Vigyan Bhavan & Kempinski Ambience
10 - 14 February 2014
Delhi, India
blog
— Showcase your agroforestry projects! —
Where I come from, there is an old saying: “You might be doing a great job, but if nobody knows about it, ask yourself if it is worth doing”.
We know there are many people – scientists, farmers, communities, governments, universities and their students, private individuals and companies – who are working on great agroforestry projects.
Through our #WCA2014 blog for the World Congress on Agroforestry, we want to provide YOU the platform to showcase YOUR work:
Here is what we would like you to do:
- Write a blogpost of 500-1,000 words
- … which describes your agroforestry project, your newest initiative, your finest invention, your ingenious idea for which you would like support, your latest research findings. The general theme is “Trees for Life”
- Find a great picture to go with it
- Email the blogpost and picture to p.casier(at)cgiar.org
Here is what we will do for you:
- We will publish your blogpost and picture on the #WCA2014 blog, and possibly other online media.
- We will spread your post through our vast social media network, using over 100 social reporting volunteers
- And… your blogpost will enter into our competition
A competition?
Every blogpost will automatically be entered into an online competition: The online public will be able to vote for your blogpost – which will depend on WHAT you write about, and HOW you present it..
The five most popular blogposts will be announced at the upcoming World Congress on Agroforestry, and their authors will receive a certificate and a signed copy of “The Trees for Life,” a new book to launched at the Congress.
The writer of the best blogpost, will receive an Apple iPad.
Make it thrilling!
Remember: we want blogposts. We are not looking for dissertations, nor abstracts.
We are looking for inspiring stories, enticing enthusiasm about the current achievements and future potentials of agroforestry. We are looking for blogposts which are thrilling, and fun to read.
As the online community will judge your post, not only on the content, but also HOW it is presented, keep these simple tips on “How to write a good blogpost” in mind.
Some technical details:
- Your blogpost can be 800-1,000 words, and needs to be written in English
- The blogpost will be published as-is…
- Once published, the blogpost will not be edited for corrections
- Your blogpost needs to be submitted in a MS Word or plain text file.
- The blogpost should NOT contain any formatting, nor any pictures
- The main picture should be attached to the email, as a separate file. The picture should be of good quality, and at least 500 px wide.
- The caption for the picture should be included in the blogpost-file
- The credits for the picture should be included in the blogpost-file too. Please do not use pictures with a copyright, unless if you have permission to use the picture from the copyright holder
- If you are unable to find an appropriate picture, we will use a generic picture from our photo library
- It is advised to embed links in your blogpost, to illustrate “further reading” or reference material
- The blogpost should contain your name, email address, city and country (and if appropriate, the name of your company/institute/organisation and your function) – see this blogpost as an example.
What are we looking for again?
We want blogposts to showcase “Trees for Life”, illustrating the importance, and future potentials of agroforestry. We want to accelerate the impacts of agroforestry, and prove how agroforestry builds people’s livelihoods, increases the vitality of the landscape and how we can drive the adoption of large-scale innovations.
With the aim to significantly boost awareness, engagement and investments in agroforestry, anyone can submit a blogpost. Students can describe their project and field experience. Researchers can illustrate their findings. Farmers can submit stories on how they converted research to practice. Policy makers and advocacy groups can showcase the projects they implemented, etc.
Deadline for submissions
The blogposts and pictures can be submitted as of now until COB February 5th 2014. But remember: the earlier you submit, the more online votes you will get.
The votes will be tallied at midnight on February 9th 2014.
Submissions and further inquiries: Please contact Peter Casier – p.casier(at)cgiar.org
We will acknowledge every blogpost submission by email.
All competition entries can be found on this page.
Image courtesy RSA Education
34 People have left comments on this post
is this blog competition just about agroforestry or forestry projects as well? i would like to write about a forestry project which also develops some agroforestry activities. is it ok?
Hi Allan – That is fine! — Peter
I Keshav Bansal M.Phil Public Admin. from Bhatinda ,Punjab worked as lecturer ,Principal in rural areas of Punjab ,during my 30 year job i inspired of doing agriculture,i left my job and started searching scope of agriculture,during family visit to Haridwar i saw lot of trees plantation in the fields ,i visited Yamunagar, Hoshiarpur and FRI Dehradun and go through the system of Agroforestry ,after calculating profits,scope,i planned to do the same. After consulting with experts,friends and relatives we decided to start Poplar Plantation in Yamunanagar Distt. of Haryana,we created an Organised OASIS AGROINFRA LTD ,acquired 300 acres of land from different farmers on lease for 5-6 years duration and started poplar Plantation in January 2011 along with different inter crops like Sugarcane,wheat,Maize,Zimikand,Mustered and other suitable crops.We achieved wonderful Growth of poplars and Crops,next year in 2012 we acquire 500 acres of land and planted poplars,eculyptus there in.We made SELF-HELP Groups and handover land in small pieces to them for doing,caring and supervision of all the fields on sharing basis ,we have given work to lot of families ,lot of small farmers and handsome lease to land owners .Later on after taking land on lease in 2013 we planted Poplars in 200 acres ,now in 2014 we are planting poplar trees in 200 acres of land totaling 1200 acres land,this is a life long project with handsome income and satisfaction doing creative work which is eco-friendly. There is a lot of chances to rise in this field and to provide job and work to others . We are maintaining day to day reports and growth progress charts,we have achieved wonder full Growth in all our plantations .One can earn Minimum 1lac INR or 1700 USD every year from One acres of land after all the expenses.We think we are the largest in poplar Plantation in North India,and we will increase the area ,we have our own nurseries of poplars for own use and for sale purpose.There is a great scope of agroforestry for the farmers,youngers and other enterprnuers ,those who want to do somthing ,just an effort and confidence is required .
Hi Keshav, that looks like an interesting project. Could I ask you to pour this into a good blogpost, and submit it (with a picture) for our blog competition?
best, Peter
p.casier(at)cgiar.org showing error to recive the mail regarding wca2014 BLOG Competition,pls tell me aleternate mail address keshav bansal M.D Oasis Agroinfra ltd
Keshav, you have to replace (at) by the @ sign so it is p.casier @ cgiar . org
If it still gives errors, send it to peter @ blogtips . org
best,–Peter
The West Coast Paper Mills Limited, Dandeli is a leading paper manufacturing industry actively engaged in plantation activities under its CP Project through CFF under the aegis of SARA and has covered more than 45000 acres of planting area. WCPM-SARA is duly certified with FSC-FM certificate for Well Managed Group Plantation since 2011. All the plantation activities are running under the aegis of SARA, which is a non-governmental, non-profit organization registered under Karnataka Societies Registration Act 1960, in 2001. To date SARA has covered around 8000 member farmers. The plantation activities are done on farmer’s wasteland, barren, fallow land to promote plantation amongst farmer communities to raise their living standards and employments generation from plantations. This activities are done through a simple agreement i.e. Contract for Farming for five years. Farmers are getting good income from their plantation. Under plantation, superior planting material of various pulpwood species suited to particular conditions i.e. Eucalyptus, Subabul, Casuarina & Acacia were planted. SARA is also promoting agroforestry along with plantation programme. SARA is also providing free fodder to the livestock of farmers and free fuel wood to the rural community. Various types of fodder grass such as Stylosanthes scabra, S. hamata are grown with plantation. Farmers are also adopting Intercropping with various crops like Cashew, Peanut and Ginger. WCPM–SARA has set up a hi-tech clonal nursery in its campus and producing 50-60 lacs/year of clonal saplings. We have harvested our first rotation crop in some area and till date we have received 1 lac MT of pulpwood from the plantation. The yield from the plantation is coming around 35-40 MT/acre after five years. This type of activities will prove a boon for farmers as well as for industry, which are in great crisis of wood. It will conserve our Natural resources, HCVF and will reduce the pressure on Forest for wood.
SARA-Society for Afforestation, Research and Allied Works is running under the flagship of The West Coast Coast Paper mills and doing a remarkable job to secure the raw material and generating various opportunities for the society. CFF-Contract for Farming is alone a unique project among all the Indian paper industries. Under the plantation we are also committed to conserve the HCVF-High Conservative Zone.
Today the scenario of wood is very poor. Industries are suffering severely in their production which are affecting a serious financial loss and economy. The major gap between demand and supply of raw material inform of wood is creating a big pressure on very young plantations having less pulp yield. This type of mega project is a remarkable efforts to secure the sustainable supply of raw material also to manage the forest in a conservative mode.
Dear Sudhir,
I would encourage you to write a blogpost entry in our competition, to highlight your project!
best, – Peter
its an excellent project. please carry on.
QUITE EXCELLANT PROJECT.
GOOD PROJECT.
NICE PLEASE PROCEED.
VERY GOOD PLEASE CARRY ON
Hi Peter, I have already e-mailed you my blogpost on your email id “Let’s endorse fodder banks to reduce pressure from forests and women drudgery” Kindly acknowledge the receipt and upload it so that I can also participate and showcase my work on fodder bank that I have developed with community participation in Upper Kedarnath Valley.
Hi Shalini, just emailed you back — well received!
Good work shalini keep it on.
Very nice piece of work
My two blogs are online, enjoying people are reading them!!
DEAR BRO, A VERY GOOD PROJECT UNDERTAKEN. THIS IS A BURNING ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED TO GIVE A BETTER LIFE TO OUR HILL WOMEN. ALL THE BEST FOR THIS VENTURE.
Grazing is on of the threats that our forests faces and this initiative is very timely and provides an approach to the problem. . This has also come up at a time when our country is also exploring the possibility of having a National Grazing Policy. People now go for fodder plantations but the concept of setting up of Fodder Banks should be explored. My good wishes to the project.
I enjoyed reading your article very much and its true that singular truth contains plural truths.
In India there is old saying that “Jangal me mor nacha kisne dekha” means” if a peacock is dancing in the forest nobody has seen”. Therefore this type of inspiring competition is demand of the day.
thanks a lot to the organizers of WCA.
Dr. R.P. Dwivedi, Principal Scientist (Agril. Extension), NRCAF, Jhansi India
The blog#35 entitled Critical limit of shade for crops under agroforestry is quite interesting. Understanding the crop species who will perform good & adopt to the different shade conditions.The efficient utilization of radiation and land for dry matter production.This project is very good in long range.
The blog#35 entitled Critical limit of shade for crops under agroforestry is quite interesting. Understanding the crop species who will perform good & adopt to the different shade conditions.The efficient utilization of radiation and land for dry matter production.This project is very good in long range.
Dear Dr Chandra
Agroforestry is the future of of forestry bcoz this is the only option available with us for reducing the dependence of local ppl on our valuable forest resources…..d model given by you is worth imitating and must b replicated throughout the country….keep it up…..
The Blog#35 entitled Critical limit of shade for crops under agroforestry is timely and must be applied scientifically. As a Principal Investigator of Tea Research Centre, Uttarakhand I had an opportunity to grow tea under Chir Pine Canopies at Kausani. Agroforestry is a science to optimise the microclimate through tree selection, tree spacing and pruning. Light coming through green leaves of trees absorb PAR radiation which are required for photosynthesis . Therefore, sunflecks are also required in Agroforestry. At present there is a need for proper light management in agroforestry. Pine trees offer ample opportunity for light management as its needles absorb least PAR radiation if proper tree spacing is maintained for agroforestry applications in the hills of Uttarakhand. If we keep in mind the below ground and above ground interactions then intercrop can be grown under any tree. We must eliminate negative interactions. It is an excellent project and is suitable for native grasses and medicinal herbs in the understorey of Pine forests. It is a challenge which must be accepted for the benefit of local people as well as reducing the impact of global warming. .
Well done Dr Divedi ! We need several of hundred of thousand of Teju type success stories in Indian Scenario. In India there are about 67 % marginal farmers contributing to 30 % production in Agriculture. Therefore development of this section of farmers is very important.Replication and adoption of successful model of Agro forestry of Teju in Bundelkhand tpye of difficult situations for sustainable livelihood; is need of the hour. A good model for replication !!.
Very intersting story on a famous ant very useful african tree, well known and also strongly neglegted by the african governments. May this story by Mawa bring change!
Dr. Souleymane Diallo. Forestry department, IPR.
Chandrashekhar , excellent and exemplary blog written ever
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