Bridging research and practice: the opening of the writeshop on translating research findings into practice

The writeshop on translating research findings into knowledge accessible and understandable to farmers has been officially opened this morning, 12 June 2013. The writeshop will last until Friday 14 June.

This capacity-building event aims to reduce the knowledge gap between research and practice by enhancing the capacity of Indonesian extension workers to identify the most compelling findings from the work of researchers, package, present and disseminate these findings to farmers in a practical form. It offers an opportunity to deepen participants' understanding of knowledge and communication issues and gaps between research and extension, enhance their communication skills, share best practices, and learn to better engage with stakeholders. The event is being organized in partnership between CAPSA, the Indonesian Center for Agricultural Technology Assessment and Development (ICATAD) and AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center. 

   

Twenty-seven people are being trained in the writeshop. They come from various provinces in Indonesia. In his opening remarks, Mr. Agung Hendriadi, Director of ICATAD highlighted the importance of this workshop to help local staff to process research findings that can be well understood by extensionists and farmers. Mr. Anshuman Varma, the Knowledge Management Coordinator of CAPSA, in his remarks underscored the linkage between the writeshop and CAPSA’s project titled ‘Network for Knowledge Transfer on Sustainable Agricultural Technologies and Improved Market Linkages in South and South-East Asia’ (SATNET), a key initiative funded by the European Union for promoting sustainable agriculture.

A moderated discussion was also held, underlining the three fundamental concerns: Where is the problem between research and practice rooted? Is it being addressed sufficiently, and how? and

What issues remain?

Three guest speakers were invited: Dr. Zulkifli Zaini (IRRI, Indonesia) representing researchers, Mr. Kobarsih (Extension Center for Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry Dramaga, Bogor) representing extentionists and Mr. Didin Supandi (Agrosilva Farmer Group, Sukamandi) representing farmers. The discussion among the three speakers led to interesting reaction from the audience.

 

Study on Distillation Units in Nepal completed: some preliminary findings

In May 2013, Chelsea Johnson conducted interviews in three different districts of Nepal: Banke and Bardiya in the terai and Lalitpur in the hills. 

The social changes seen since the installation of the distillation units (DUs) has been obvious.  All people who contributed plants for essential oil distillation have said that the extra income has been used for their children’s school fees and food for the household.  Even non-users have noticed change in the community: children are receiving better education and fewer men need to go abroad for work because of the increased incomes from essential oil production.  The money from cultivating and gathering plants contributes to 20-80% of household income, with an average of 45%. One farmer was able to make enough money from distilling essential oil in the community DU that he invested 100,000 rupees from his savings to buy his own DU.  He now charges others farmers to use it.

In the buffer zone around Bardiya National Park, essential oil crops keep wildlife from encroaching onto farms.  Because this has worked so well in Bardiya, essential oil crops are spreading to the area around the city of Pokhara in the hills, where monkeys are a serious problem in the community.

Even though the DUs have had success, there are opportunities for improvement.  With training for farmers in market dynamics, they could better understand price changes and grow crops accordingly.  An opportunity for additional income would be to sell the hydrosol, a by-product of processing which is currently being discarded but could sell for 720 rupees per liter of mentha hydrosol.  The DU’s strengths are being a simple technology which uses renewable energy; however, if a biomass gasifier was installed fuel usage could decrease, as well as greatly reduce emissions.

The distillation unit has many benefits for society, economy and environment.  The DUs visited in the study have provided significant additional income for smallholder farmers. This is especially true for women who make up more than half of the users and most of whom reported having opportunities equal to men.  Gathering, cultivation, and firewood collection are managed by a forest committee, so environmental resources are protected.  These assets are part of the reason that DUs continue to be installed across Nepal and become more successful each year.