Community/stakeholder linkages in agroforestry development: Experiences from Zimbabwe

The need for tertiary institutions’ involvement in agroforestry development is relevant now more than ever due to limited funding within the national research and extension institutions and weak community/stakeholder linkages. A study was undertaken to understand perceptions and experience of tertiary education insititutions and their community linkages and to review possible models for improving the linkages. A desk study was carried out to analyse community stakeholder linkages. A case study of a communal farmer practising agroforestry technologies in Chinhamora communal area of Zimbabwe and an assessment of multistakeholder approaches in promotion of agroforestry technologies for improvement of livelihoods are presented in this paper. A qualitative research approach was adopted. The study revealed the following: age differences between the students and host farmers affected effective communication; increased diversity in opinions amongst stakeholders; and weak linkages with tertiary institutions. Recommendations proposed include review of curricula focusing on agribusiness and entrepreneurship in agroforestry training, involvement of social based institutions in the development of agroforestry, and establishment of permanent community training sites. More is expected from tertiary institutions beyond supervision of students’ projects to post graduation follow ups.