Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
that is intangible. It has to be concretised in some way—based upon measurable
parameters—and measured. Similarly, landscape conservation, bio-aesthetic im-
provement, micro-climate improvement, soil conservation, ground water recharge,
resilience in meeting fuelwood and fodder demands (and thereby saving natural
forests and protected areas) and creation of a habitat for small wildlife, could be
among the intangible co-benefits of an afforestation programme.
9.3
Quality Control and Work Productivity
Quality control is a crucial requirement for success in afforestation programmes.
A quality control programme aims at identifying concrete and measurable quality
objectives and devising ways and means of realising those objectives at various stages
of planning and execution of works. Productivity of work, on the other hand, is a
measure of efficacy of the methods, techniques, and tools and equipment used in order
to produce maximum output with minimum resources. It must be made clear that
productivity of work output and the productivity of a plantation are different things.
The latter depends, apart from the quality of programme design and execution, upon
site quality, rainfall, climate and the tree species.
9.3.1
Identifying Quality Control Indicators
A large number of factors determine the quality of afforestation work. To ensure
quality, therefore, it is necessary to watch each of these factors. Basic factors include
adherence to specifications of work execution and specifications of materials. For
example, correct ratio of potting mix is not maintained, quality of plants in nursery
will be poor, and this inferior work will propagate further and reflect itself in all
subsequent work.
Specifications and standards are designed with a view to achieving the desired
quality of works. Amount of care that goes into the exercise of defining the spec-
ifications will therefore determine the quality of work. Balance between cost and
quality has to be struck. For example, plants planted in pits of bigger size will have
better growth because of better moisture availability, but the cost difference must
be justified by the proportionate difference in growth rate. No rational basis can be
laid out for analytically determining optimum specifications in this respect. It is only
with experience and trial that the correct specifications will emerge.
To concretely assess and grade quality of works it is necessary to consider each
of the quality parameters, and then assign numeric value indicating to what extent
the parameter has been taken care of. Such charts (see example in Fig. 9.4 ) serve to
evaluate the quality of the plantations in numeric terms. Numeric measure of quality
also makes it possible to grade the plantations, and to use it as a means of motivating
people by assessing their performance.
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