The symposium intends to bring together a multi-disciplinary group of scientists who have an active interest in research aimed at the development and dissemination of improved fallow systems for small-scale farmers in the humid and sub-humid tropics. The symposium will focus on short term fallows (1-5 years) of shrubs, herbaceous species and trees whose primary objective is the maintenance or restoration of soil fertility. The symposium will be structured around four principal themes.

• Traditional fallows and indigenous knowledge.
• Case studies of research on and development of improved fallows.
• How and where do fallows work?
• Dissemination mechanisms and policy requirements for adoption.

Field Day:
Participants will spend one night in Chipata, Zambia for a full day's visit to a collaborative Government of Zambia/ICRAF project whose principal focus is development and dissemination of improved fallows. The project is currently working with local extension services, NGO's and over 2,000 farmers in both on-station and on-farm research.

Expected Symposium Output:

• A synthesis of current knowledge of research, adoption and impact of improved fallows.
• Identification of knowledge gaps, and the development of regional research priorities.
• Enhanced awareness of improved fallow research and the creation of a mechanism for future information exchange.

Prospective participants who wish to present a poster are required to provide an abstract of no more than 250 words by 15 December 1996. Posters giving emphasis to socio-economic aspects in themes 1 to 4 will be especially welcome.

Address all correspondence to:

Dr. Peter Cooper
Chairman, Organizing Committee
International Symposium on The Science and Practice of Improved Fallows
ICRAF
P.O. Box 30677,
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: (254-2) 521450
Fax: (254-2) 521001
Telex: 22048 ICRAF
Email: p.cooper@cgnet.com

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