on their own fields. After harvesting all trials
and discussing the results, farmers in all three villages in
Vietnam selected the vetiver grass treatment as the most
effective in increasing income and reducing erosion. Although the
trials in Thailand have not yet been harvested, farmers already
observed that the vetiver grass treatment was the most effective
in reducing erosion. In both countries, participating farmers,
after seeing the benefits of vetiver grass, requested additional
planting material to plant in their fields.