A demonstration approach in agro-forestry at Bahunipati: a case-study

An account of the work of the Baudha-Bahunipati Family Welfare Project of the Family Planning Association of Nepal (partially assisted by World Neighbours) which began in 1973 with a small centre providing basic health and contraception facilities in the Majhi village of Bahunipati at 2800 ft alt., and has become a focus for income generating activities including the establishment of fodder trees, in order to increase stall feeding and reduce land pressure. Starting in 1977, Leucaena leucocephala was established in the area (from seedlings). Growth was good, particularly of the giant varieties, of which K-8 was eventually emphasized because of its superior fodder production. In 1978, five farmers with rainfed (bari) land were selected for test planting of a minimum of 400 trees (provided free) on their land; this number was assessed as the minimum requirement for the provision of 50% of the fodder required by one large animal in the dry season. Trees were planted at 1-m spacing along terrace crests or faces. Av. survival was 80% for 3 of the farmers, with the trees growing out of livestock reach within 6 months (at the completion of the millet harvest when they were allowed to graze the bari fields). Trees could be lopped 2-4 weekly starting from the monsoon and were prolific fodder producers. At about the same time as the leucaena was introduced, a sterile cross (NB-21) of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and pearl millet (P. typhoides) was also introduced and distributed to the leucaena growing farmers and successfully grown as an additional fodder source. From 1980, other farmers in the same community were trained on extension field days held with the original 'demonstration' farmers who were evolving their own planting and management practices for leucaena. As of 1984, some 89% of 96 families in the village have planted leucaena, at least 5 farmers are self-sufficient in fodder and fuelwood, and some have increased their livestock. Successful direct sowing of contour hedges of mixed giant varieties of L. leucocephala (for green manure, fodder and soil conservation) has been done and L. diversifolia is being tested.