What is Agroforestry?
As per National Agroforestry policy, India, Agroforestry is defined as a land use system which integrates trees and shrubs on farmlands and rural landscapes to enhance productivity, profitability, diversity and ecosystem sustainability.
Agroforestry systems include both traditional and modern land-use systems where trees are managed together with crops and or/ animal production systems in agricultural settings. Through Mono crop culture, we can grow only one type crop. So, we are not able to utilize the land, water, sunlight and other resources. Whereas, Agroforestry is the alternative to Mono crop farming by replacing one crop with multi crops to properly manage the resources like land, water and sunlight.
Why Agroforestry farming?
➢ Ecologically Feasible and Economical viability of farming:
The agroforestry known for tree based farming and multi crops will grow in same piece of land by effectively utilizing land, water and sunlight. Multi crop culture is known for less pest attacks and crop companion benefits. Crop companion is mainly useful for NPK fertilizer fixation in soil. So, we can cut down input costs by reducing fertilizer and pesticide usage in the farm. Further, multi crop farming will help farmers to tackle market fluctuations by compensating with diverse farm produce in their hand. High density agroforestry will enable the micro climate moderation and natural resource conservation in short run and carbon fixation in the long process. So, agroforestry farming is ecologically feasible and economically viable for farmers.
➢ For Increasing green cover:
Encouraging farmers to adopt agroforestry farming is an effective solution to achieve green cover goal of 33% from the present 25% in India rather focusing on massive plantations
➢ For Nutritional Security:
The diverse food crops with minimal usage of fertilizers and pesticides will enhance the nutritional security of the farmers’ families and whole society in long run.
➢ For employment opportunities:
Agroforestry has significant potential to provide employment to rural and urban population through production, industrial application and value addition ventures. Current estimates show that about 65 % of the country’s timber requirement is met from the trees grown on farms.
Our Agro forestry project Location: Duginepally village, Telangana
