purposes as well as for sale. Our research on innovation developments in Vietnam
has therefore focused on improving the performance of smallholder pig production
by initiating a community-based pig breeding program in a Black Thai ethnic
minority village, a program incorporating two distinct local pig breeds and simultaneously working to improve the competitiveness of the system through organizational changes and by improving marketing (Lemke et al. 2006; Lemke and Valle
Za ´rate 2008; Herold et al. 2010). Research has also studied the local institutional
arrangements used within community-based pig breeding programs (Schad et al.
2011) and the marketing of local pork as a high-value specialty product (Roessler
et al. 2008). Another component of the research project has focused on raising the
productivity and sustainability of small-scale grass carp aquaculture systems,
finding that disease prevention and improved feeding are the key strategies needed
to accomplish this (Dongmeza et al. 2010).
Our research has also tested various agronomic methods aimed at the sustainable
cultivation of crops on sloping lands. The findings of this research suggest that
given the current short fallow cycles used in mountainous areas, the burning of
fallow vegetation should be avoided as it leads to high rates of soil erosion, while
the amount of plant nutrients supplied via the ashes is low and as a consequence
yields decline rapidly at each cropping cycle (Dung et al. 2008). Studying the rate
of erosion on moderately sloping maize fields in north-eastern Thailand, Pansak
et al. (2008) recommended a combination of minimum tillage with legume relay
cropping as an alternative to contour hedges and grass barriers, as these tend to be
unpopular among farmers, compete as they do with crops for space, nutrients and
water. Based on long-term experiments within upland agriculture in northern
Thailand, Hilger et al. (in Chap. 7) recommend three main strategies: (1) the
digging of contour furrows on slopes to break the water flow, decrease runoff and
increase the penetration of rainwater into the soil, (2) the use of any type of
biodegradable mulching material to protect the soil from direct rainfall impact
and reduce evaporation, and (3) multiple cropping to create a permanent soil
cover as well as to generate a permanent income flow for farm households. The
use of a combination of these strategies has been shown to reduce erosion, improve
the water holding capacity of soil and improve crop yields when compared to
conventional practices.
1.5.2 Knowledge Creation
Much of our research has focused on enhancing our knowledge of how land use
systems in mountainous areas function. In line with the structure of this book, we
can broadly divide this research into three categories: research into the sustainable
use of soil and water resources, research into pesticide use and pollution, and
research on the nexus of poverty and natural resource use (Table 1.6). Unlike
technology development, which can have an immediate impact, the development
of knowledge has a stronger focus on influencing policy and can; therefore, have a
much wider, but often less noticeable impact.
20
P. Schreinemachers et al.
has therefore focused on improving the performance of smallholder pig production
by initiating a community-based pig breeding program in a Black Thai ethnic
minority village, a program incorporating two distinct local pig breeds and simultaneously working to improve the competitiveness of the system through organizational changes and by improving marketing (Lemke et al. 2006; Lemke and Valle
Za ´rate 2008; Herold et al. 2010). Research has also studied the local institutional
arrangements used within community-based pig breeding programs (Schad et al.
2011) and the marketing of local pork as a high-value specialty product (Roessler
et al. 2008). Another component of the research project has focused on raising the
productivity and sustainability of small-scale grass carp aquaculture systems,
finding that disease prevention and improved feeding are the key strategies needed
to accomplish this (Dongmeza et al. 2010).
Our research has also tested various agronomic methods aimed at the sustainable
cultivation of crops on sloping lands. The findings of this research suggest that
given the current short fallow cycles used in mountainous areas, the burning of
fallow vegetation should be avoided as it leads to high rates of soil erosion, while
the amount of plant nutrients supplied via the ashes is low and as a consequence
yields decline rapidly at each cropping cycle (Dung et al. 2008). Studying the rate
of erosion on moderately sloping maize fields in north-eastern Thailand, Pansak
et al. (2008) recommended a combination of minimum tillage with legume relay
cropping as an alternative to contour hedges and grass barriers, as these tend to be
unpopular among farmers, compete as they do with crops for space, nutrients and
water. Based on long-term experiments within upland agriculture in northern
Thailand, Hilger et al. (in Chap. 7) recommend three main strategies: (1) the
digging of contour furrows on slopes to break the water flow, decrease runoff and
increase the penetration of rainwater into the soil, (2) the use of any type of
biodegradable mulching material to protect the soil from direct rainfall impact
and reduce evaporation, and (3) multiple cropping to create a permanent soil
cover as well as to generate a permanent income flow for farm households. The
use of a combination of these strategies has been shown to reduce erosion, improve
the water holding capacity of soil and improve crop yields when compared to
conventional practices.
1.5.2 Knowledge Creation
Much of our research has focused on enhancing our knowledge of how land use
systems in mountainous areas function. In line with the structure of this book, we
can broadly divide this research into three categories: research into the sustainable
use of soil and water resources, research into pesticide use and pollution, and
research on the nexus of poverty and natural resource use (Table 1.6). Unlike
technology development, which can have an immediate impact, the development
of knowledge has a stronger focus on influencing policy and can; therefore, have a
much wider, but often less noticeable impact.
20
P. Schreinemachers et al.