Soil conservation extension: From concepts to adoption

Whether a soil conservation project succeeds or fails depends largely on its extension programme. This paper discusses the findings of a workshop held in Chiangmai, Thailand, June, 1995 which examined this subject. The workshop found that conservation projects will only succeed if they provide some immediate and obvious benefit to farmers. To do this, programmes must promote practices which not only conserve soil but which also increase production, reduce labour or costs or provide some other immediate benefit. Farmer participation is essential throughout the whole process of identifying the problems, finding solutions and implementing the programmes. Short term projects seldom succeed and there is need for long-term involvement. Gender issues are important and extension programmes must provide for the needs and capabilities of women. Conservation practices are unlikely to be accepted unless they can be easily absorbed into the existing farming system. For this reason, it is best to build on traditional conservation systems which farmers already understand. There are a number of social and economic factors, such as land tenure, which are usually the real reasons for land degradation. These issues must be tackled if conservation is to work.