Socioeconomic and livelihood analysis of tribals in the Angara Block of Ranchi District, Jharkhand from agroforestry interventions

Abstract

Agroforestry offers various tangible and non-tangible benefits including livelihood benefits to farmers in terms of higher crop yields and income, greater food security and better resilience to climate change etc. The purpose and role of agroforestry practices are better explained by the farmers who adopt agroforestry as an appropriate land management option. In order to determine the socioeconomic and livelihood analysis of tribals in the Angara Block of district Ranchi in Jharkhand, the present study was undertaken. The study was conducted using standardised questionnaire methods for collecting information on different aspects of agroforestry interventions in general and lac based agroforestry in particular. The results revealed that major share of the tribal block is from agriculture, especially agroforestry and integrated farming systems. However, it was observed that the farm income can be increased if interventions like training on modern scientific cultivation of crops as well as lac, mass scale introduction of Semialata, a busy host, post-harvest management and value addition of crops and lac, and participatory approaches for improvement of agroforestry practices are done in the area, to double the income of the stakeholders. The findings also helped in identifying prevailing agroforestry systems with potential for wider adoption and also in designing wide adoptable and useful agroforestry practices in the region.