Perceived Profitability of Agroforestry in Rural Multan of Pakistan

Agroforestry remained a profitable venture across the globe if managed well spatially and temporarily. Farmlands are viable option to practice agroforestry in Pakistan for sustaining farmers’ livelihoods as well as to provide products and services for ever increasing population. This study focusses on how agroforestry is being perceived as profitable enterprise by the farmers in Multan, Punjab Pakistan. Rural areas of Multan were selected for this study and 200 farmers were selected randomly from 10 villages across 02 union councils using multi-stage sampling procedure. The results revealed that agroforestry remained the prime land use system as reported by the farmers (99%) belonging to agropastoral and agroforestry practice. Moreover, agroforestry perceived as high-income system providing variety of product (increased crop and fodder production, variety of products and income) and services (Carbon sequestration, climate amelioration, soil conservation). The study concluded the need for public-private partnership for the promotion of agroforestry in the region.

Addressing Farmer’s Perceptions-attitudes and Constraints to Adopt Agroforestry adjacent to the Coastal Belt of Sundarbans, Bangladesh

Agroforestry is receiving a win-win strategy for low-income countries through increasing attention in Bangladesh especially in the coastal region because of its capacity to address some of the negative consequences of intensive agriculture with sustainable perceptions, attitudes, and management through farmers both locally and globally. As the actual uptake and maintenance of agroforestry in proximity to the coastal area by farmers remains low and that is why this research work investigates agroforestry practices e.g., Homestead agroforestry, boundary plantation, mixed plantation, cropland agroforestry, agrisilvicultural systems, Agro-aqua silviculture, and Agro-aquaculture systems on a sustainable basis with a view to find out the farmers ‘perceptions and attitudes through identifying their constraints and problems with potential opportunities to adopt agroforestry in Satkhira district of Bangladesh. A sample of 80 respondents selected randomly was interviewed through a semi-structured interview schedule individually and a multistage random sampling technique was adopted to conduct the study. Therefore, results revealed that middle-aged farmers (36-50) (46%) are interested in agroforestry practice than a traditional practice. The adoption of younger (26-35) 35% farmers is increasing day by day since they have had more schooling than the older generation or perhaps have been exposed to new ideas as a migrant. Illiteracy (56%) has primary level of education) is the main reason for non-adoption of agroforestry. The farmers (28%) they taken lease from other people who have no own land they are not interested in agroforestry. Farmers (47%) are interested in agro-aquaculture practice, because high cash return get from this practice. About 68.7% respondents have taken positively agroforestry practice, but they have no training skill or facility. If they get this facility, they are more interested in agroforestry practice. Finally result mentioned that 76.25% respondents perceived agroforestry positively and most of the farmer’s (68.7%) have positive attitude towards it whilst maximum farmers (80%) think agroforestry system should be expanded. This research indicates that agroforestry is a catalyst factor which can be adopted more through directed programs, policies and practices by government and its related agencies from this positive perceptions and attitudes of this research. Thus, agroforestry is a sustainable potential land use in the long term through combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors interact and drive adoption can help integrating technologies appropriately to ensure sustainability adjacent to the coastal region of Sundarbans of Bangladesh.

Perception of agroforestry adopter and non-adopter on volcano risk and hazard: a case in Mt. Merapi, Java, Indonesia

Rozaki Z, Rahmawati N, Wijaya O, Khoir IA, Senge M, Kamarudin MF. 2021. Perception of agroforestry adopter and non-adopter on volcano risk and hazard: a case in Mt. Merapi, Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 3829-3837. Agroforestry is an agricultural system that many people use in mountainous areas. Some experts have proven that this system can become the mitigation strategy in volcano areas. This study analyzes the risk and hazard perception of agroforestry adopters and non-adopters in the Mt. Merapi prone area. 139 agroforestry adopters and 130 non-adopters were randomly taken from four different areas in Mt. Merapi. Results show that both adopters and non-adopters show different perceptions regarding hazards and risk. The effectiveness of agroforestry practice for mitigation strategies needs to be studied more. The awareness of hazards and risks in the Mt. Merapi prone area is essential to save more lives during the eruption. The challenge is how to persuade agroforestry adopters and non-adopters to flee when the big eruption comes. Even though they flee, they still insist on returning home to take care of their livestock, farm, and protect properties. Mitigation education is needed; also, the infrastructure is important in supporting the mitigation efforts.

Effect of homegarden and parkland agroforestry practices in Ethiopia on selected soil properties

Ethiopian agricultural lands are fragile due to inherent unfavourable soil properties, over-exploitation, mismanagement (deforestation, over-grazing and inappropriate land use systems) and harsh weather conditions. These factors are worsened by changing climatic conditions, leading to significant problems in terms of soil erosion and loss of soil fertility. The consequences of such processes can be detected at the economic (agricultural production is currently being jeopardized)and biological (risks of biodiversity loss and habitat fragmentation)levels. However, the use of tree/shrub species in various agroforestry practices can increase soil nutrient supply through nitrogen fixation, improve soil structure, reduce soil erosion and nutrient losses. A study was carried out in the Amhara region, Ethiopia to evaluate the effect of home garden and parkland agroforestry practices on selected soil chemical properties. Soil samples were taken from 20x20m square plots established in home garden agroforestry and adjacent agricultural land without trees (control). In parkland agroforestry practice, two dominant tree species in each of the five villages were chosen. Soil samples were taken from the tree at the midpoint of the canopy projection, at 0-15 and 15-30 cm depths. The collected soil samples were air-dried, homogenized and passed through a 2 mm sieve for subsequent soil chemical analysis. The results indicated that all soil chemical properties except total nitrogen were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected by the agroforestry practices.Higher soil organic carbon, organic matter, available phosphorus,and exchangeablepotassium were found in the home garden agroforestry practice, while the lowest values were recorded in without-tree fields (control). All soil chemical properties except soil pH decreased as the soil depth increased. Higher value of organic carbon, available phosphorus, and exchangeable potassium were found in the home garden agroforestry likely because of a higher proportion of deep-rooted tree/shrub species and species belonging to the legume functional group. Therefore, the home garden agroforestry practice can be used as an ecologically friendly and sustainable alternative to maintaining soil fertility.

Which Agroforestry Practice Is Beneficial? A Comparative Assessment of the Traditional and the Improved Agroforestry Techniques in the Midhills of Nepal

Farmers are predominantly adopting two forms of agroforestry, traditional and improved practices, in the midhills of Nepal, but their efficacy on a comparative basis is poorly assessed, so farmers often confuse whether to continue the traditional practice or embrace the improved practice. We carried out a study in six villages of three districts, interviewed 210 farmers adopting each practice, organized six focus group discussions, and interacted with 24 key informants to compare agroforestry practices from income generation and forest conservation perspectives. An individual household adopting the improved practice annually generated 841.60 US$, which was more than two folds of the traditional practitioner. Similarly, the improved practitioner annually fulfilled 84% demand for forest products from the adopted agroforestry practice, whereas the traditional practitioner only fulfilled about 50%. The fodder, fuelwood, and timber productions were found to be significantly higher in the improved practice, whereas leaf litter production was found to be almost similar. The improved practitioners seemed to be self-sustained in forest products, where the traditional practitioners only satisfied half of their requirements from the agroforestry practice. The study concludes that the improved agroforestry practice is more beneficial compared to the traditional practice. Therefore, we suggest the traditional practitioners to modify their ongoing practice to enhance the contribution of agroforestry practice at the local level.

“WINS” untuk Pengelolaan Kawasan Lindung Berdasarkan Sistem Agroforestri Aren (Arenga pinnata) di Zona Rehabilitasi Taman Nasional Meru Betiri

WINS" (Win-Win Strategy) in the management of protected areas is the strategy that benefit both parties. Agroforestry with forest trees accompanied by agricultural crops may benefits the community if it is implemented in line with the management of Meru Betiri National Park (TNMB) policies. The agroforestry plants proposed in this study were aren (Arenga pinnata), java chili (Piper retrofractum), and porang (Amorphophallus muelleri). This study recommends four strategies for better agroforestry practice in TNMB, i.e.,g. 1) strategy I, increasing public awareness of the urgency of the preservation of national park areas; 2) strategy II, formulating policies to support agroforestry as a strategic management effort; 3) strategy III, education and counseling, as a strengthening of the role of extension workers; and 4) strategy IV, facilitating access to relevant data across all participating institutions and is supported in a multidisciplinary manner. This model may be used as a reference for agroforestry models in conservation areas, especially in TNMB, which will optimize the development of native plants in an area. Keywords: agroforestry, Arenga pinnata, Meru Betiri National Park, SWOT analysis, win-win strategy

On-farm trees are a safety net for the poorest households rather than a major contributor to food security in Rwanda

The world is challenged to meet the food demand of a growing population, especially in developing countries. Given the ambitious plans to scale up agroforestry in Africa, an improved understanding of the effect of agroforestry practices on the already challenged food security of rural households is crucial. The present study was undertaken to assess how on-farm trees impacted food security in addition to other household income sources in Rwanda. In each of the six agroecologies of Rwanda, a stratified sampling procedure was used where two administrative cells (4th formal administrative level) were selected in which households were randomly selected for interviews. A survey including 399 farmers was conducted and farmers were grouped in three types of agroforestry practice (i) low practitioners (LAP) represented by the first tertile, (ii) medium practitioners (MAP) represented by the second tertile and (iii) high practitioners (HAP) represented by the third tertile of households in terms of tree number. Asset values, household income sources, crop production, farm size, crop yield, and food security (food energy needs) were quantified among the types of agroforestry practice. A larger proportion of HAP households had access to adequate quantity and diversity of food when compared with MAP and LAP households. Food security probability was higher for households with more resources, including land, trees and livestock, coinciding with an increased crop and livestock income. We found no difference in asset endowment among types of agroforestry practices, while farmers in agroecologies with smaller farms (0.42 ha to 0.66 ha) had more on-farm trees (212 to 358 trees per household) than farms in agroecologies with larger farms (0.96 ha to 1.23 ha) which had 49 to 129 trees per household, probably due to differences in biophysical conditions. A positive association between tree density and food security was found in two out of six agroecologies. The proportion of income that came from tree products was high (> 20%) for a small fraction of farmers (12%), with the more food insecure households relying more on income from tree products than households with better food security status. Thus, tree income can be percieved as a “safety net” for the poorest households.