Research, Extension Services and Training as Key Drivers to Agroforestry Adoption: A Case Study of Agrosilviculture Community Growers in Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces, South Africa

Agroforestry is a set of landland-use practices, which involves the combination of trees, cropscrops and/or animals on the same land management unit. Agroforestry systems are classified into three broad groups, namely, agrosilvicultural (mixing trees and crops), silvopastoralism (mixing trees, pastures and animals) and agrosilvopastoralism (mixing trees with crops and animals). However, limited understanding, incorrect information and a negative mindset could hinder agroforestryagroforestry adoption. Hence, in South AfricaSouth Africa, the Department of AgricultureAgriculture, Land Reform and Rural DevelopmentDevelopment (DALRRD) and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) emphasized that centers of excellence should be identified and established as lead research agents in agroforestry systems. These may include universities, agricultural colleges, forestry colleges, research stations and state research agencies (e.g., Agricultural Research Council). DALRRD and DFFE further suggested that several centers be established and be provided with funding for agroforestry research. It is against the background that an assessment was conducted in Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces to identify and describe the key drivers of agroforestry adoption. A total of 182 agrosilviculture community growers from 30 villages participated in the study and were spread as follows: Vhembe District (43), Mopani District (62) and Ehlanzeni District (77). Quantitative and qualitative designs were used as a questionnaire written in English, and stakeholder discussions and field observations were part of the data collection. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the agrosilviculture community growers. Furthermore, each agrosilviculture community grower was allocated an area of land as follows for productionproduction (in m2): (1) The South African Forestry Company Limited (SAFCOL) allocated 20 ha (200 000 m2) of land to 62 growers, with each grower receiving 3 226 m2 (200 000 m2/62); (2) Mountain to Ocean (MTO) Forests, White River, allocated 9.8 ha (98 000m2) of land to 77 growers, with each grower receiving 1 272 m2 (98 000 m2/77); Dimani allocated 5 ha (50 000 m2) of land to 37 growers, with each grower receiving 1 351 m2 (50 000 m2/37); and Ratombo Plantations allocated 2 ha (20 000 m2) of land to 6 growers, with each grower receiving 3 333 m2 (20 000 m2/6). Data was coded, captured, and analyzed using Social Package for Social Science (SPSS). The results indicated that the majority of the agrosilviculture community growers (139/76%) had no access to research information. The results also indicated that (43/24%) of agrosilviculture community growers received extension services. As part of training, demonstration trials were conducted, monitored and harvested It is therefore concluded and recommended that with good research, extension services and training, the agrosilviculture community growers were encouraged to adopt agroforestry better as some community growers indicated that they were able to sell a minimum of 10 bags × 50 kg of groundnuts at + R600 per bag per row allocated.