eChapters

ABSTRACT

The western part of India particularly Gujarat and Rajasthan received erratic and scanty rainfall and have sandy to sandy loam soil. In such climatic and edaphic conditions failure of crop is a regular phenomenon. In such situations a cropping system is required which can protect the associated crops from extremes of climatic condition and/or provide alternative/additional income. Agroforestry has such potentials; as a result lot of research had been done on agroforestry. This paper provides some of the agroforestry system and practices, which are suitable for Gujarat. The hurdles in adoption of agroforestry and its future prospects are also provided.

INTRODUCTION

North and North-West Gujarat fall under scarcity zone, where rainfall is inadequate as well as erratic in nature. Sandy loam soils with low moisture retention capacity pose problems of low and unstable crop production and degradation due to soil erosion. Under these situation, adoption of a high yielding, more remunerative, cost effective, compatible and multipurpose system ie Agroforestry is a dire necessity.

ABSTRACT

Chhattisgarh is a tribal dominating state and is one of the backward and poor area of India in terms of poverty and productivity. The trees have been the part of agriculture in this region since long. The present paper highlights some of the practices which are being adopted by the farmers from time immoral and efforts had been made to fit them in the present day scientific classification system of agroforestry system with their spatial and temporal sequences. Despite of the fact that trees are integral part of farmlands still adoption of agroforestry as a sustainable land use has some constrains which have been discussed and way out suggested. Areas needed in developing agroforestry in the state have also been discussed at the end of the chapter.

ABSTRACT

Agroforestry research and development in scientific mode in India started about thirty years ago with few individual scientists working on the aspect. However, concentrated efforts started with the establishment of a network under co-ordinated mode throughout the country in the year 1983. Since then lot of research has been done and recommendations made. The present paper compiles the chronological sequences of the starting of AICRP on AF along with its co-ordinating partners. Suitable perennial species and agroforestry systems recommended for respective agroclimatic zones of the country are also compiled. National seminars and group meeting conducted for popularizing and extending agroforestry to every corner of the country had also been provided.

INTRODUCTION

Agroforestry is an age old practice and was a way of life since the settled agriculture evolved from forest. However, with passage of time the cropping system was converted to monocropping and in the way the benefits of integrating the perennials with annuals were forgotten. In the late 70’s of 20^th century, benefits of integrating perennials in cropping system was again realized and efforts were diverted towards scientifically associating the perennials and annuals. Dr. M.S. Swaminathan an eminent scientist while addressing first agroforestry seminar at Imphal in 1979 stated that agroforestry lies the key solution of some of the problems of forestry “what is now important is to give a scientific context and better planning like a good architect who can plan the use of space more efficiently”. This seminar was a spark in the history of scientific agroforestry in India. Taking into account the vide variation in edaphic and climatic factors in India along with the perennial nature of the systems, it was felt that working in isolation would not yield fruitful results and therefore, an association of scientist and institutes of different agroclimatic regions in form of a network was felt imperative and a viable wayout and hence the birth of AICRP on Agroforestry. All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Agroforestry (AICRPAF) was initiated vide ICAR letter number 21(1)/80-SW & DF dated 7^th February, 1983 at 20 centers of which 12 centers were located in State Agricultural Universities and eight at the ICAR institutes. Later on more co-ordinating centers were added and at present there are 37 AICRPAF co-ordinating centers with 10 centers in ICAR institutes and 27 centers located in State Agriculture Universities covering all the major agroecological zones of the country. The coordinating unit of the project was initially located at ICAR, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, which was shifted to National Research Center for Agroforestry, Jhansi w.e.f. 1^st April, 1997 under the administrative control of Director, NRCAF.

ABSTRACT

More than 80 per cent area of the Shivaliks is rainfed. Soil erosion greater than 80 t ha^-1yr^-1 is being recorded from denuded hills. Though, trees are nurtured on the farms but no definite pattern of trees on field bunds is followed, (neither from spacing point of view nor from species point of view). Further, these trees are not silviculturally managed to get best output from tree components as well as for posing less competition to the crops. Shivaliks has a wide range of climate, geology, soil, topography and socio-economic strata coupled with wide variety of vegetation. Such variations provide ample opportunities for developing site specific agroforestry systems.

ABSTRACT

Maharashtra ranks second in terms of area under tree cover, however, still large chunk of land is lying without use or are underutilised because of their degradation status. Such degraded lands can be put to use through agroforestry. Agroforestry is being adopted in this state in one way or the other by raising trees on farm bunds, around cattle sheds etc. since earlier times. New innovative technology has now been developed by all the agricultural universities of state. The paper provides detailed information of different agroforestry systems which have been developed and practised in the state.

INTRODUCTION

Maharashtra is the third largest state of India having the geographical area of 307,713 km², which constitute 9.4 per cent of the country’s geographical area. The human population of the state is 96.75 million (9.4% of country’s population) of which 57.6 per cent is rural and 42.4 per cent is urban. The average population density is 314 persons per km². The tribal population is 9.3 per cent of the state population. The state supports livestock population of 36.4 million, which is 7.7 per cent of the country’s livestock population. The state rank second amongst all the state/UTs in terms of area under tree cover and third in term of recorded Forest Area (Anon, 2001).

The words ‘system’, ‘sub-system’ and ‘practice’ are commonly used in agroforestry literature. In a broad sense, a system is defined as a group of associated elements forming a unified whole and working together in a well defined regular relation for a common goal. An agroforestry system refers to a type of agroforestry land-use that extends over a locality to the extent of forming a land utilization type of the locality. Sub-system and practice are lower-order terms in the hierarchy with lesser magnitudes of role, content and complexity. However, these terms are used loosely, and almost synonymously.

Classification of agroforestry systems is necessary in order to understand and provide a practical framework for evaluating systems and developing action plans for their improvement. Any classification scheme should satisfy the following criteria (Nair, 2008).

ABSTRACT

Andhra Pradesh is predominently an agrarian state, where 70 per cent of the people live in rural areas. Andhra Pradesh has 7 Agroecological zones spread over in coastal Andhra, Telangana and Rayalaseema regions with varied climatic situations. The existing agroforestry systems in costal Andhra are Mango-based Agrihorticulture system, Betelvine-sesbania system, Borrasus flabellefer, Glyrecidia boundary plantations, Eucalyptus, Causarina and Subabul block plantations. Besides Neem, Tamarind and jamuns are also found in isolated manner. In Telangana region, Custard apple based Agrihorticulture system, Mango based Agrihorticulture system, Boundary plantations of Neem, teak, Jamun etc., are present. Eucalyptus based Agrisilviculture system is propagated by ITC, Bhadrachalam in Khammam and elsewhere in the state. In Rayalaseema region in all the districts tamarind, mango and sweet orange based agroforestry systems are prominently seen. The betelvine - sesbania system alone is fetching an income of 100 crores/year to the states’ exchequer. The common trees and tree systems available in the state are : Azadirachta indica, Tamarindus indica, Acacia nilotica, Pithecellobium dulce, Parkinsonia aculeata, Pterocarpus santalinus, Dalbergia latifolia and many others.

ABSTRACT

Haryana being predominantly agricultural state had only 2.86 per cent recorded forests at the time of its inception. Agroforestry has been an age old practice in Haryana as in other parts of India. It has existed in various forms through the time immemorial. Farm boundary plantation/natural regeneration and scattered trees in the farmlands were the main agroforestry interventions in Haryana till the seventies. To counter the environmental degradation and to provide fuel, fodder and timber different tree-crop combinations were tried for accessing their compatibility. As a result number of agroforestry systems had been recommended and are discussed in this paper. The paper also include methods of managing the perennial component of agroforestry system. Economics of some of the successful systems has also been discussed.

INTRODUCTION

Haryana state lies in the Indo-gangetic plains of North-west India. It has 44,212 sq.km of land and 90 per cent of this is in plains and the remaining area is in Shiwalik and Aravalli hills. Yamuna plains in the North and sandy plains in the South and West respectively have 50 per cent and 40 per cent of above land. More than 80 percent of the land is under agriculture. Canal and tube well irrigation is available for 65 per cent of arable land. Two crops per annum are a routine practice in Haryana. The climate of Haryana is arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid. It is sub-tropical, continental and monsoonic type. The range of temperature daily as well as annual is extreme. It varies from 1°C in winter to 47°C in summer. Mean annual average temperature varies from 23°C to 26°C. May and June are the hottest months while December and January are the coldest ones. The normal annual rainfall ranges from 300 mm in the southwestern parts of Bhiwani, Hisar and Sirsa districts to about 1500 mm in the northeastern hilly tract of Ambala district. The mean daily pan evaporation ranges from 2.4 mm in December and January to 13.4 mm in May and June.

ABSTRACT

The paper gives a comprehensive detail of the state with regards to its inception, socio-economic, climatic and edaphic conditions. In addition states agroclimatic zones along with their characteristics have been described in the paper. Extent of agriculture crops, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries and forestry along with their production and contribution to national pool is provided elaborately. Details of agroforestry systems like silvipastoral and agrisilvipastoral for land with very high erosion and hortisilviculture and hortiagrisilviculture, aquaforestry, entomoforestry recommended for land with moderate to low erosion had been explained in details. Significant results obtained in agroforestry research under AICRP on Agroforestry and Horticulture and Agroforestry Research program have also been presented in this paper. Finally some tips to make agroforestry successful and future strategies have been given.

INTRODUCTION

Jharkhand state evolved as 28^th State on 15^th November 2000 from the southern part of Bihar, with a total area of 79.5 lakh ha and population density of 274/Km² consisting of 28 per cent schedule tribes and 12 per cent schedule caste population. A total of 29.61 per cent of the geographical area of the state consists of forest area with 28.4 per cent actual forest cover (Annon., 2001). Most of the forest area of the state consists of mines, which do not allow any agriculture. The continued large-scale mining operations of Coal and Iron ore are generating serious threats for the area coming under down streams. The areas lying under sharp undulating topography are under threats of soil erosion, which in turn affect the low lying water body’s carrying capacity i.e. due to continuous siltation, all such anomalies emphasizes the need to improve the water and land use efficiency in order to ensure better storage and retention of the rain water, for improving the productivity of the land.

ABSTRACT

Orissa is traditionally an agrarian state. It is endowed with vast natural resources, diversified agro-edaphic conditions,rich flora and fauna, wide range of land holdings, various socio-cultural groups and people with multiple economic strata. These factors have led to evolve a variety of agroforestry systems and practices. The traditional agroforestry systems which are prevailing in the state since time immemorial are broadly agrisilvicultural, silvipastoral and agrisilvipastoral systems. The prominent agrisilvicultural systems include podu/jhum cultivation, multipurpose trees on farm lands, multiple species tree gardens and agroforestry for fuel wood production. The important silvipastoral systems are trees on pasture, fodder trees and shrubs on forest land and live fence of fodder trees and shrubs. The very old agrihortisilvicultural system prevailing in the state is homegarden. Interventions of Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology and various Government and Non-Government agencies have resulted in the development of some improved agroforestry practices in recent years. Some of the improved agroforestry practices are Acacia mangium based agrisilvicultural practices, Guava based agrisilvicultural practices, coconut based agroforestry practices, Eucalyptus (Clonal) based agrisilvicultural practices, windbreaks, timber tree based agrisilvicultural practices, Sesbania grandiflora based agrisilvicultural practice, Acacia mangium based silvipastoral system, mangium-guava based silvipastoral practices, improved homegardens, commercial block plantations on farmlands and apisilvicultural practice.

ABSTRACT

West Bengal is the gateway to North-East and has diverse vegetation and social strata. The paper presents the agroclimatic zones of the state along with their characteristic features. The scenario with regard to agriculture, forest cover and livestock shows that practicing agroforestry is the need of the state. For the sake of convenience the state has been divided into two parts: south Bengal and north Bengal. In the tribal dominated parts of the state home gardens are prevalent. Possible interventions in the present land use along with strategies to increase tree cover under agroforestry has also been discussed.

INTRODUCTION

Cultivation of tree species and agricultural crops in intimate combination had been a practice through out the world at one period or another. Trees were integral and important component of the farming system. However, in the middle ages the concept changed and agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry were separated under a monoculture management system. This in long run led to an incredible reduction in forest cover and ecological imbalance. Scientists and managers once again began to think about changing the land use system and integrating trees with agriculture crops (Panwar et al., 2004). In India, research work on agroforestry was initiated during the late 1970’s by Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi; Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Dehradun; Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur and ICAR Research Complexes in isolation. National commission on agriculture also emphasized starting of agroforestry education in all agriculture university. The formal research activities related to agroforestry started in a big way with the initiation of All India Coordinated Research Project on Agroforestry (AICRPAF) from 7^th Feb., 1983 with 20 centers, of which 12 were in State Agricultural Universities and rest in ICAR Institutes. Later more centers were added. The major emphasis was to have research centers in all the major ecological zones of India. In this venture in the first phase AICRPAF was initiated in West Bengal at Jhargram, Distt. Midnapore under the auspices of the then only Agricultural University in West Bengal - Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur representing Humid and Subhumid zone of West Bengal.

ABSTRACT

Agroecologically the state is divided into 13 zones based on altitudinal variations, precipitation pattern, soil type and topographic features. Land use systems that integrate woody perennials with other life forms abound in all these zones, along with a great diversity of trees and field crops. Although these practices are apparently specific to the topographic and edaphic factors, a complex pattern of overlapping which transgresses over a wide range of agroecological zones is obvious. An attempt is made to describe the important agroforestry systems of Kerala, both traditional as well as those potentially suitable.

INTRODUCTION

The state of Kerala with many woody perennial-based land use practices is often regarded as the “Mecca” of agroforestry. Most of these are, however, traditional systems evolved over centuries of cultural and biological transformations and may represent the accrued wisdom and insights of farmers who have interacted with environment, without access to exogenous inputs, capital or scientific skills. Over long periods in the history of land use in these highly populated humid tropical lands, such diverse land use systems have apparently remained as engines of food security, besides sourcing multiple products and services including certain intangible benefits (e.g., microclimatic modification, soil and water conservation); thus providing the rationale for the co-existence of an array of pluralistic land use orders often in close juxtaposition with one another. Yet another plausible explanation for the occurrence of many diverse woody perennial-based systems and practices over a relatively small geographical range is perhaps the brute heterogeneity of the Kerala landscape.

ABSTRACT

Tamil Nadu, the southern most state of India has 8 per cent of the country’s population and its net sown area is only 4-5 per cent of the country’s area. The state is endowed with varied physiography from hills to coastal lands and hence varied agroclimatic and edaphic conditions. This paper details the characteristics of different agroclimate and provides varied perennial and annual components being practiced in different combinations in these agroforestry systems.

INTRODUCTION

Land is a major non renewable natural resource. With the increase in population, the demand of land for all activities increases. The requirement of food, fibre, fodder and fuel of the ever increasing population has to be met with the finite land resources. In India, the pattern of land use in agriculture and forestry took a drastic turn during the period from fifties to eighties. Conservation, development and management of the available land is basic for ensuring food, ecological, environmental and economic security of our country. Tamil Nadu’s population is around 8 per cent of the total country and the net sown area is only a meager 4-5 per cent of that of the country. With the ever increasing population and expanding industrialization, steps need to be taken to utilize the land to the optimum extent possible and to identify and utilize lands effectively and efficiently in order to make full use of their maximum capability.

ABSTRACT

Arunachal Pradesh, the largest state of North-East India is unique state of the country in the sense that its altitude range between 70 – 7000 m, have 26 major tribes besides 110 sub-tribes, have 82 per cent of its land under forest and most of the area is under the control of local tribes which practice shifting cultivation. The paper presents the potentialities of agroforestry in Arunachal Pradesh. The different agroforestry systems prevailing in the state are also given in detail. Agroforestry systems which are scientifically tested and the direction in which research are to be done in future to extend agroforestry has also been presented.

INTRODUCTION

Indian Eastern Himalaya, covers the states of Assam, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya (Kukreti, 2000). The erstwhile North East Frontier Agency, now Arunachal Pradesh, the largest state among the North-eastern states of India lies at latitude 26°28’-29°30 N and longitude 91°30’- 97°30 E with a geographical area of 83,743 km². The human population of the state is 10,91,113 (GOI, 2002). The recorded forest area in the state is 68602 km² which is 82.0 per cent of the geographical area of Arunachal Pradesh (Kukreti, 2000). The forest cover in the state forms the highest amongst all the states of the country and state is least densely populated. The state is bounded by Bhutan to the west, Myanmar to the east, China to the north and north east, and the plains of Assam to the south. There are 26 major tribes and 110 sub tribes which inhabit different parts of the state, with a life style totally dependent on the forest resources. Moreover, almost all the major tribes and sub tribes has been practicing shifting cultivation from the ancient time in this region which is integral part of sociocultural life of the tribal people.

ABSTRACT

Assam has been divided into six agroclimatic zones on the basis of soil, climate, terrain and vegetation. It comprises of Brahmaputra plain zone to Hill zone. The paper deals with the traditional agroforestry systems prevailing in all these agroclimatic zones along with the research activities which are going on in Assam. Salient research achievements with respect to tree-crop compatibility are given at the end of the chapter. Impact of agroforestry research on farmers of Assam in terms of adoption is also given.

INTRODUCTION

Assam, one of the eastern states of India, lies between 240 N and 28018’ N latitudes and 8904’ E and 960 E longitudes. The state is surrounded by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh in the north, Nagaland, Manipur and a part of Arunachal Pradesh in the east, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya in the south and West Bengal in the west. The state is endowed with abundant fertile land and water sources with a total geographical area of 78,523 km² with population density of 318 per square kilometer.

ABSTRACT

Bihar is a state whose economy is solely dependent on agriculture. Though it has deep fertile land of alluvial origin, still agriculture of this state is facing problems due to frequent flooding. Population pressure on forest had led to creation of large extent of degraded lands. Agroforestry seems to be one of the viable option to avert these adverse conditions. Traditionally people used to integrate trees in farm lands in different forms. However, green revolution reduced these practices. The present paper provides a detailed account of prevalent agroforestry practices in Bihar. Results of different agroforestry systems which had been researched under AICRP on Agroforestry in Bihar since 1987 are also given in this paper.

INTRODUCTION

Bihar, the twelth largest state of India is bound on the north by Nepal, south by Jharkhand, east by West Bengal and on the west by Uttar Pradesh. The state lies between 24° 20’10″ to 27° 31’15″ N latitude and between 83° 19’50" to 88° 17’40"E longitude at an elevation of 53.12 m above the mean sea level and comprises an area of 93595.68 sq.km. The topography of Bihar is practically plain. The whole of the Bihar plain is traversed by a number of fairly large rivers, viz., Ganga, Ghagra, Kosi, Bagmati, Burhi Gandak, Kamla balan etc. which cause intermittent floods and engulf several districts of Bihar each year.

ABSTRACT

In the state of Meghalaya, forests are being degraded by age-old practice of shifting agriculture by native tribes and other human activities. Agroforestry has a great potential both from the point of view of restoration and maintenance of soil fertility and to increase agriculture production. The traditional system of agriculture in the state is primitive, labour intensive and dependent on rainfall. The proportion of space occupied by the tree and crop components in the traditional system largely depends upon factors like soil types, plant species and crop arrangements. The common traditional systems practiced in the state may be grouped under agrisilviculture, agrihorticulture, silvihorticulture, pastoralsilviculture and pastoralhorticulture. Agroforestry systems can play an important role in soil conservation and improvement in moisture and nutrient levels through efficient cycling of nutrients, which in turn would enhance agriculture production. The analysis of different agroforestry systems in the state of Meghalaya suggests that further improvement of the existing systems may yield high productivity and make them more sustainable.

INTRODUCTION

Agroforestry is an ideal scientific approach to tackle the problems of degraded lands and to bring about eco-restoration and maintenance of soil resources. The significance of tree based land use systems in general and agroforestry in particular, has been realized in improving the economy of farmers having small land holdings (Chauhan and Dhyani 1990, Beer et al 1990, Fisher 1990, Dhyani and Tripathi 1999). The fertility of soils can be improved under the influence of tree cover, which checks erosion, contributes to accumulation of organic matter content, adds nitrogen through symbiotic N-fixation by leguminous or actinorrhizal trees and continuously replenishes the nutrients through effective recycling mechanisms. It offers a practical means of achieving greater outputs and at the same time maintains soil fertility that ultimately helps in increasing productivity of agricultural crops and trees.

ABSTRACT

Mizoram is predominantly a hilly state where people have been practicing agroforestry in a variety of forms from traditional shifting (jhum) cultivation to the most scientific-induced agroforestry models. However, ‘jhum’ still remains the main form of land use even though it is known to cause severe soil, water and biodiversity erosion and low crop productivity. The induced agroforestry practices carried out in Miozram have the ability to replace shifting cultivation but these systems again are not properly designed to tackle various biophysical, socio-cultural and economic need of the people, resulting in their poor acceptability. The paper reviews various agroforestry systems prevailing in Mizoram and details some ongoing agroforestry research trials in the State.

The words ‘system’, ‘sub-system’ & ‘practice’ are commonly used in agroforestry literature. In a broad sense, a system is defined as a group of associated elements forming a unified whole and working together in a well-defined regular relation for a common goal. An agroforestry system refers to a type of agroforestry land-use that extends over a locality to the extent of forming a land utilization type of the locality. Sub-system and practice are lower-order terms in the hierarchy with lesser magnitudes of role, content and complexity. However, these terms are used loosely, and almost synonymously.

Classification of agroforestry systems is necessary in order to understand and provide a practical framework for evaluating systems and developing action plans for their improvement. Any classification scheme should satisfy the following criteria (Nair, 2008).

The words ‘system’, ‘sub-system’ and ‘practice’ are commonly used in agroforestry literature. In a broad sense, a system is defined as a group of associated elements forming a unified whole and working together in a well defined regular relation for a common goal. An agroforestry system refers to a type of agroforestry land-use that extends over a locality to the extent of forming a land utilization type of the locality. Sub-system and practice are lower-order terms in the hierarchy with lesser magnitudes of role, content and complexity. However, these terms are used loosely, and almost synonymously.

Classification of agroforestry systems is necessary in order to understand and provide a practical framework for evaluating systems and developing action plans for their improvement. Any classification scheme should satisfy the following criteria (Nair, 2008).