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Agroforestry is a land use system that integrates trees, crops and animals in a way that is scientifically sound. It integrates trees and scrubs on formland and rural landscape to enhance productivity, profitability, diversity and Ecosystem sustainability.
Significance :
economic value - it meets almost half of the country's fuelwood needs, about two-third of the small Timber demand, 70-80% of the plywood requirement, 60% of the raw material for the paper pulp industry and 9-11% of the green fodder needs. tree products and tree services also contribute rebustly to rural livelihoods. Fruit, fodder, fuel, Fibres, fertiliser and timber add to food and nutritional security, income generation and work as insurance against crop failure.
Carbon sequestration - Agroforestry is tree-based farming is an established nature based activity that can aid carbon neutral growth. It enhances trees' cover outside forests, works as a surrogate for natural forest sequestering carbon, keeps the pressure off natural forests, and helps increase farmer's income.
Lower consumption of fertilisers - Nitrogen fixing trees grown in Agroforestry systems are capable of fixing about 50-100 kg nitrogen per hectare per year - one of the most promising components of the Agroforestry system. The leaf litter after decompositions forms humus, releases nutrients and improves various soil properties, it also reduces the fertiliser needs. Due to lower requirement of chemical fertilisers Agroforestry can supplement organic farming.
Global climate goals - Agroforestry can also help India meet its International obligations on - Climate creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030 and net zero by 2070. Desertification achieved 26 million hectare of land degradation neutrality by 2030, thus meeting 9 of the 17 sustainable development goals.
Ecology friendly - use of lesser Chemicals will also help in mitigating anthropogenic effects on climate. Agroforestry helps in erosion control and water retention, nutrients recycling, carbon storage, biodiversity Preservation and cleaner air and helps communities withstand extreme weather events.
India's response to Agroforestry :
In 2014, India became the first country to adopt an Agroforestry policy - National Agroforestry policy (NAP) - to promote employment, productivity and environmental conservation.
In 2016, NAP was launched with nearly 1000 crore to transform Agroforestry into a national effect with the tagline: "Har medh par ped" (trees on every field boundary).
In the 22-23 Union budget, the finance Minister of India announced that the government of India would promote Agroforestry.
Issues in adopting Agroforestry :
Lack of information among farmers, Agroforestry has not become a movement it should have. For a long time the subject fell between the cracks of agriculture and Forestry with no ownership by either sector. Most of the farmers are small and marginal, having small fields (less than two hectare). In this area it is economically and spatially Agroforestry is unviable.
How to promote Agroforestry :
Cooperative, self-help groups, farmer-producer Organisations(FPOs) - must be promoted for building capacities to foster the expansion of three based farming and value chain development. It is possible to target at least 10% of the formland to be covered by trees. Policymakers should incorporate Agroforestry in all policies relating to land use and natural resource management and encourage government investments in Agroforestry related infrastructure and in the establishment of Sustainable Enterprises. Scientists and researchers can develop location specific tree based technologies that complement the crop and livestock systems for sustainable livelihoods, factor in gender concern, and incorporate the feedback from the local communities.
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