Information is a prerequisite for wise forest management decisions, but is inadequate in many situations, especially in the context of small non-industrial forest growers. This paper presents a series of robust functions able be calibrated with sparse data, and integrated into a simple spreadsheet-based growth model designed to assist silvicultural decisions in smallholder plantations. A case s...

INTRODUCTION: Rapid urbanization and population expansion, coupled with sustained income growth and the emergence of an urban African middle class are triggering an increase in the consumption of animal protein in developing countries. The sustained increase in the consumption of animal proteins creates a host of new development opportunities to synergistically link smallholder livestock produc...

Proper use of climatic forecast information in planning and implementing agricultural activities is critical for the improvement of the wellbeing of smallholder farmers whose livelihoods depend on rain-fed agriculture. This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design involving 12 focus group discussions and 255 household interviews to determine the extent to which smallholder farmers in...

A significant proportion of deforestation in Latin America is caused by smallholders living at the frontier of modern rural markets. This paper develops a household model that examines the roles of market integration, subsistence, time preference, and non-timber forest uses in the household’s decision to clear forest for future agriculture. The model explores the possible impacts of development...

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) was established in 1975. IFPRI is one of 15 agricultural research centers that receive principal funding from governments, private foundations, and international and regional organizations, most of which are members of the 1 Effective January 2007, the Discussion Paper series within each division and the Director General's Office of IFPRI...

Agricultural Extension services are among the most important rural services in developing countries. The services are considered to be a key driver of technological change and productivity growth in agriculture. In Kenya, like in the rest of the developing economies, agricultural extension has largely been delivered through supply–driven approaches. Due to perceived low impact of agricultural e...

Smallholder development in Swaziland first occurred in the 1960s with the establishment of Vuvulane Irrigated Farms. Some smaller projects followed about twenty years later, and major expansion plans were put forward in the early 1990s. This larger development is mainly on Swazi Nation Land (SNL) in both the North and South of the country. This paper reviews the successes and failures in the ea...