SMALLHOLDER TREE NURSERY OPERATIONS IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES—SUPPORTING MECHANISMS FOR TIMBER TREE DOMESTICATION

Abstract

ABSTRACT The production of high quality planting stock is a critical activity for the improvement of agroforestry practices through tree domestication. Tree nurseries of smallholder farmers' in three Provinces of southern and central Philippines were surveyed to determine the forces that influenced the production and distribution of seedlings. The reasons for tree nursery establishment, the choice of species and the marketing of the planting stock were investigated by questionnaire. These data were used to assess the implications of these factors on tree domestication efforts in the country. The reasons given by nurserymen for the establishment of small nurseries included: • the large demand for planting material, • the desire among farmers to plant trees on farm, • the need for an opportunity to augment meagre income, and • the encouragement being given by government and non-government organizations to promote upland development. The choice of species was driven by: • the existing market demand, • the availability of seeds and other propagules in the locality, • the influence of organizations funding upland agroforestry activities, and • the previous experience of the nursery operators. Interest in producing planting material of indigenous tree species is high but constrained by: a lack of seed, the distance to seed sources, the lack of propagation technologies, and the lack of awareness among agroforestry practitioners of the use and potential of native species and their niche on-farm. The increasing interest in tree planting in agroforestry farms in the Philippines clearly is complemented by the interest and development of these smallholder tree nurseries. However, this interest is constrained by the lack of technical skills among the potential nursery operators and the inadequacy of extension services to facilitate the acquisition of such skills.