Area under agroforestry in India: An assessment for present status and future perspective

Abstract

Agroforestry plays a vital role in the Indian economy by way of tangible and intangible benefits. It helps in rehabilitation of degraded lands on one hand and increases farm productivity on the other. Changing priorities in avenues like bio-fuels, employment generation, carbon sequestration and optimization of farm productivity are now being focused through agroforestry. It has been realized that agroforestry is the only alternative to meet the target of increasing forest cover to 33 per cent from the present level of less than 25 per cent. Thus, a major role for agroforestry is also emerging in the domain of environmental services. However, there is no authentic information available on agroforestry area coverage in the country, as a result its actual contribution is not appreciated. An attempt has been made to estimate the area under agroforestry in the country. The current (2013) area under agroforestry in India is estimated as 25.32 million ha (Mha), or 8.2 per cent of the total geographical area of the country. A total of 53.32 Mha, representing about 17.57 per cent of the total reported geographical area (TRGA) of India, could potentially be under agroforestry in the near future, thus making agroforestry a major land-use activity, after agriculture and forestry. The major shares of the land to be brought under agroforestry will come from fallows, cultivable fallows, pastures, groves and through rehabilitation of problem soils. This will be possible through appropriate research interventions, adequate investment and suitable extension strategies along with a forward looking agroforestry policy.