科研之友
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摘要
In the tropics, environmental constraints such as drought limit forage supply, and thus livestock production and competitiveness of livestock systems. Forage conservation technologies could mitigate the dry season feed problems but their adoption in smallholder systems has so far been low. The present work, carried out in Honduras, examined factors that influenced the uptake of promoted silage technologies in order to derive suggestions for further R&D interventions. A total of about 250 farmers participated in training sessions and field days. Information was gathered using interviews with 222 participants.
Maize and sorghum were the most common crops (>60%) used for silage making, with grass being ensiled to a limited extent. All silo types were used (mean of approximate to 2 silos/farm) with earth and heap silos being most widely accepted. Financial and farm resources, farmers' education, extension continuity and intensity, and the presence of key innovators, motivated farmer groups and favourable milk market conditions contributed to increased adoption. The most common reasons for non-adoption were the lack of a chopper (small and medium farms), silage too expensive (medium farms) and silage not needed (large farms). Extension strategies need to be adapted to specific conditions to efficiently support a sustainable forage and livestock development process. Continuous promotion can lead to significant and sustained adoption with subsequent potential benefits for more smallholders via increased locally available know-how and easier access to machinery and markets.
- 出版日期2010
