Engaging communities for group learning & collective management of native fruit trees - Western Ghats, IndiaNarasimha Hegde, ESEE - 2015 , Wageningen, 30 April 2015

InternationalSupport Group

Life Trust

Objectives

1) To know the gender differentials in knowledge essential for understanding the resource management process

2) To examine prospects of gender responsive participatory approach in improving sustainable management of Native Fruit Trees(NFTs)

3) To assess how collective management can overcome limitations regarding NFT species, in particular, Garcinia gummi-gutta (Malabar Gamboge), Garcinia indica (Indian Gamboge) and Mangifera indica (mango)

Study area: Uttara Kannda district, Central Western Ghats, India

• 80% of area under natural forest cover

• Various tropical forests• Annual rain fall 6000 mm• Global hotspot (Myers

2000)• Only 7% of original forest

remaining (Bawa et al 2007)

Garcinia gummi-gutta

Garcinia indica

Mangifera indica

• Resource mapping • Four cell analysis• Fruit calendars• Activity calendars• Theatre play• Impact filter• Value chain mapping • Rapid market appraisal• Exposure visits

Participatory research tools

Research tool – resource mapping

Knowledge differentials and group learning

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

LISTING OF SPECIES

Tota

l num

ber o

f NFT

spe

cies

Salkani K-K Gonsar

Number of NFT species identified by different age and gender groups in the three study villages

Phenology & fruiting

Cultivation Use Marketing1

2

3

4

Younger women

Elder women

Younger men

Elder men

Ave

rage

poi

nts

Conclusions

• Participatory process helped communities recognize, discuss and share specific knowledge and skills

• Plenary discussion fostered participation and enhanced group learning

• Comprehensive listing of NFTs and their ecological status (degree of occurrences) made

• Participants learnt more techniques for domestication and related agronomical aspects.

Implications

• Collective actions for conservation & management of threatened native fruit tree species by involving major stakeholders

• Innovative processing, value addition and packaging techniques

• Marketing knowledge especially value chains.

Benefits of gender-responsive participatory research

Benefit for both researchers and communitiesGroup learning and social inclusionHelp community make collective decisions

Acknowledgements • Hugo Lamers, Bioversity International• Dr Marlene Elias, Bioversity International• Dr. Maria Fernadez, International Support Group• Dr. Bhuwon Sthapit Bioversity International• Dr. Riina Jalonen Bioversity International• Participants and villagers from Kalgadde-Kanchigadde,

Gonsar and Salkani• Ewa Hermanowicz, Bioversity International• Alessandra Grosse

Thank you!

Narasimha Hedge lifetrusts@gmail.com