Current Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Agroforestry Practices in Tamil Nadu, India – A Boon for Farmers for Livelihood Security


Affiliations
1 Silviculture, Forest Management and Agroforestry Division, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (ICFRE), Forest Campus, R.S. Puram, Coimbatore 641 002, India
2 Silviculture, Forest Management and Agroforestry Division, Tropical Forest Research Institute, RFRC (PO), Mandla Road, Jabalpur 482 021, India
 

Agroforestry systems establish a symbiosis among agriculture crops, tree species and raising livestock on the same unit of land. In other words, these are complementary and beneficial to each other. Agroforestry is the system of developing agricultural land in combination with forestry technologies. Agroforestry practices in Tamil Nadu (TN), India, have existed since time immemorial and are evidenced in all parts of the state with less or no scientific management. Agroforestry research is a new field that is getting momentum in recent times due to popularization of industrial agroforestry. In the present context, to meet the national target of forest cover (33%) and to reduce pressure on natural forests, agroforestry plays a vital role and provides additional income to the farming community. This article aims to provide an insight into agroforestry practices in TN, including reasons for opting them, problems faced, etc. It also provides information on agroclimatic zone-wise tree species and agroforestry systems being practised by farmers, central and state government initiatives towards promotion of agroforestry, new technological interventions, etc. for the welfare of the farming community.

Keywords

Agricultural Land, Agroforestry Systems, Farming Community, Economic Upliftment, Technological Interventions.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • NAC, Conservation in a changing climate, USDA National Agroforestry Centre.

  • Jose, S., Agroforestry for ecosystem services and environmental benefits: an overview. Agrofor. Syst., 2009, 76(1), 1–10; doi: 10.1007/s10457-009-9229-7.

  • Jambulingam, R. and Fernandes, E. C. M., Multipurpose trees and shrubs on farmlands in Tamil Nadu State (India). Agrofor. Syst., 1986, 4, 17–32.

  • FSI, India State of Forest Report, Forest Survey of India, Dehra Dun, 2019.

  • MoHA, Census, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India (GoI), 2011.

  • https://www.tn.gov.in/department/2

  • http://bilttreetech.com/about-history.asp

  • National Forest Policy, Ministry of Environment and Forests, GoI, 1988.

  • National Agroforestry Policy, Ministry of Agriculture, GoI, 2014.

  • https://www.forests.tn.gov.in/pages/view/tap

  • https://www.forests.tn.gov.in/pages/view/tcpl

  • http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/forestry/pdf/schemes

  • Saravanan, S., Documentation of agroforestry models in Tamil Nadu. Agro-forestry Project completion report, Department of Forestry, Land Use and Climate Change, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore, India, 2010.

  • Saravanan, S., Documentation of agroforestry systems and wood flow to wood based industries in Tamil Nadu. Project completion report, Department of Forestry, Land Use and Climate Change, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore, 2014.

  • http://www.teaknet.org/images/12-%20Teak%20Farming.pdf

  • Kannan, C. S., Warrier, Manual of Economically Important Forestry Species of South India, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore, 2010.

  • http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/bio-fuels/Biofuel_Neem.html

  • Prabakaran, P., Kumaran, K., Baburaj, L. K., Balaji, S., Mageshram, S., Balakumar, C. and Radhakrishnan, R., Variability studies on seed parameters, oil and azadirachtin content of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Int. J. Curr. Microbiol. Appl. Sci., 2019, 8(5), 339–346.

  • http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/pdf/2013/cpg_horti_2013.pdf

  • Nanjundiah, S. K., Impact of improved horticulture farming technology on farmers’ livelihoods in India, 2015, 10.13140/RG.2.1.2657.8405.

  • Current, D., Lutz, E. and Scherr, S. J., The costs and benefits of agroforestry to farmers. World Bank Res. Observ., 1995, 10(2), 151–180.

  • Bijalwan, A., Verma, P., Manmohan, D. J. R., Patil, A. K., Thakur, T. K. and Sharma, C. M., Trends and insights of agroforestry practices in Madhya Pradesh, India. Curr. Sci., 2019, 117(4), 597– 605.

  • Dobriyal, M. J., Dashora, L. K., Maloo, S. R. and Sarolia, D., Improvement in livelihoods and benefits of small and marginal farmers through agroforestry interventions with carbon finance. In Proceedings of National Seminar on Agroforestry: An Evergreen Agriculture for Food Security and Environmental Resilience, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, 2–4 February 2012, pp.201–211.

  • Saravanan, S., Cultivation of Melia dubia Cav. – a fast growing native tree species and constraints faced by the farmers in western region of Tamil Nadu. Indian J. Agrofor., 2017, 19(2), 56–60.

  • Saravanan, S., Constraints faced by farmers in adoption of Gmelina arborea – a case study in Tamil Nadu. Indian J. Hill Farm, 2012, 25(1), 13–16.

  • Sangeetha, R., Shanmugam, T. R. and Nandhini, S., Factors affecting adoption rate of agroforestry technologies in Tamil Nadu. Agric. Econ. Res. Rev., 2016, 29, 307; 10.5958/09740279.2016.00058.6.

  • Parthiban, K., Fernandaz, C. and Krishna Kumar, Consortium of Industrial Agroforestry: an institutional mechanism for sustaining agroforestry in India. Curr. Sci., 2019, 117, 30–36; 10.18520/cs/v117/i1/30-36.

  • Chavan, S. B., Keerthika, A., Dhyani, S. K., Handa, A. K., Newaj, R. and Rajarajan, K., National Agroforestry Policy in India: a low hanging fruit. Curr. Sci., 2015, 108(10), 1826.

  • Pandey, D. N., Multifunctional agroforestry system in India. Curr. Sci., 2007, 92(4), 455–463.

  • Lasco, R. D., Delfino, R. J. P., Catacutan, D. C., Simelton, E. S. and Wilson, D. M., Climate risk adaptation by smallholder farmers: the roles of trees and agroforestry. Curr. Opin. Environ. Sustain., 2014, 6, 83–88.

  • Dhyani, S. K. and Handa, A. K., Agroforestry in India: current scenario. Indian Farm., 2014, 63(11), 6–8.

  • Dhyani, S. K., National Agroforestry Policy 2014 and the need for area estimation under agroforestry. Curr. Sci., 2014, 107(1), 9–10.

  • Chambers, R. and Leach, M., Trees as savings and security for the rural poor. World Dev., 1989, 17(3), 329–342.

  • Pandey, C. B., Pandya, K. S., Pandey, D. and Sharma, R. B., Growth and productivity of rice (Oryza sativa) as affected by Acacia nilotica in a traditional agroforestry system. Trop. Ecol., 1999, 40(1), 109–117.

  • Shukla, S. and Pandey, V. V., Agroforestry systems as a tool in sustainable rural development, food scarcity and income generation. Indian For., 2018, 144(5), 435–441.

  • Viswanath, S., Lubina, P. A., Subbanna, S. and Sandhya, M. C., Traditional agroforestry systems and practices: a review. Adv. Agricul. Res. Technol. J., 2018, 2(1), 18–29.

  • Buvaneswaran, C., Masilamani, P. and Senthilkumar, S., Windbreaks of Casuarina for tailoring growth and branching pattern of teak trees in bund planting system. Int. J. Appl. Agricul. Res., 2016, 15(1), 33–42.

  • Saravanan, S., Buvaneswaran, C., Veeramani, T. and Jayaraj, R. S. C., Casuarina equisetifolia based agroforestry system in Cauvery Delta zone of Tamil Nadu for higher economic returns. In Casuarinas in India. Proceedings of Second National seminar on Casuarinas (eds Jayaraj, R. S. C. et al.), 2012.

  • Subhash, C., Sikka, A., Singh, D., Ragupathy, R. and Sundrambal, P., Comparison of acacia and eucalyptus agroforestry system for hills: Tamil Nadu, India. Int. J. Manage. Soc. Sci., 2015, 3(2), 990–1000.

  • Kannan, K., Singh, D. V., Selvi, V., Khola, O. P. S. and Mohanraj, R., Malai Vembu (Melia dubia) – for farm and agro forestry. Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Research Centre (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), Udhagamandalam, 2013.

  • Sivakumar, V., Cultivation techniques for eucalyptus. In Transfer of Tree Cultivation Techniques, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore, 2014.

  • Rajasugunaseker, D., Cultivation techniques for Ailanthus excelsa. In Transfer of Tree Cultivation Techniques, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore, 2014.

  • Mayavel, A., Soosai Raj, J., Gurudev Sigh, B. and Krishnakumar, N., Cultivation techniques for Gmelina arborea. In Transfer of Tree Cultivation Techniques, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore, 2014.

  • Vijayaraghavan, A., Cultivation techniques for Neolamarkia cadamba. In Transfer of Tree Cultivation Techniques, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore, 2014.

  • Balaji, P., Fruit yield and economic analysis of selected tree species (STS) under agro- forestry system in Tamil Nadu. Research final report, 2017, Industrial Wood research division, Tiruchirappalli, 2017.


Abstract Views: 364

PDF Views: 122




  • Agroforestry Practices in Tamil Nadu, India – A Boon for Farmers for Livelihood Security

Abstract Views: 364  |  PDF Views: 122

Authors

S. Saravanan
Silviculture, Forest Management and Agroforestry Division, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (ICFRE), Forest Campus, R.S. Puram, Coimbatore 641 002, India
Nanita Berry
Silviculture, Forest Management and Agroforestry Division, Tropical Forest Research Institute, RFRC (PO), Mandla Road, Jabalpur 482 021, India

Abstract


Agroforestry systems establish a symbiosis among agriculture crops, tree species and raising livestock on the same unit of land. In other words, these are complementary and beneficial to each other. Agroforestry is the system of developing agricultural land in combination with forestry technologies. Agroforestry practices in Tamil Nadu (TN), India, have existed since time immemorial and are evidenced in all parts of the state with less or no scientific management. Agroforestry research is a new field that is getting momentum in recent times due to popularization of industrial agroforestry. In the present context, to meet the national target of forest cover (33%) and to reduce pressure on natural forests, agroforestry plays a vital role and provides additional income to the farming community. This article aims to provide an insight into agroforestry practices in TN, including reasons for opting them, problems faced, etc. It also provides information on agroclimatic zone-wise tree species and agroforestry systems being practised by farmers, central and state government initiatives towards promotion of agroforestry, new technological interventions, etc. for the welfare of the farming community.

Keywords


Agricultural Land, Agroforestry Systems, Farming Community, Economic Upliftment, Technological Interventions.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv120%2Fi4%2F644-653