@book {290, title = {Agroforestry in Tonga: A traditional source for development of sustainable farming systems}, series = {South Pacific Smallholder Project Occasional Paper no. 12}, year = {1989}, month = {1989}, pages = {58}, publisher = {University of New England; South Pacific Smallholder Project}, organization = {University of New England; South Pacific Smallholder Project}, address = {Armidale, NSW}, abstract = {Tongan agriculture is based on the intercropping of a number of annual and perennial crops. A lower stratum which is characterised by mixed and staggered planting is tightly integrated with a dense stand of trees, bananas and coconuts. Ecological stability and the production of a wide variety of outputs are both secured by such an agroforestry system. Mechanisation, cash cropping and the beginning of a land shortage have started to change traditional land-use patterns in negative ways. A growing number of farmers see their tree crops as obstacles to intensive cash cropping. Regard for ecologically sound farming practices, which were followed by custom rather than by understanding, is falling away. A combination of modern and traditional farming practices could lead to higher returns with sustainable environmental stability. The natural, organisational and educational infrastructures for the evolution of such farming systems in Tonga are excellent. This report examines some of the factors which support and inhibit agroforestry in Tonga, and makes recommendations for further improvements. (author) This paper is based on an agroforestry survey carried out in Tonga in adjoining villages. Different species were discussed, based on their function and distribution within the communities. Land ownership, ecological effects of agroforestry and tree mangement options were also discussed. }, keywords = {Aeurites moluccana, Artocarpus altilis, Atocarpus altilis, Bischofia javanica, Bishogia javanica, Carica papaya, Citrus fagifer, Citrus sinensis, coconuts, Incoarpus fagifer, Magfera indica, Mangifera indica, mechanization, Morinda citrifolia, pandanus spp., Ponetia pinnata, smallholders, South Pacific}, isbn = {0-85834-823-3; 978-0-85834-823-3}, url = {http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/20746333}, author = {Wieland K{\"u}nzel} } @proceedings {473, title = {Agroforestry with coconuts and other tropical plantation crops}, year = {1983}, month = {1983}, pages = {79-102}, publisher = {International Council for Research in Agroforestry}, address = {Nairobi, Kenya}, abstract = {

The perennial plantation crops of the tropics occupy about 8 percent of the total arable area in developing countries and are very important, both economically and socially. Research has helped to increase substantially the yields of many in the recent past. Modern plantations maintain their traditional monocultural production strategy but smallholder farmers tend to adopt less well studied integrated and intensive land use practices, often combining perennial cash crops with the production of food crops and livestock in what are, essentially, subsistence production units. Some of these systems are noted.

The coconut palm is one of the most widely grown tree crops in the tropics with a total area of over 6 million hectares, mostly as smallholdings in densely populated areas. The growth habit of the palm is remarkably suited both to small-scale production and to combination with other crops. The age and stand density of the palms is an important factor in determining the type and form of crop association. Integrated mixed farming in smallholdings and grazing of cattle under extensive stands of palms are also common. Where the intercrop and the coconut crop are properly manured and well managed, a substantial number of additional crops can be produced without impairing long-term productivity. Commensal interactions in some such plant associations have been noted. Such intensified systems are well suited to smallholder situations.

The examples given of intensive coconut based systems are relevant to other smallholder plantation crops using some form of plant association or mixed farming technique that will result in higher income and land equivalent ratios per farm. As with the development of the coconut systems, their development will need to be supported by adequate research efforts (author).

}, keywords = {agroforestry, coconuts}, url = {http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/11698847}, author = {P. K. R. Nair}, editor = {Peter A. Huxley} }