The International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) introduced agroforestry measures
to improve soil erosion and poor soil fertility. Although,the measures
were labor was intensive, they were being adopted only slowly. After a
visit to a similar project, the farmers themselves suggested forming
traditional mutual-help groups for the agroforestry work. These groups
are called "hunglunan" in Albay province, "alayon" in Cebu, and "tropa"
in Cavite. They usually consist of four to six members, but sometimes
up to 10 or more members, who help one another with labour-intensive
agricultural activities such as land preparation, planting, weeding,
and harvesting. Members also help one another for fiestas, weddings and
other social events. The local labour groups formed for the project
were crucial in implementing the agroforestry measures. The use of
local approaches and the fact that the groups were formed by the
farmers themselves were important factors. Experience in many
development projects has shown that groups introduced by outsiders
seldom survive for long.
The sustainability depends very much on the project for which it is used.
For example, if people do not find the agroforestry measures useful,
they will leave the mutual-help groups. Another factor probably
influencing sustainability is whether the groups formed themselves
according to their own criteria or whether the groups were imposed by
outsiders. Local people initiated the practice and were familiar with
it. Local labor-sharing arrangements can be used as an effective tool
for making labor intensive activities more acceptable.
http://www.kivu.com/wbbook/casestudies.html
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