Abstract
Despite compelling evidence supporting the contribution of Tree Intercropping Systems (TIS) to farmers' livelihoods, little research has addressed farmers' knowledge of TIS in the ecologically deteriorated zones of Uzbekistan, Central Asia. Similarly, farmers' understanding of the motivation for practicing TIS is poorly known. A survey conducted with 133 households during 2003–2005 showed that the surveyed farmers managed 17 different tree-crop simultaneous systems with 97% of all sites including fruit species. The annual components were commercially the more important and were given the highest priority—with cereals (47%), vegetables (27%), fodder (19%) and cash crops (7%). Irrespective of tree species and plantation age, the most frequently observed tree density was 200–500 trees ha−1, although subject to large variations. The dominance of younger trees <10 years (41%) was evidence of the recent interest in TIS and was obviously linked to recent land reforms and change in land ownership. The knowledge of TIS management among those surveyed was rather superficial. Training and educating of farmers and gardeners would help to achieve the potential benefits of TIS. The interaction between agroforestry, environmental research and farmers' practices must be improved given the growing interest and significance of TIS for the rural population, and the government must increase private landowners' participation in farm management and decision-making.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 355-372 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Forests Trees and Livelihoods |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2008 Jan 1 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Agroforestry systems
- Ecology
- Farmers' knowledge
- Fruit tree species
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Forestry
Cite this
Small-Scale farmers’ perceptions and knowledge of tree intercropping systems in the khorezm region of uzbekistan. / Kan, E.; Lamers, J. P.; Eshchanov, R.; Khamzina, Asia.
In: Forests Trees and Livelihoods, Vol. 18, No. 4, 01.01.2008, p. 355-372.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Small-Scale farmers’ perceptions and knowledge of tree intercropping systems in the khorezm region of uzbekistan
AU - Kan, E.
AU - Lamers, J. P.
AU - Eshchanov, R.
AU - Khamzina, Asia
PY - 2008/1/1
Y1 - 2008/1/1
N2 - Despite compelling evidence supporting the contribution of Tree Intercropping Systems (TIS) to farmers' livelihoods, little research has addressed farmers' knowledge of TIS in the ecologically deteriorated zones of Uzbekistan, Central Asia. Similarly, farmers' understanding of the motivation for practicing TIS is poorly known. A survey conducted with 133 households during 2003–2005 showed that the surveyed farmers managed 17 different tree-crop simultaneous systems with 97% of all sites including fruit species. The annual components were commercially the more important and were given the highest priority—with cereals (47%), vegetables (27%), fodder (19%) and cash crops (7%). Irrespective of tree species and plantation age, the most frequently observed tree density was 200–500 trees ha−1, although subject to large variations. The dominance of younger trees <10 years (41%) was evidence of the recent interest in TIS and was obviously linked to recent land reforms and change in land ownership. The knowledge of TIS management among those surveyed was rather superficial. Training and educating of farmers and gardeners would help to achieve the potential benefits of TIS. The interaction between agroforestry, environmental research and farmers' practices must be improved given the growing interest and significance of TIS for the rural population, and the government must increase private landowners' participation in farm management and decision-making.
AB - Despite compelling evidence supporting the contribution of Tree Intercropping Systems (TIS) to farmers' livelihoods, little research has addressed farmers' knowledge of TIS in the ecologically deteriorated zones of Uzbekistan, Central Asia. Similarly, farmers' understanding of the motivation for practicing TIS is poorly known. A survey conducted with 133 households during 2003–2005 showed that the surveyed farmers managed 17 different tree-crop simultaneous systems with 97% of all sites including fruit species. The annual components were commercially the more important and were given the highest priority—with cereals (47%), vegetables (27%), fodder (19%) and cash crops (7%). Irrespective of tree species and plantation age, the most frequently observed tree density was 200–500 trees ha−1, although subject to large variations. The dominance of younger trees <10 years (41%) was evidence of the recent interest in TIS and was obviously linked to recent land reforms and change in land ownership. The knowledge of TIS management among those surveyed was rather superficial. Training and educating of farmers and gardeners would help to achieve the potential benefits of TIS. The interaction between agroforestry, environmental research and farmers' practices must be improved given the growing interest and significance of TIS for the rural population, and the government must increase private landowners' participation in farm management and decision-making.
KW - Agroforestry systems
KW - Ecology
KW - Farmers' knowledge
KW - Fruit tree species
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=62249145404&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=62249145404&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/14728028.2008.9752643
DO - 10.1080/14728028.2008.9752643
M3 - Article
VL - 18
SP - 355
EP - 372
JO - Forests Trees and Livelihoods
JF - Forests Trees and Livelihoods
SN - 1472-8028
IS - 4
ER -