Enhancing the knowledge and skills of smallholders to adopt market-oriented tree management practices: lessons from Master TreeGrower training courses in Indonesia

Figures & data

Table 1. The content delivered in a five-day Master TreeGrower training course

Day 1: Mastering the art of tree growing Importance of farmer decision-making and appropriate design Identification of ‘farmer’ problems and aspirations (short, medium, long term) The role and prospects of community-based commercial forests in the region Day 2: Markets Product specifications, marketing options, regulations, etc. Visits to processors and market outlets Secondary and on-farm markets for forest products Day 3: Measurement Tree and stand assessment relative to product specifications (use of Master TreeGrower Tape) Landholder needs and aspirations Documenting forest growth for timber, carbon and other values Day 4: Management Tree and forest growth, silvicultural options (pruning, thinning etc.) Examples of farmers applying silvicultural methods Day 5: Farm visits, graduation and the future Appropriate design, risk assessment, evaluation of options, etc. Presentation of certificates Role of farmer groups and information networks*

Figure 1. Locations of evaluation of Master TreeGrower training courses, Indonesia

Table 2. Characteristics of evaluation participants and the training sites, 2016

	Gender		Primary occupation
Master TreeGrower sites	Male	Female	Farmer	Extension	Other	Average land size   (ha)	Average number of trees	Dominant tree species, farming system and other                   characteristics
Pati	16	2	18	0	0	0.44	260	Sengon mix with other crops such as cassava, banana; better access to market; commercial-oriented sengon growers
Dengok	11	1	12	0	0	0.79	572	Teak as monoculture or mix with other trees and crops—agroforestry system; good market access
Wanagama (participants from Jepitu & Katongan villages)	9	0	9	0	0	0.96	431	Jepitu village: Teak, Acacia growing as monoculture or mixed with other trees and crops, hilly and rocky land; 32 km from Wonosari; Katongan village: Monoculture teak; 14 km from Wonosarii
Benjala	11	2	13	0	0	0.62	69	Gmelina, Teak & Bitti—planted as monoculture or mix of tree species and crops; some farms are rocky land; 25 km from Bulukumba
Malleleng	12	0	10	1	1	0.71	176	Gmelina, Teak & Mahogany planted at low land garden and hilly land a bit far from the village; 32 km from Bulukumba
Total	59	5	62	1	1

Dominant timber species include teak (Tectona grandis), gmelina (Gmelina arborea), sengon (Paraserianthes falcataria), bitti (Vitex cofassus Reinw.) and mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King).

Table 3. Improved knowledge reported by participants in Master TreeGrower training by sites

	Learning topics
		Measurement			Farm and tree management
Master TreeGrower sites	Market	Diameter	Height	Volume	Pruning	Thinning	Pest & diseases	Others (liquid smoke, mushroom cultivation)
Pati	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	√
Dengok	√	√	√	√	√	√
Wanagama	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	*
Benjala	√	√	√	√	√	√
Malleleng	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	√**

*In Wanagama, the participants also learned subjects on land preparation, seeds and seedling management, planting, fertilising, and maintenance**. In Malleleng, the participants also reported learning about trees to grow in response to market demand, pest and diseases, and the roles of farmer groups (the farmers subsequently established a tree grower forum and network named as Himpunan Pengusaha Kayu Indonesia (HIPKI) and the Forum Koordinasi Hutan Rakyat (FKHR)).

Table 4. Distribution of focus group discussions informants who implemented knowledge and skills learned from Master TreeGrower (MTG) courses by sites

	Distribution of MTG participants who implemented the knowledge and skills gained from MTG training
Adoption		Pati		Dengok		Wanagama		Benjala		Malleleng		Total
Yes	8	44%	7	58%	8	89%	2	15%	5	42%	30	47%
No	2	11%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	2	3%
Some	8	44%	5	42%	1	11%	11	85%	7	58%	32	50%
Total	18	100%	12	100%	9	100%	13	100%	12	100%	64	100%

Those who responded ‘Yes’ and ‘Some’ were re-categorised into ‘adoption’ category.

Table 5. Distribution of focus group discussions participants according to their adoption behaviour at study sites

Knowledge & skills gained from Master TreeGrower training	Pati (n = 18)		Dengok     (n = 12)		Wanagama       (n = 9)		Benjala (n = 13)		Malleleng (n = 12)		Total (n = 64)
Pruning	16	89%	12	100%	9	100%	9	69%	12	100%	58	91%
Thinning	1	6%	9	75%	2	22%	6	46%	7	58%	25	39%
Measurement—volume	3*	17%	12*	100%	2*	22%	1	8%	5	42%	23	36%
Marketing	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	31%	7	58%	11	17%

*Just measuring the tree diameter.