Impact of agroforestry parklands on crop yield and income generation: case study of rainfed farming in the semi-arid zone of Sudan

Abstract

National food security has been a major policy goal in Sudan since the country gained its independence in 1956. One of the fundamental reasons is to ensure the social welfare for people living in rural areas. In this study we aimed to analyse how farmers secure their food and generate income in the semi-arid Sennar State in Sudan, using two selected sites, El Dali and El Mazmum, as examples. We interviewed 281randomly sampled household heads, of which 145 at El Dali and 136 at El Mazmum, between July and November 2011. We identified four distinct land use systems, of which three consist of monocropping and one of cultivation in agroforestry parklands. Several statistical techniques and economic analysis were applied on the study data. Our results show that, in the two areas, the highest average yields over a ten-year period for the three crops studied, sorghum, pearl millet and sesame, were achieved in agroforestry system,except for the case of sesame at El Mazmum. Economic returns for the farmers, as indicated by net present value or benefit/cost ratio, followed the same pattern. The study concludes that farmers should rely moreon agroforestry to improve their food security and cash income generation. Land use and land right policies, which currently discourage farmers from growing trees on their lands, should be revised, so as to give more incentive to them to adopt ecologically and economically more sustainable land use practices.

Agroforestry Systems for Soil Health Improvement and Maintenance

“…Thus, bamboo-based agroforestry could be used to enhance productivity and economic returns in semi-arid areas of India. Increased average yields for sesame, pear millet, and sorghum were observed in parkland agroforestry areas over a ten-year period in the semi-arid areas of Sudan, and land tenure reforms were needed to influence farmers to retain more trees in parklands [85].…”

Role of Acacia seyal on Selected Soil Properties and Sorghum Growth and Yield: A Case Study of Guba Lafto District, North Wollo, Ethiopia

“…Among the different existing options, agroforestry is one of the environmentally friendly approaches that help farmland soil improve and checked for smallholder farmers [9,11]. It has many provisional, regulating, and cultural services, considered as climate-resilient and adaptation mechanisms [12][13][14][15].…”

“…It has many provisional, regulating, and cultural services, considered as climate-resilient and adaptation mechanisms [12][13][14][15]. Maintenance and improving existing practices and incorporation of multipurpose trees (MPTs) on farms are recognized as critical interventions to increase agricultural productivity in a sustainable way [9,11]. Trees are advantageous for protecting environmental degradation, reducing external input costs, generally considered as a means for organic farming which assures agricultural sustainability [16].…”

Alley Cropping Increases Land Use Efficiency and Economic Profitability Across the Combination Cultivation Period

“…Rahman et al confirmed that agroforestry practices presented clear differences in net economic income between different tree species or crops [18]. Peanut, millet and sorghum are cultivated in more than 50% of agroforestry systems in Sudan, but the greatest benefit over a 10-year period is achieved in the tree/sorghum, /pearl millet, and /sesame agroforestry systems [45]. Ngwira et al reported that a main crop intercropped with other crops produced completely different income levels through contrast tests [46].…”