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Editor:
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Editorial
Pradeep Choudhry, Vindhya P. Tewari and B. Singh
WTP vs WTA for assessing recreational benefits of urban forestry: a case from a modern and planned city of a developing country
Tio Nevenimo, Mark Johnston, Jeffrey Binifa, Clifton Gwabu, Jesse Angen and Roger Leakey.
Domestication potential and marketing of Canarium Indicum nuts in the Pacific: producer and consumer surveys in Papua New Guinea (East New Britain)
07.23 Colin Bunt and Roger Leakey
Domestication potential and marketing of Canarium indicum nuts in the Pacific: commercialization and market development
07.34 Guillaume Lescuyer, Hubert Ngoumou Mbarga and Patrice Bigombe Logo,
Use and misuse of forest income by rural communities in Cameroon
RESEARCH PAPER
06.44 Md. Abdul Halim, Mohammad Shaheed Hossain Chaudhury, Nur Mohammed, Mostafizur Rahman and Masao Kolke
Pradeep Chaudhry And Vindhya .P. Tewari
WTP Vs WTA FOR ASSESSING THE RECREATIONAL BENEFITS OF URBAN FORESTS: A CASE FROM A MODERN AND PLANNED CITY OF A DEVELOPING COUNTRY
Abstract
Urban forests provide various environmental, social and educational benefits to human society. The non-market benefits (NMBs) of such areas often are incorrectly valued or only partially incorporated into cost-benefit analysis of developmental projects and decision making on resource allocation - particularly in developing countries. The economic value to users of a city’s urban forests in a developing country like India has yet to be estimated. Therefore, Chandigarh, one of the planned cities of India, was selected for the estimation in the form of the “economic use value” of the non-market benefits of its forests. The mean willingness to pay (WTP) for the betterment of existing green landscape features and for creating new parks/gardens on the part of each family residing and earning in the city was estimated. The response to willingness to accept (WTA) compensation question was found to be very low because the people of the city reject the idea of receiving compensation in lieu of not visiting green areas of the city for their different purposes. Therefore, WTP is likely to be more appropriate than WTA in order to assign a reasonable monetary value to the recreational aspect of an environmental amenity like urban parks or landscapes in the literate society of a developing country.
Key words: Chandigarh, Contingent Valuation Method, India. urban forests, Willingness to pay, Willingness to accept compensation
A. Pisanelli1*, J. Poole2 And S. Franzel2
Abstract.
Improved tree fallows to improve soil fertility have considerable potential in many areas of sub-Saharan Africa. This paper assesses the experiences of 99 farmers in western Kenya, following initial testing of improved fallows during 1997. Over the following three seasons, 53% of the farmers could be considered as medium adopters (planting improved fallows in one season), 26% were strong adopters (planting in at least two seasons) and 21% were non-adopters (not planting at all). The proportion of women farmers planting improved fallows was roughly the same as the proportion of men. The interest of poor and female farmers, relative to other studies showing adoption bias towards wealthy and male farmers, may reflect their limited access to other soil fertility inputs, such as mineral fertilizer and animal manure. Farmers’ management of the practice differed considerably from researchers’ recommendations, particularly with respect to fallow length and time of planting trees relative to crops. Improvement of both soil and crop yields were perceived as the most important benefits of improved fallows. Sesbania sesban (L.) Merrill. and Crotolaria grahamiana Wight & Arn. were the most appreciated species. A linear logistic model was used to indicate the factors associated with farmers’ decisions to continue planting improved fallows following initial testing, and with the decision to plant one versus planting more than one improved fallow. A multiple linear regression model was used to assess the factors influencing the area planted to improved fallows and the proportion of farm area under improved fallows. The most important variables associated with planting improved fallows were ethnic group and proportion of area under natural fallow. Wealth status, gender, farm size, and available labour had relatively little influence on decisions to plant improved fallows. The practice is knowledge-intensive and requires seed and technical support from research and extension services.
Key words: farmer assessment, on-farm survey, population pressure, soil fertility improvement, participation, agroforestry technologies
Tio Nevenimo, Mark Johnston, Jeffrey Binifa, Clifton Gwabu, Jesse Angen and Roger Leakey.
DOMESTICATION POTENTIAL AND MARKETING OF CANARIUM INDICUM NUTS IN THE PACIFIC: PRODUCER AND CONSUMER SURVEYS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA (EAST NEW BRITAIN)
Abstract
As part of a feasibility study of the commercialization potential of C. indicum nuts in Papua New Guinea, participatory rural appraisals assessed the interest of 148 producers across three areas of East New Britain (Gazelle, Duke of York atolls and Pomio), and the interest of 174 consumers in urban markets and supermarkets in three urban centres (Rabaul, Lae and Port Moresby). Producers and consumers ranked C. indicum as the most important nut tree species for both food and income generation. The tree also produces a quality timber and other forest products. All consumers interviewed regularly ate the nut kernels, both raw and as an ingredient prepared with other foods. The average farming family generally had access to 5 to 12 trees. Most farmers would like to grow more of these trees to meet needs for food security and income generation. Only small numbers of trees have been deliberately planted by farmers, usually using local germplasm. Trees are recognized as varying in fruit/nut/kernel size and shape, kernel number per nut, fruit colour, shell colour, and in the ease of cracking the shell and certain forms are preferred by producers and consumers. The kernels are generally sold direct to the general public at local markets wrapped in banana leaves or in baskets. The price is lowest in remote rural areas and highest in major towns. On average, farming families, in addition to bartering, make about US$13.6 per year from selling, but the distribution is skewed and some make much more. Income from the sale of kernels is generally used to offset food, store goods, medical expenses and transport costs. Most farmers said they could sell more kernels if they had them. Most consumers said that they would buy more if they were available. Evidence suggested that there would not be any consumer resistance to commercially processed and packaged nut industry in PNG. Two of the main problems recognized by farmers were the irregularity/seasonality of fruiting and lack of planting materials. In addition to inadequate supply, consumers indicated issues of low kernel quality arising from poor post-harvest handling, processing and storage. Farmers indicated enthusiasm to plant improved cultivars. Despite these problems, this survey concluded that both producers and consumers see great potential for the industry to grow, producing both fresh kernel for sale in local markets and commercially processed and packaged products for supermarkets and niche markets. Consequently, a joint domestication / commercialization programme for C. indicum has been initiated in support of enhanced livelihoods for subsistence farmers in Papua New Guinea.
Key words: agroforestry tree products, commercialization, domestication, indigenous fruits and nuts, livelihoods, localization, marketing, non-timber forest products
Colin Bunt and Roger Leakey
DOMESTICATION POTENTIAL AND MARKETING OF CANARIUM INDICUM NUTS IN THE PACIFIC: COMMERCIALIZATION AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT
Abstract
As part of a feasibility study of the commercialization potential of Canarium indicum nuts in Papua New Guinea, market surveys were undertaken in May and September 2005 in the Solomon Islands and in Vanuatu, to gather up-to-date market information on the trade in packaged and processed C. indicum kernels and kernel oil, and on the constraints and opportunities for its further development. In addition, a supply chain analysis was made and a niche market survey was undertaken in Australia. From the findings of these surveys, it was concluded that: globally
· the market for nuts is growing,
· current demand for Canarium nuts in the region exceeds supply,
· market confidence requires improvements in the surety of supply,
· the scale of operations and level of technology must be viable at the village small/medium sized enterprise level,
· training should be provided pre- and post-harvest in villages and urban centres, and
· market development should focus initially on satisfying domestic and regional markets.
It was concluded that to implement these conclusions, a marketing network in Melanesia is required to create a ‘Melanesian Supply Chain’ that can take advantage of the differences in timing of the fruiting season across the region, and to promote a unified marketing strategy. This network should also assist emerging entrepreneurs with budgeting, cash flow management, product and market development and price setting. Commercial sector ‘champions’ with a long-term industry commitment are also needed both in Melanesia and in potential export markets to provide, guidance, motivation and to promote industry/government investment. As a result of this and other studies in this series, it is recommended that a joint domestication / commercialization programme for C. indicum should be initiated in support of enhanced livelihoods for subsistence farmers in Melanesia.
Key words: Agroforestry tree products, Galip nut, Localization, Ngali nut, Nangai, market surveys, supply chain analysis, niche markets, Melanesia.
Guillaume Lescuyer, Hubert Ngoumou Mbarga and Patrice Bigombe Logo
USE AND MISUSE OF FOREST INCOME BY RURAL COMMUNITIES IN CAMEROON
Abstract
Since 1996, Cameroon has been redistributing a share of Annual Forest Royalties (AFF) to villages/communities, with the aim of increasing rural people’s standards of living. However, its application has been widely criticized. Our study is based on a sample of nine communities in the Cameroon forest belt. We found that:
· a significant part of AFF does not reach communities;
· 3 villages out of 9 add other incomes to AFF payments in order to carry out collective investments and
· 3 other villages were able to justify the complete use of their AFF.
This relative success in the establishment of a decentralized mechanism for forest income management indicates the need for strengthening the capabilities of communities in order to guarantee endogenous development.
Keywords: tropical forest, forestry fees, rural development, rural community management capability
RESEARCH PAPER
Md. Abdul Halim, Mohammad Shaheed Hossain Chowdhury, Nur Muhammed, Mostafizur Rahman and Masao Koike
SAP PRODUCTION FROM KHEJUR PALM (PHOENIX SYLVESTRIS ROXB) HUSBANDRY: A SUBSTANTIAL MEANS OF SEASONAL LIVELIHOOD IN RURAL BANGLADESH.
Abstract
An exploratory study was conducted in Chuadanga, a southwestern district of Bangladesh to explore the status and potential of Khejur palm (Phoenix sylvestris Roxb) husbandry in the rural economy. A total of 36 households in three villages of the district were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The farmers were categorized into five groups as landless, marginal, small, medium and large on the basis of their land holdings. The palm was distributed over seven different geographical sites of which orchards supported the most (20%). The farmers of medium category owned the highest palms (33%) and the landless the lowest (4%), but most of the palms (29%) were managed by the landless category. Palms 7-14 years old growing in the agricultural fields and ails produced most sap (2500ml, on average each night). The large category farmers realized the highest average seasonal income from the palm products (Taka[1] 38,135.00), but the relative contribution to income from palm products was the highest (78%) among the landless farmers. Khejur palm husbandry could be a promising source of rural incomes in Bangladesh if the farmers’ indigenous technology was linked to more scientific management practices.
Keywords: agroforestry, exudates, farmers; molasses; orchards, sap, tappers