Future Challenge: A Paradigm Shift in the Forestry Sector - Smallholder Tree Growing for Rural Development and Environmental Services - page 446

savings account'. Under these conditions, smallholder farmers see tree farming as
a means to diversify their production, reduce risk, and build assets to enhance fam-
ily incomes and security (see also Schuren and Snelder, Chapter 3, this volume).
Smallholder farmer tree planting systems are generally successful. Smallholders
have limited time and financial resources. The trees they plant represent a conscious
investment for which other options have been forfeited. Farmers generally restrict plant-
ings to the number of trees that can be maintained and integrate tree growing with their
crop and animal production activities. The management practices undertaken to assure
good food crop yields - cultivation, weed control and fertilization - also benefit their
trees. The available land, labour, and other resources are allocated according to the
farmer's objectives. Because landholdings are small, farmers can select the farm niches
most appropriate for tree production. The combination of limited resources, small indi-
vidual plantings, and intimate familiarity with the planting site result in high tree sur-
vival and good growth rates. In summary, smallholder tree-growing activities benefit
from intensive management over limited areas and vested self-interest - the desire of
the farmer to profit from her/his investment of time and resources.
Smallholders with diverse, risk-averse farms that include a significant tree com-
ponent could be efficient tree producers of the future. Their tree farming systems
have high potential to yield both wood and non-wood products and play an impor-
tant role in the reforestation of degraded lands. Smallholder tree-based systems
hold potential as one component of a general poverty alleviation strategy for agrarian-
based poor rural communities (Krol 1992; Michon and Mary 1994; Roshetko et al.
2007a; Snelder, Chapter 2, this volume). Although the potential of tree-based systems
for poverty alleviation has not been fully exploited and the extent to which these
systems can alleviate poverty and enhance food security is poorly documented, the
importance and potential of smallholder tree-based systems will continue particu-
larly with the continued development of market-economies and rural infrastructure
(Roshetko et al. 2002a).
To summarize, our experience is that under the right conditions smallholder farm-
ers can and will cultivate a wide range of tree species as a component of their effi-
cient, integrated and risk-averse livelihood and land-use systems and will effectively
respond to the increased demand for wood and other tree products. To harness the
potential of smallholder farmers, a paradigm shift is required in the forestry sector,
to recognize and support farmer-led approaches to tree-based farming systems as
part of the solution to achieve sustainable forest management objectives.

21.5 Technical Assistance to Support

the Development of Smallholder Agroforestry Systems

Although smallholder agroforestry systems hold potential to meet demand for mar-
ket products and provide household income, they have not been developed in an
equally successful manner/way throughout the region. Experience indicates that
besides a shortage of forests and market demand for tree products, the following
factors have strong bearing on the successful development of smallholder agrofor-