World Congress on Agroforestry, New Delhi 10 th February 2014 Livelihood diversification through agroforestry in semi arid regions of India JVNS Prasad Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad
Jul 11, 2015
World Congress on Agroforestry, New Delhi10th February 2014
Livelihood diversification through
agroforestry in semi arid regions of
India
JVNS Prasad
Central Research Institute for Dryland
Agriculture, Hyderabad
Distribution of Semi arid regions in India
Regions Arid
regi
ons
Semi arid
regions
Dry
sub
humid
regionsDry Moist
Geograp
hical area
coverage
19% 12% 25.9% 21.1%
Mean
Annual
Rainfall
<500
mm
500-
700
mm
700-
1100
mm
1100-
1600
mm
Growing
Season
Upto
75
days
75-100
days
120
days
150
days
Tree based systems provides several products
and meets diversified needs of communities
in semi arid regions
Product Contribution in percentage
Fuelwood 50
Green fodder 10
Small timber 66
Pulpwood 60
Plywood 70-80
Source of Medicines for tribal systems
(Dhyani et al., 2013)
Tree systems provide stability during years of severe drought
System Leucaena fodder yield
(t/ ha)
Crop yield
Grain (t/ha) Stover (t/ha)
Sole Leucaena 5.75 - -
Sole Groundnut - 0 1.67
Sole Mungbean - 0 0.68
Sole urdbean - 0 0.47
Alley crops
Groundnut 5.24 0 1.26
Mungbean 5.56 0 0.25
Urdbean 6.03 0 0.22
RAJKOT-Rainfall -177 (120 mm during the rainy season) vs. 625 mm average
Traditional agroforestry systems in semi arid regions
Location Prevalent Systems Preferred tree species
Hisar Scattered trees in the
farming systems
Prosopis cineraria, Acacia nilotica, Ailanthes excelsa
Zyzyphus, Psidium and Mangifera
Rahuri Silvipasture Acacia sps., Leucaena, A. indica, Prosopis
Mangifera, Punica granatum
Jhansi Agrisilviculture,
Agrihorticulture,
Silvipasture
A.indica, Albizia lebbeck, Madhuka latifolia,
Zyzyphus mauritiana, Emblica officinalis,
Parbhani Silvipasture,
Agrisilviculture, Bund
plantation
Acacia nilotica, Azadirachta indica, Tectona grandis
Zyzyphus mauritiana, Annona squamosa, Mangifera
indica
Nagpur Agrisilviculture
Trees on farm bunds
Acacia nilotica, Leucaena, Eucalyptus, Leucaena,
Mangifera indica, Citrus sps., Psidium
Hyderabad Agrihorticulture Acacia sp., Leucaena, Tectona
Mangifera indica, Annona squamosa, Tamarindus
(Pathak et al, 2000)
Agroforestry systems recommended for various SAT regions
Location Recommended AF systems
Hisar (Trans
gangetic plain zone)
Eucalyptus hybrid + Maize; Poplar+ Gram/wheat
Mango + maize; Emblica Officinalis + groundnut
Central plateau and
hills region
Azadirachta indica + groundnut, Acacia nilotica
+Sorghum/gram, Citrus + gram; Pomegranate +lentil,
Emblica+ redgram
Western plateau
and hills region
Acacia+ sorghum; Azadirachta + groundnut; Dalbergia +
gram;
Zizyphus + groundnut; Anona + sorghum; Emblica +
pigeonpea; Pomegranate + lentil/mustard
Southern plateau
and hills region
Tamarindus + chilli/tomato/curry leaf; Ailanthes +
cowpea/sesamum/sorghum/Pearlmillet
Albizia lebbeck + cowpea/sesamum/sorghum
Gujarat plains and
hills region
Azadirachta + groundnut; Acacia nilotica + cotton
Zizyphus mauritiana + groundnut; Emblica officinalis +
cotton; Punica granatum + pulses
Large scale adoption of the following systems is observed
S No Agroforestry system Area of adoption
1 Agrihorticulture systems
(Mango, Pome granate,
Sweet orange, Aonla, Ber)
Large areas in AP, Karnataka,
Maharashtra, etc.
2 Eucalyptus based systems AP, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra
3 Leucaena based systems Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra
4 Casuarina based system Tamilandu, AP
5 Ailanthes based system Gujarat, Tamilandu
6 Wadi system Tribal areas of Gujarat, Karnataka,
Maharashtra
7 Scattered trees in farms Through out Rainfed region
The total area under agroforestry in India is reported to be about
25.32 m ha out of which 7 m ha in irrigated regions and 13 m ha in
rainfed regions which is about 8% of the TRGA (Dhyani et al., 2013)
Amla + green gram
Agrihorti systems are profitable and provide stable income
Mango based agrihorti systems provide
net returns up to Rs. 46,250 with a benefit
cost ratio up to 6.3:1 by 10 nth year
Aonla based systems can provide net
returns to the tune of Rs.64632 with a
benefit cost ratio of 6.2:1 by 6 th year
Intercropping in horticulture systems
enhances the income substantially
particulalrly during the early years
Integrating small ruminants in grown up
Mango plantation can enhance the returns
substantially
Significant scope for yield improvement exists in horti
systems by adopting various practices
Crop Management practices Improvement
in fruit yields
References
Mango RDF + vermicompost + Azotobacter +
PSB + Zn + Fe + paclobutrazol
66% Yadav et
al.(2011)
Mango Drip irrigation at 75% pan evaporation
replenishment.
65% Kumar et
al.(2008)
Guava Removal of 33% of current season’s
shoot growth
99% Prakash et
al.(2012)
Aonla FYM + NPK 86 % Singh et
al.(2012)
Aonla Foliar application of 2% calcium nitrate
+ 2% urea
44 % Bisen et al
(2011)
Pome
granate
Application of Nitrogen and Potassium @
500g/plant
53 % Kashyap et
al.(2012)
Ber RDF + vermicompost + and foliar spray
of thiourea @ 0.5%
64 % Mishra et al.
(2011)
Ber Foliar spray of 0.3-0.6% borax and 0.2-
0.4% zinc sulphate
68 % Kumar and
Shukla (2010)
Short rotation forestry systems are remunerative
Agroforestry
system
Tree
densit
y/ ha
Extent of improvement
in profitability over sole
crop (%)
Eucalyptus +
intercrop
1666 362 (Rs 22085/ ha/year)
Leucaena +
intercrop
4444 287 (Rs 22085/ ha/year)
Sole eucalyptus 1666 293 (Rs 20215/ ha/year)
Sole leucaena 4444 242 (Rs 16406/ ha/year)
Sole casuarina 10000 Rs 20106/ ha/year
Yield enhancement is possible in pulpwood systems by
adopting improved management practices
Panicum maximum in Eucalyptus
Groundnut in Leucaena
Intercropping in wider rows of eucalyptus
enhances intercrop and tree productivity and
significantly enhance returns
Fertiliser application in eucalyptus enhances
the standing volume by 54%
Quality seeds and good variety in leucaena
Enhances the productivity by 40%
Rhizobium inoculation in leucaena reported to
Improve tree growth and productivity
Weed control during the initial stages of
Eucalyptus contribute to establishment and
Enhances productivity
Wadi system in tribal regions
Wadi is a small orchard of one or two
acres with crops
About 80,000 ha is under wadi system and the area is expanding
Staggered income over long term
though plantation of forest species on
the boundaries
Institutional building by formation of
cooperatives
Support for processing and marketing
of farm produceForestry on the boundary of wadi
Established mango in wadi
Slope:<15%: Bunding Slope: >15%: Tree Platforms
Successful tree establishment is the first step in successful tree farming in wadi system
Emphasis should be to enhance the survival of tree systems in rainfed systems
Teak (Tectona grandis) on bunds
Large number of farmers have planted teak ( Tectona grandis) on field boundaries
In Andhra Pradesh alone about 5 crores of saplings were planted during 2012-13
How do we scaleup these systems further
By integrating with the area based developmental programmes
such as
Watershed management programs
MGNREGA
NHM
Indira Prabha
Microirrigation projects
Institutional support is available for taking up these systems in
the form of supply of quality planting material, support for the
purchase of inputs, aftercare, provision of irrigation facilities,
How can we increase income to the communities by enhancing productivity/ adding value to the tree based products
•Creation of backward and forward linkages for fruit systems will enhance incomes of the communities
•Quality planting material plays an important role for productivity and returns (eg: mango)
•Greater access to micro irrigation systems can play a key role for enhancing the productivity
•Removal of restrictions on harvest and transport of farm grown wood ( eg: teak and bamboo)
•Providing minimum support price to wood
•Providing institutional finance for pulpwood systems
Conclusions
Some of the agroforestry systems are highly profitable
resulting in large scale adoption
There is further scope for enhancing the productivity by
adoption of recommended management practices
The impact of tree systems can be further enhanced by
scaling up by linking with area based developmental
programs
Stable markets for trees/ tree products and removal of
restrictions on harvest and transport of farm grown wood
is key for the success of tree systems in the long run