Agroforestry as a Strategy for Livelihood Security in the Rainfed Areas: Experience and Expectations

Abstract

Agroforestry in rainfed areas increases livelihood security through simultaneous production of food, fodder, and firewood, and an increase in total productivity per unit area of land. Management of trees in conjunction with crops in rainfed areas minimizes the risk associated with stress period through diversified components and through efficient utilization of limited natural resources. The major objective of agroforestry in rainfed areas is gainful utilization of off-season precipitation, income stabilization, soil and water conservation, insurance against weather aberrations and mitigation of climate change. In India, agroforestry practices in rainfed agriculture have been used to manage scattered trees on farm lands, trees on farm bunds, wood lots as block plantations, trees on range lands, and vegetative live hedges for ecological, social, and economic functions. To enhance rural livelihood security among the dryland farmers, several improved agroforestry systems, commercial plantations and biofuels and bioenergy systems came into being for adoption. Agroforestry plantation-based success stories reveal livelihood security of small, marginal, and landless farmers. Steps to promote basic and promotional agroforestry research in dryland agriculture and appropriate policy responses with extension outreach may potentially deliver better results in rainfed agriculture. Rainfed agroforestry for livelihood security reflects the positive way in utilization of rainfed area resources.

Land and water conservation technologies for building carbon positive villages in India

“…Agroforestry systems can remove significant amounts of GHGs from atmosphere through increased carbon storage in biomass aboveground and belowground and in soil organic carbon (Goswami et al, 2014). Tree systems provide multiple benefits when integrated in to landscapes and provide enhanced returns to farmers, stabilise productivity and imparts resilience to production systems, minimise risk for agricultural production and provides environmental services (Korwar et al, 2014). Agroforestry systems help improve farmer livelihood by mitigating global warming and enhancing carbon sequestration (Ajit et al, 2013).…”

Impact of agroforestry on livelihood improvement of the farmers of Koraput District Odisha

“…Dagar and Tewari (2016) reviewed research developments in agroforestry during past four decades, stated that the tress that are grown in agricultural fields or on fields bunds are also often and usually grown on farm boundaries. Pathak et al, (2014) and Korwar et al, (2014) have also dealt in detail the plantations on bunds for Rainfed areas of India.…”

A framework for profitability evaluation of agroforestry‐based biofuel value chains: An application to pongamia in India

“…Pongamia ( Millettia pinnata ) is a leguminous, drought‐resistant oilseed tree native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia but now distributed pantropically (CABI, ; GBIF Secretariat, ; Meena Devi, Vijayalakshmi, & Nagendra Prasad, ; Murphy et al, ). It is particularly cultivated throughout India (Altenburg et al, ; Kesari & Rangan, ; Korwar et al, ). Its nonedible seed oil can be processed to biodiesel for use in engines (Karmee & Chadha, ; Naik, Meher, Naik, & Das, ; Raheman & Phadatare, ), while the oil is traditionally used as a lamp fuel, and for medicinal and industrial applications (Meena Devi et al, ; Sangwan, Rao, & Sharma, ).…”