Developing Sustainable Forage Technologies for Resource-Poor Upland Farmers in Asia Forages for Smallholders Project

At the end of 2001, the achievements of the Forages for Smallholders Project (FSP) were evaluated and compared with the targets set at the beginning of the year. Most targets were exceeded with a big margin, some by more than 200 %. More than 1500 new farmers planted forages in 2001, almost double the number the previous year. The total number of farmers who have planted forages in S.E. Asia, in association with this and the earlier project, is now around 4000. More than 1.5 million cuttings and splits were produced and distributed as planting material to new farmers. In some countries farmer groups are the main producers of planting material, in other countries it is done by individual farmers. The amount of seed produced in all countries was more than 7 tonnes. A total of 77 training events and field days were organised for farmers; and 20 training courses for technicians, officers and researchers. An economist was hired to carry out a socio-economic study in three villages in East Kalimantan Province, Indonesia, with our partners from Dinas Peternakan. The objectives were to assess the impacts of the new forage technologies on livestock productivity, labour, and income. Factors considered were gender, poverty levels an