Current Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Doubling Farmers’ Income through Populus deltoides-based Agroforestry Systems in Northwestern India:An Economic Analysis


Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi 285 003, India
2 Department of Forestry, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 125 004, India
 

There is widespread use of poplar in pulp and paper, match splints, pencil and plywood industries, in northern India. The practice of closer spacing geometry with compact block in poplar cultivation does not permit intercropping from the third year onwards, which discourages small landholders. In 2008, poplar was planted at the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India in three spacing geometries of 5 × 4 m, 10 × 2 m and 18 × 2 × 2 m (paired row) at a constant density of 500 trees ha–1. In the present study, two cropping rotations (sorghum– berseem and cowpea–wheat) were intercropped in all three spacing geometries of poplar (up to eight years of rotation), and compared with sole cropping as a control. The results showed that yield of annual crops reduced considerably over the years due to enhancing competition for light, moisture and nutrients. The overall yields of annual crops in various spacing geometries of poplar were reduced by 5.67% in the second year to 45.59% in eight years of plantation. The study resulted in 10 × 2 m spacing of poplar with sorghum– berseem crop rotation exhibiting the highest net returns (Rs 1,191,241 ha–1), NPV @ 12% discounting (Rs 409,673 ha–1), B : C ratio (1 : 2.22), IRR (70%), highest land equivalent ratio (2.28) and land expectation value (Rs 2,242,372 ha–1). In the study, LER and LEV calculated to increase the efficiency and adoptability of agroforestry systems. Therefore, on the basis of economics, the present study concludes that the intercropping of sorghum–berseem and cowpea– wheat in poplar planted at a spacing of 10 × 2 m is more profitable and helpful in doubling farmers’ income over traditional agriculture in northwestern India.

Keywords

Agroforestry, Economics, Intercropping, Land Equivalent Ratio, Poplar.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Koshal, A. K., Changing current scenario of rice–wheat system in Indo-Gangetic plain region of India. Int. J. Sci. Res. Publ., 2014, 4, 1–13.

  • Panwar, P., Chauhan, S. K., Kaushal, R., Das, D. K., Ajit, Arora, G. and Chaturvedi, O. P., Carbon sequestration potential of poplarbased agroforestry using the CO2 FIX model in the IndoGangetic region of India. Trop. Ecol., 2017, 58, 439–447.

  • Bhatta, R., Kukal, S. S., Busari, M. A., Arora, S. and Yadav, M., Sustainability issues on rice–wheat cropping system. Int. Soil Water Conserv. Res., 2016, 4, 64–74.

  • Chavan, S. B. et al., Trees for life: creating sustainable livelihood in Bundelkhand region of Central India. Curr. Sci., 2016, 11, 994– 1002.

  • Mbow, C., Smith, P., Skole, D., Duguma, L. and Bustamante, M., Achieving mitigation and adaptation to climate change through sustainable agroforestry practices in Africa. Curr. Opin. Environ. Sustain., 2014, 6, 8–14.

  • Chavan, S. B., Keerthika, A., Dhyani, S. K., Handa, A. K., Ram Newaj and Rajarajan, K., National Agroforestry Policy in India: a low hanging fruit. Curr. Sci., 2015, 108, 1826–1834.

  • Chaturvedi, O. P., Handa, A. K., Uthappa, A. R., Sridhar, K. B., Kumar, N., Chavan, S. B. and Rizvi, J., Promising Agroforestry Tree Species in India, Jhansi, Central Agroforestry Research Institute; Jhansi and New Delhi, World Agroforestry Centre South Asia Regional Programme, 2017.

  • Chauhan, S. K., Sharma, R. and Dhillon, W. S., Status of intercropping in poplar based agroforestry in India. For. Bull., 2012, 12, 49–67.

  • ICFRE, Country report on poplars and willows period: 2008 to 2011. National Poplar Commission of India, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun, 2012.

  • Dwivedi, R. P., Kareemulla, K., Ramesh Singh, Rizvi R. H. and Jitendra Chauhan, Socio-economic analysis of agroforestry systems in western Uttar Pradesh. Indian Res. J. Extens. Educ., 2007, 7, 18–21.

  • Chaturvedi, O. P. and Pandey, I. B., Yield and economics of Populus deltoides G3 Marsh based inter-cropping system in eastern India. Forest, Trees Livelihood, 2001, 11, 207–216.

  • Deswal, A. K., Neeraj Pawar, Raman, R. S., Yadav, J. N. and Yadav, V. P. S., Poplar (Populus deltoides) based agroforestry system: a case study of southern Haryana. Ann. Biol., 2014, 30, 699–701.

  • HFDC, Purchase price of trees of different species. Haryana Forest Development Corporation, Panchkula, Haryana, 2016; http://www.hfdc.gov.in/purchase_price.html.

  • Klemperer, W. D., Forest Resource Economics and Finance, Blacksburg, VA, USA, 2003.

  • Willey, R. S., Intercropping – its importance and research needs, Part 1. Competition and yield advantages. Field Crop Abstr., 1979, 32, 1–10.

  • Panse, V. C. and Sukhatme, P. V., Statistical Methods for Agricultural Workers. ICAR Publication, New Delhi, India, 1989, 4th edn.

  • Ajit, Das, D. K., Chaturvedi, O. P., Nighat Jabeen and Dhyani, S. K., Predictive models for dry weight estimation of above and below ground biomass components of Populus deltoides in India: Development and comparative diagnosis. Biomass Bioenerg., 2011, 35, 1145–1152.

  • Chauhan, S. K. Gupta, N., Walia, R., Yadav, S., Chauhan, R. and Mangat, P. S., Biomass and carbon sequestration potential of poplar-wheat intercropping system in irrigated agro-ecosystem in India. J. Agric. Sci. Technol. A, 2011, 1, 575–586.

  • Singh, B., Gill, R. I. S. and Gill, P. K., Soil fertility under various tree species and poplar-based agroforestry system. J. Res. Punjab Agric Univ., 2010, 47, 160–164.

  • Chauhan, S. K., Sharma, S. C., Beri, V., Ritu, Yadav, S. and Gupta, N., Yield and carbon sequestration potential of wheat (Triticum aestivum) – poplar (Populus deltoides) based agri-silvicultural system. Indian J. Agric. Sci., 2010, 80, 129–135.

  • Nandal, D. P. S. and Hooda, M. S., Production potential some of agricultural crops under different spacing of poplar. Indian J. Agrofor., 2005, 7, 16–20.

  • Prasad, J. V. N. S. et al., Tree row spacing affected agronomic and economic performance of Eucalyptus-based agroforestry in Andhra Pradesh, southern India. Agrofor. Syst., 2011, 78, 253– 267.

  • Jain, S. K. and Singh, P., Economic analysis of industrial agroforestry: poplar (Populus deltoides) in Uttar Pradesh (India). Agrofor. Syst., 2000, 49, 255–273.

  • Singh, H. and Mavi, H. K., Economic analysis of poplar-based agroforestry system under riparian wet land conditions of Punjab. Indian J. Econ. Develop., 2016, 12, 191–196.

  • Pande, V. C., Kurothe, R. S., Kumar, G., Singh, H. B. and Tiwari, S. B., Economic assessment of agri-horticulture production systems on reclaimed ravine lands in western India. Agrofor. Syst., 2018, 92, 195.

  • Rao, M. R., Sharma, M. M. and Ong, C. K., A study of the potential of hedgerow intercropping in semiarid India using a two-way systematic design. Agrofor. Syst., 1990, 11, 243–258.

  • Shanmughavel, P. and Francis, K., Intercropping trials of four crops in bamboo plantations. J. Bamboo Rattan, 2001, 1, 3–9.

  • Raddad, E. Y. and Luukkanen, O., The influence of different Acacia senegal agroforestry systems on soil water and crop yields in clay soils of the Blue Nile region, Sudan. Agric. Water Manage., 2007, 87, 61–72.

  • Singh, R., Singh, C., Gulati, A. and Kujur, S., Current status of poplar based agroforestry for economic development: a case study of Haridwar and Yamunanagar districts. Indian For., 2016, 142, 487–492.

  • Singh, M., Sridhar, K. B., Dhiraj Kumar, Uthappa, A. R., Dwivedi, R. P., Inder Dev and Rizvi, R. H., Doubling farmers’ income through agroforestry in north-western India: a policy perspective. Indian J. Agrofor., 2017, 19, 90–95.

  • Kumar, R., Gupta, P. K. and Gulati, A., Viable agroforestry models and their economics in Yamunanagar district of Haryana and Haridwar district of Uttaranchal. Indian For., 2004, 130, 131–148.

  • Rani, S., Arunachalam, R., Benbi, D. K. and Chauhan, S. K., Economic evaluation of different land use systems in northwestern region of Punjab, India. For. Res., 2016, 6, 192.

  • Planning Commission, Report of the Task Force on greening India for livelihood security and sustainable development. Planning Commission, Government of India, 2001, p. 254.


Abstract Views: 375

PDF Views: 117




  • Doubling Farmers’ Income through Populus deltoides-based Agroforestry Systems in Northwestern India:An Economic Analysis

Abstract Views: 375  |  PDF Views: 117

Authors

S. B. Chavan
ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi 285 003, India
R. S. Dhillon
Department of Forestry, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 125 004, India

Abstract


There is widespread use of poplar in pulp and paper, match splints, pencil and plywood industries, in northern India. The practice of closer spacing geometry with compact block in poplar cultivation does not permit intercropping from the third year onwards, which discourages small landholders. In 2008, poplar was planted at the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India in three spacing geometries of 5 × 4 m, 10 × 2 m and 18 × 2 × 2 m (paired row) at a constant density of 500 trees ha–1. In the present study, two cropping rotations (sorghum– berseem and cowpea–wheat) were intercropped in all three spacing geometries of poplar (up to eight years of rotation), and compared with sole cropping as a control. The results showed that yield of annual crops reduced considerably over the years due to enhancing competition for light, moisture and nutrients. The overall yields of annual crops in various spacing geometries of poplar were reduced by 5.67% in the second year to 45.59% in eight years of plantation. The study resulted in 10 × 2 m spacing of poplar with sorghum– berseem crop rotation exhibiting the highest net returns (Rs 1,191,241 ha–1), NPV @ 12% discounting (Rs 409,673 ha–1), B : C ratio (1 : 2.22), IRR (70%), highest land equivalent ratio (2.28) and land expectation value (Rs 2,242,372 ha–1). In the study, LER and LEV calculated to increase the efficiency and adoptability of agroforestry systems. Therefore, on the basis of economics, the present study concludes that the intercropping of sorghum–berseem and cowpea– wheat in poplar planted at a spacing of 10 × 2 m is more profitable and helpful in doubling farmers’ income over traditional agriculture in northwestern India.

Keywords


Agroforestry, Economics, Intercropping, Land Equivalent Ratio, Poplar.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv117%2Fi2%2F219-226