Papers by Elise C M Pinners
The use of Vetiver grass for natural disaster mitigation in Vietnam has become very popular despi... more The use of Vetiver grass for natural disaster mitigation in Vietnam has become very popular despite the fact it has been introduced into Vietnam for such purpose only less than a decade ago and met with considerable skepticism at the beginning. However, the grass is now known throughout the country and is in use practically in nearly 40 out of 64 provinces. It is planted in a very wide range of soil types and climatic conditions, from very cold winter in the North, very hot summer-cold winter, pure sand in Central Vietnam to acid sulfate and saline soil in the Mekong Delta. The widest application of the VS is for river bank, irrigation canal, river and sea dyke erosion control, cut slope stabilization along highways etc. Research results, successes and failures of numerous applications indicate that VS, having many advantages and very few disadvantages, is a very effective, low cost, community-based and environment-friendly bio-engineering tool for natural disaster mitigation and in...
Agroforestry Systems, 1991
The process of iterative diagnosis and design with the active participation of farmers and extens... more The process of iterative diagnosis and design with the active participation of farmers and extension agents was found effective in identifying appropriate agroforestry systems for farmers in the Bugesera and Gisaka-Migongo (BGM) regions of Rwanda. Periodic re-evaluation of research assumptions and technology designs was based on feedback from farmers and extensionists through regular visits to station trials, early initiation of on-farm testing, and interaction with farmer cooperators through informal discussions and formal surveys focused on specific agroforestry technologies. Statistical analysis is valuable for comparison between regions or periods. However, valid conclusions can be drawn without statistics, by employing several farmer-participatory approaches and pooling and properly interpreting the data obtained from them. Farmers' preferred uses of tree biomass in the BGM regions and appropriate agroforestry systems are discussed. If researchers and development agents do not consider the farmers' real needs, circumstances, available resources and management capacity with regard to tree planting, they will fail in identifying and extending suitable agroforestry systems for any region.
Agroforestry Systems, 1991
The process of iterative diagnosis and design with the active participation of farmers and extens... more The process of iterative diagnosis and design with the active participation of farmers and extension agents was found effective in identifying appropriate agroforestry systems for farmers in the Bugesera and Gisaka-Migongo (BGM) regions of Rwanda. Periodic re-evaluation of research assumptions and technology designs was based on feedback from farmers and extensionists through regular visits to station trials, early initiation of on-farm testing, and interaction with farmer cooperators through informal discussions and formal surveys focused on specific agroforestry technologies. Statistical analysis is valuable for comparison between regions or periods. However, valid conclusions can be drawn without statistics, by employing several farmer-participatory approaches and pooling and properly interpreting the data obtained from them. Farmers' preferred uses of tree biomass in the BGM regions and appropriate agroforestry systems are discussed. If researchers and development agents do not consider the farmers' real needs, circumstances, available resources and management capacity with regard to tree planting, they will fail in identifying and extending suitable agroforestry systems for any region.
The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 2007
... of research efforts across organizations (ACI, 20032. ACI (2003) Strategy and Road Map for Ag... more ... of research efforts across organizations (ACI, 20032. ACI (2003) Strategy and Road Map for Agricultural ... A relatively small number of well off farmers, often called 'industrial farmers', who own larger sizes of ... MMWB4P ( 2005 ) Linking Farmers to Markets through Contract Farming ...
Stability of Stream and Water Retaining Structure Banks As in the case of dry land slopes the sta... more Stability of Stream and Water Retaining Structure Banks As in the case of dry land slopes the stability of stream bank is based on the interplay between two types of forces, driving forces and resisting forces. Driving forces promote down slope movement of material, while resisting forces deter movement. When driving forces overcome resisting forces, these banks become unstable. However, erosion of banks and the instability of water retaining structures are more complicated. Water plays a key role in producing slope failure especially at the toe of the slope; it increases driving forces by: • Eroding the base of slopes by wave action, which removes the support. • Loading, that is, filling previously empty pore spaces and fractures, which adds to
The stability of natural slope, cut slope, road batter etc is a function of: rock/soil type and i... more The stability of natural slope, cut slope, road batter etc is a function of: rock/soil type and its strength, slope geometry (height, angle), climate, vegetation and time. Each of these factors may play a significant role in controlling driving or resisting forces. • Driving forces. Although gravity is the main driving force, it cannot act alone. Slope gradient, angle of repose of specific soil, climate, slope material, and especially water, contribute to its effect. • Resisting forces. The main resisting force is the material's shear strength, a function of cohesion (the ability of particles to attract and hold each other together) and internal friction (friction between grains within a material) that opposes driving forces. Vegetative Slope Stabilisation Vegetation has been used as a natural bioengineering tool to control erosion and stabilize slopes for centuries, and its popularity has increased markedly in the last decades due partly to more information about vegetation is ...
Farmers in Central Coastal Vietnam are regularly confronted with flood or storm related damage, a... more Farmers in Central Coastal Vietnam are regularly confronted with flood or storm related damage, and have to spend much of their time and money to restore badly damaged structures. The measures they have used include stabilisation of dykes by local grass, which are easily uprooted by flood, or small waves, hence are not effective, or short-term measures such as blocking sand dune flow by sand dykes, which themselves are poorly stabilised due to lack of vegetation cover. Technical support, when available, has its own problems. Local civil engineers are used to more expensive hard solutions such as rocks and cement, even these solutions are not always effective or durable. Agro-forestry projects focus on tree planting but it is expensive to implement and slow in growth. Trees are effective for wind erosion control but they give little protection against neither water erosion nor trapping sand eroded by heavy rainfall. With a small grant from the Netherlands Embassy, a vetiver trial and...
The Vetiver Network International, 2008
Based on the review of the huge volume of research and application results of Vetiver grass, the ... more Based on the review of the huge volume of research and application results of Vetiver grass, the authors felt it was time to compile a newer version to replace the first World Bank published handbook (1987), Vetiver Grass-A Hedge Against Erosion (commonly known as the Green Book), authored by John Greenfield. The new manual would cover a wider range of Vetiver grass applications. The authors have exchanged this idea and received an enthusiastic support of The Vetiver Network International-TVNI. This Manual combines the applications of VS in land stabilization and infrastructure protection, treatment and disposal of waste and polluted water and rehabilitation and phytoremediation of contaminated lands. Similar to the Green Book, this Manual shows the principles and methods of various VS applications in the above uses. This Manual also includes the most up to date R&D results for those applications and numerous examples of highly successful results around the world. The main aim of this Manual is to introduce VS to planners and design engineers and other potential users, who often are unaware of the effectiveness of bioengineering and phytoremediation methods.
The Vetiver System (VS) is now well accepted and used worldwide for numerous applications. Amongs... more The Vetiver System (VS) is now well accepted and used worldwide for numerous applications. Amongst these, environmental protection applications are the most popular due to its effectiveness, simplicity and low cost. Earlier research conducted to understand the role of the extraordinary physiological and morphological attributes of vetiver grass in soil and water conservation, discovered that vetiver grass also possesses some unique attributes highly suitable for treating polluted wastewater from industries as well as domestic discharges and contaminated lands from industries and mining. • VS can reduce the volume or dispose unwanted wastewater by: seepage control, land irrigation and wetland. Successful applications include treatment of: - domestic and municipal sewage effluent and landfill leachate - wastewater from intensive animal farms - industrial wastewater recycling and disposal - industrial and mining seepage. • VS can improve wastewater quality by: trapping debris, sediment...
Agroforestry Systems, 1991
The process of iterative diagnosis and design with the active participation of farmers and extens... more The process of iterative diagnosis and design with the active participation of farmers and extension agents was found effective in identifying appropriate agroforestry systems for farmers in the Bugesera and Gisaka-Migongo (BGM) regions of Rwanda. Periodic re-evaluation of research assumptions and technology designs was based on feedback from farmers and extentionists through regular visits to station trials, early initiation of on-farm testing, and interaction with farmer cooperators through informal discussions and formal surveys focused on specific agroforestry technologies. Statistical analysis is valuable for comparison between regions or periods. However, valid conclusions can be drawn without statistics, by employing several farmer-participatory approaches and pooling and properly interpreting the data obtained from them. Farmers' preferred uses of tree biomass in the BGM regions and appropriate agroforestry systems are discussed. If researchers and development agents do not consider the farmers' real needs, circumstances, available resources and management capacity with regard to tree planting, they will fail in identifying and extending suitable agroforestry systems for any region.
Agroforestry Systems, 1991
The process of iterative diagnosis and design with the active participation of farmers and extens... more The process of iterative diagnosis and design with the active participation of farmers and extension agents was found effective in identifying appropriate agroforestry systems for farmers in the Bugesera and Gisaka-Migongo (BGM) regions of Rwanda. Periodic re-evaluation of research assumptions and technology designs was based on feedback from farmers and extentionists through regular visits to station trials, early initiation of on-farm testing, and interaction with farmer cooperators through informal discussions and formal surveys focused on specific agroforestry technologies. Statistical analysis is valuable for comparison between regions or periods. However, valid conclusions can be drawn without statistics, by employing several farmer-participatory approaches and pooling and properly interpreting the data obtained from them. Farmers' preferred uses of tree biomass in the BGM regions and appropriate agroforestry systems are discussed. If researchers and development agents do not consider the farmers' real needs, circumstances, available resources and management capacity with regard to tree planting, they will fail in identifying and extending suitable agroforestry systems for any region.
The stability of natural slope, cut slope, road batter etc is a function of: rock/soil type and i... more The stability of natural slope, cut slope, road batter etc is a function of: rock/soil type and its strength, slope geometry (height, angle), climate, vegetation and time. Each of these factors may play a significant role in controlling driving or resisting forces.
As in the case of dry land slopes the stability of stream bank is based on the interplay between ... more As in the case of dry land slopes the stability of stream bank is based on the interplay between two types of forces, driving forces and resisting forces. Driving forces promote down slope movement of material, while resisting forces deter movement. When driving forces overcome resisting forces, these banks become unstable.
Application of the Vetiver System (VS) for environmental protection is a new and innovative phyto... more Application of the Vetiver System (VS) for environmental protection is a new and innovative phytoremedial technology. VS has been used in more than 100 tropical and subtropical countries for treating polluted wastewater from domestic and industrial discharges as well as mine rehabilitation.
The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 2007
The majority of the population of Vietnam lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for the... more The majority of the population of Vietnam lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Consistent growth of the agriculture sector over the past two decades has contributed to a remarkable reduction in the poverty rate and the virtual elimination of hunger in the rural areas of Vietnam. In order to continue the growth rates of the past and contribute to further poverty reduction into the future, Agriculture Science and Technology will need to play a greater part in the development of the agriculture sector. This paper outlines the importance of Agriculture Science and Technology in rural development, discusses the performance of the agriculture research and extension systems and outlines recent developments designed to improve the performance of Agriculture Science and Technology and increase the level of linkages between farmers, policymakers, researchers and the extension system.
The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 2007
The majority of the population of Vietnam lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for the... more The majority of the population of Vietnam lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Consistent growth of the agriculture sector over the past two decades has contributed to a remarkable reduction in the poverty rate and the virtual elimination of hunger in the rural areas of Vietnam. In order to continue the growth rates of the past and contribute to further poverty reduction into the future, Agriculture Science and Technology will need to play a greater part in the development of the agriculture sector. This paper outlines the importance of Agriculture Science and Technology in rural development, discusses the performance of the agriculture research and extension systems and outlines recent developments designed to improve the performance of Agriculture Science and Technology and increase the level of linkages between farmers, policymakers, researchers and the extension system.
The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 2007
The majority of the population of Vietnam lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for the... more The majority of the population of Vietnam lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Consistent growth of the agriculture sector over the past two decades has contributed to a remarkable reduction in the poverty rate and the virtual elimination of hunger in the rural areas of Vietnam. In order to continue the growth rates of the past and contribute to further poverty reduction into the future, Agriculture Science and Technology will need to play a greater part in the development of the agriculture sector. This paper outlines the importance of Agriculture Science and Technology in rural development, discusses the performance of the agriculture research and extension systems and outlines recent developments designed to improve the performance of Agriculture Science and Technology and increase the level of linkages between farmers, policymakers, researchers and the extension system.
The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 2007
The majority of the population of Vietnam lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for the... more The majority of the population of Vietnam lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Consistent growth of the agriculture sector over the past two decades has contributed to a remarkable reduction in the poverty rate and the virtual elimination of hunger in the rural areas of Vietnam. In order to continue the growth rates of the past and contribute to further poverty reduction into the future, Agriculture Science and Technology will need to play a greater part in the development of the agriculture sector. This paper outlines the importance of Agriculture Science and Technology in rural development, discusses the performance of the agriculture research and extension systems and outlines recent developments designed to improve the performance of Agriculture Science and Technology and increase the level of linkages between farmers, policymakers, researchers and the extension system.
The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 2007
The majority of the population of Vietnam lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for the... more The majority of the population of Vietnam lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Consistent growth of the agriculture sector over the past two decades has contributed to a remarkable reduction in the poverty rate and the virtual elimination of hunger in the rural areas of Vietnam. In order to continue the growth rates of the past and contribute to further poverty reduction into the future, Agriculture Science and Technology will need to play a greater part in the development of the agriculture sector. This paper outlines the importance of Agriculture Science and Technology in rural development, discusses the performance of the agriculture research and extension systems and outlines recent developments designed to improve the performance of Agriculture Science and Technology and increase the level of linkages between farmers, policymakers, researchers and the extension system.
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Papers by Elise C M Pinners