In Southeast Asia investment in agroforestry has progressed extremely fast. To keep up with the industrial sector, farmers are becoming increasingly linked with the mainstream economy. This is an inevitable trend if farmers are to obtain a more equitable share of the benefits of rapid economic growth. Farmers must not remain on the sidelines because there is already a widening gap between urban and rural people. Fuelwood is one component in the production system of farm households. It will play an economic role that is directly commensurate with the value that it brings to the farm household. Extension efforts must, therefore, examine the value of this commodity in the light of competing enterprises. The old top-down technology-driven extension model will not work any longer. Let us all look at the farm family as we look at our own families and learn from their experience as we move forward together.
