Table 1.5 Examples of innovation developments introduced by the uplands program in Thailand
and Vietnam
Innovations
Objectives
Main outcomes
In Thailand
Artificial flower induction
(Bangerth 2006)
To reduce irregular bearing and
improve the average farm
gate price by artificially
inducing flowering in litchi
trees
Advances have been made to
understand hormonal
processes in litchi trees, but a
practical method for AFI has
not been found
Optimization of fruit
drying (Precoppe
et al. 2011)
To add value to litchi fruit by
processing fresh fruit within
the community using a locally
available dryer that is
optimized to local conditions
A fruit dryer has been optimized
and farmers in two
communities have
successfully dried litchis and
even exported dried litchis to
Europe
Greater irrigation
efficiency (Spreer
et al. 2009)
To reduce the irrigation water
used in mango production
through the use of partial root
zone drying
Innovation was shown to be
successful both in greenhouse
experiments and under field
conditions
Soil and water
conservation on sloping
land (Hilger et al., in
Chap. 7)
To make highland production
systems more sustainable by
integrating cover crops and
mulching methods, plus
introducing fruit trees on
sloping land
Yield advantages were shown to
be very substantial as
compared to conventional
practices and the method was
extended to several
communities
In Vietnam
Improving the performance
of local pig breeds
(Lemke and Valle
Za ´rate 2008)
Improving the meat quality of
local pig breeds through a
community-based breeding
program and improvements in
the breeding stock
Performance of local pig breeds
is lower than that of improved
breeds but there is much room
for improving performance
and local pig breeds could
obtain a price premium
Improving the performance
of grass carp
aquaculture
(Dongmeza et al. 2010)
Improve small-scale grass carp
production through improved
feeding practices and disease
prevention
Significant increases in grass carp
productivity are possible by
better using the locally
available sources of proteinrich fish food
Improving agricultural
extension services
(Minh 2010)
Improve agricultural extension
using a network approach in
which farmers, extension
agents and researchers
collaborate on equal terms
and which is more responsive
to the needs of local farming
communities than the
traditional top-down
approach
Testing of the concept in a pilot
commune showed that it
stimulated farmers to interact
and motivated them to
participate in the innovation
process. It led to diverse
extension activities reflecting
the diverse demands of local
farmers
Note: Selection of recent examples of published research within the context of the uplands
program
1 From Challenges to Sustainable Solutions for Upland Agriculture. . .
19
and Vietnam
Innovations
Objectives
Main outcomes
In Thailand
Artificial flower induction
(Bangerth 2006)
To reduce irregular bearing and
improve the average farm
gate price by artificially
inducing flowering in litchi
trees
Advances have been made to
understand hormonal
processes in litchi trees, but a
practical method for AFI has
not been found
Optimization of fruit
drying (Precoppe
et al. 2011)
To add value to litchi fruit by
processing fresh fruit within
the community using a locally
available dryer that is
optimized to local conditions
A fruit dryer has been optimized
and farmers in two
communities have
successfully dried litchis and
even exported dried litchis to
Europe
Greater irrigation
efficiency (Spreer
et al. 2009)
To reduce the irrigation water
used in mango production
through the use of partial root
zone drying
Innovation was shown to be
successful both in greenhouse
experiments and under field
conditions
Soil and water
conservation on sloping
land (Hilger et al., in
Chap. 7)
To make highland production
systems more sustainable by
integrating cover crops and
mulching methods, plus
introducing fruit trees on
sloping land
Yield advantages were shown to
be very substantial as
compared to conventional
practices and the method was
extended to several
communities
In Vietnam
Improving the performance
of local pig breeds
(Lemke and Valle
Za ´rate 2008)
Improving the meat quality of
local pig breeds through a
community-based breeding
program and improvements in
the breeding stock
Performance of local pig breeds
is lower than that of improved
breeds but there is much room
for improving performance
and local pig breeds could
obtain a price premium
Improving the performance
of grass carp
aquaculture
(Dongmeza et al. 2010)
Improve small-scale grass carp
production through improved
feeding practices and disease
prevention
Significant increases in grass carp
productivity are possible by
better using the locally
available sources of proteinrich fish food
Improving agricultural
extension services
(Minh 2010)
Improve agricultural extension
using a network approach in
which farmers, extension
agents and researchers
collaborate on equal terms
and which is more responsive
to the needs of local farming
communities than the
traditional top-down
approach
Testing of the concept in a pilot
commune showed that it
stimulated farmers to interact
and motivated them to
participate in the innovation
process. It led to diverse
extension activities reflecting
the diverse demands of local
farmers
Note: Selection of recent examples of published research within the context of the uplands
program
1 From Challenges to Sustainable Solutions for Upland Agriculture. . .
19