AGRO-FORESTRYaugmenting crop productivity

Prepared By: Amit Chaudhary IAAS,Lamjung Nepal

INTRODUCTION Old Art but new Science

Diversified farming system

Efficient land use system

Systems of Agro-forestry

Agri-silviculture Silvi-pastureAgri-silvipasture

Taungya system Silvo-Fishery system Shifting Cultivation

Advantages of Agro-forestry System Reduction of pressure in ForestConservation of biodiversity Reduction of soil erosion proper recycling of nutrient Improvement of microclimate Increment in factors of incomereduce loss due to crop failure Beneficial products like firewood

grasses,fodder,timber, medicinal plants Good supply of adequate nutrients carbon sequestration & mitigation of the climate change

Limitations

• Competition between trees & crops for light, space &

nutrients

• Trees are the major hosts of insects, pests that harms the

crops

• Requires more input , budget , manpower & time

• Requires technical knowledge to establish agroforestry

Tree Crop Interaction Beneficial to shade loving plants Nutrient recycling Wind breaks Shelter for pests Trees & crop roots bind soil Control pollination

Agro-forestry increasing Crop Productivity Prevention & control of soil erosion & landslide Nutrient cycling: - Release and recycling of nutrients - carbon through carbon sequestration. - Nitrogen fixation trees - Leaf litter Increase OM - Geen manuringMicrobial activity: - Mycorrhiza & phosphate solubilizing bacteria - Rhizobium bacteria Land Utilization: - Wasteland & degraded land utilization - Afforestation technique

Crop Protection: - Crop protection from frost and weather change - Wind break - decreases the incidence of pest and diseasesEstablishment of micro-climate: -provides shade for shade loving plants - maintains temperature and light penetration - increases precipitation by 10% - and decreases temperature by 3-8%

Maintaining soil nutrients: - Lesser Evaporation & efficient nutrient utilization - Tree roots absorbs heavy materials like Arsenic - Green manuring -Mulching

Fig: Turmeric under shade of Mango orchard Fig: Coffee under shade of timber trees

Crop Productivity

Organic matter

Nitrogen fixation

Shade and Moisture

Wind breakers

Research and Development Activities

Nepal Agroforestry Foundation (NAF) : Collaboration with Action Aid Nepal, Poverty Alleviation Nepal, National

Agricultural Research Development Fund, Nepal etc. Running projects like”right based Approach on food security and gender

equity”, “Domestication high value MAPs( Medicinal & Aromatic plants) for promotion of Agroforestry system & sustainable economic development of Nepal”.

IUCN(International Union for Conservation of Nature):It is the world’s oldest & largest global environmental organization that is

continuing 5 year project since 1st April 2013 to 31st March 2018 at Kabhre palanchok & Lamjung district funded by ACIAR(Australian Centre for International Agriculture . The title of project is “ Enhanching livelihoods & food security from Agroforestry & Community forest in Nepal”.

ICRAF ECA(World Aroforestry Centre’s East & Central Asia regional Office):• “Distribution of Lapsi in the Himalayas” &“Spatial

Modelling of climate change impacts on two major cash crops( Banana & Coffee) in Nepal”

.

References www. naf.org www.iucn.org www.worldforestry.org lecture note of agroforestry of Bsc.ag 5th sem,Prof. Dr. Khem Raj Neupane,Department of Horticulture,AFU, Rampur, Chitwan class note of Agroforestry 7th sem , prepared by Murai Raj joshi (KAFCOL), Koteshwor,Kathmandu, NepalDwivedi A.P.(2012),Agroforestry Principles & Practices, Oxford &

IBH publishing company Pvt. Limited, New Delhi, pp. (1-65)

A Poplar tree planted by volunteers….. Though small now, these trees can help reviving the land…

Thank You…..