vetiver System and Handicrafts - the back door to soil conservation

[Dick]

We know how difficult it is to get small and poorly educated,
conservative farmers to adopt new technologies. We have seen in
Venezuela how the Polar Foundation developed the interest of women in
making vetiver handicrafts, and the subsequent interest of their
husbands in using vetiver for soil and water conservation.

Liyu Xu, the Vetiver Network Coordinator in China has organized a new
agroforestry project in the minority areas of two provinces in China.
He is using the same approach as in Venezuela. He has already run
three handicraft workshops with good success. There is real potential
here for handicrafts and the farmers are now showing more interest in
growing vetiver to provide the source of vetiver handicraft material
and for soil and water conservation. Good job Liyu!!

The handicraft training program was very carefully administered and as
a result was very successful. You can see his report and images at:
http://www.vetiver.org/CHN_DABIE2/CHN_Dabie2mm.htm

I am sure that the same could be done in many other parts of the world
where there are poor and not well educated rural people. Many already
know how to make handicrafts, but increasing lack suitable material to
make the handicrafts.

Dick Grimshaw