1. INTRODUCTION

1.2 Introduction to this book

This book aims to explain the factors that need to be considered in agroforestry and the nomenclature that is used. It is complementary to A Selection of Useful Trees and Shrubs for Kenya (ICRAF, 1992), which gives detailed information on a large number of tree species that are important in Kenya. These two publications are core materials for in-service training in agroforestry conducted by MoA, MoENR and KEFRI that follow the Curriculum for In-service Training in Agroforestry and Related Subjects (RSCU, 1992). This book is related mainly to the course called Block No. 1 in the curriculum, but it will also be used as core training material in courses for international participants organized by ICRAF in Kenya.

Participants who have attended such in-service training and familiarized themselves with the content of both those books will be expected to be able to carry out local-level planning of extension activities following the Guidelines for Agroforestry Extension Planning in Kenya (Tengnäs, 1993).

A basic philosophy of all these publications is that agroforestry technologies for extension cannot be designed at the central level but have to be worked out jointly by extension officers and actual land users at the local level. One of the major aims of the in-service training course is to impart the knowledge and skills necessary for someone to initiate and participate in such planning. Consequently, no detailed technologies for specific environments are suggested in this book: such detailed designs will have to be based on specific local conditions and needs.

The interested reader who may want to read further is referred to two other recent publications: Agroforestry for Development in Kenya: An Annotated Bibliography (ICRAF, 1991), and Soil and Water Conservation in ASAL: Field Manual No. 3 (MoA, 1992).

Certain aspects of agroforestry have not been covered in detail in this book since they are covered in the other training materials mentioned above. Some of these areas are local-level planning, communication, agroforestry in ASAL, and information on individual tree species. Neither are tree-nursery techniques given in any detail since these aspects are covered in Fruit Tree Nurseries (MoA, 1990), Tree Nurseries (ILO, 1989), and On-Farm Nurseries (Mung'ala et al., 1988).

Figure 1.4 A farmer discusses his plans with the extensionists

 Figure 1.5 Valued as fodder and browse, Acacia tortilis a/so provides welcome shade in the dry season