Agroforestry

Context:

Agroforestry presents a transformative opportunity for rural India by enhancing biodiversity, boosting farmer incomes, promoting carbon capture, and supporting ecological restoration.

Agroforestry

Agroforestry is a holistic land-use approach that combines agricultural practices with forestry techniques to create diversified, sustainable, and economically viable landscapes.

Key Goals:

• Improve land productivity and ecological restoration
• Optimize resource use for sustainable outputs
• Generate employment in rural areas
• Provide raw materials for small-scale rural industries
• Expand food production to meet population growth
• Enhance diet diversity for improved nutrition
• Ensure fodder availability for dairy and meat production

Types of Agroforestry Systems

1. Agrisilvicultural Systems:
   • Integration of crops and trees on the same land.
   • Enhances soil fertility and provides multiple income streams.
2. Silvopastoral Systems:
   • Incorporates trees into grazing lands.
   • Offers shade and shelter to livestock and improves soil quality.
3. Apiculture with Trees:
   • Nectar-producing trees attract bees, aiding pollination.
   • Promotes honey production as an added income source.
4. Aquaforestry:
   • Trees planted around water bodies like fish ponds.
   • Stabilizes pond banks, improves water quality, and supports sustainable aquaculture.

Benefits and Significance

• Soil and Water Conservation:
  • Tree roots prevent soil erosion—up to 50% reduction noted in regions like the Himalayan foothills.
• Environmental Gains:
  • Nitrogen-fixing trees enhance soil health, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers by 20–30%, as seen in Andhra Pradesh.
• Biodiversity Conservation:
  • Agroforestry landscapes act as habitats for pollinators and birds, enhancing ecosystem resilience.
  • Tamil Nadu’s agroforestry zones have seen a 25% rise in bird species diversity.
• Climate Action – Carbon Sequestration:
  • India’s agroforestry systems can absorb about 68 million tonnes of CO₂ annually and contribute to local temperature reduction (up to 1°C).
• Nutritional Security:
  • Increases output of pulses and vegetables, helping mitigate India’s calorie intake shortfall (recommended ~3000 calories per person/day).

Key Challenges

• Regulatory Barriers:
  • Free movement of only 33 tree species across states; high-value trees like sandalwood and teak require permits, delaying farmer benefits.
• Research & Quality Issues:
  • Only around 10% of planting materials meet the required quality standards.
  • Limited research on native species and fragile zones like the Himalayas.
• Policy and Market Limitations:
  • Fragmented marketing systems and complex taxation structures reduce farmer profitability.
  • Multiple taxes on timber discourage agroforestry-based enterprises.
  • NABARD’s pilot in Odisha demonstrated a 30% rise in agroforestry loans, indicating potential with better policy support.
• Inadequate Extension Services:
  • Small and marginal farmers (who make up 66% of all farmers) often lack access to customized training and advisory services.
• Digital Divide:
  • Poor internet access and low digital literacy prevent farmers from using tools like AgroConnect to access species recommendations, weather forecasts, and carbon market insights.