Agroforestry – an Alternative Livelihood Option in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

In the recent past agroforestry has received a major boost in Tamil Nadu due to continuous efforts of researchers engaged in agroforestry research and development in the state. The important agroforestry species has been identified and strong linkages have been established with wood based industries and state forest department for availability of quality of planting material to the farmers with buy back guarantees from the industry. The major agroforestry species with high economic value like Casuarina equisetifolia, Melia dubia and Ceiba pentandra have attained maximum attention from the farmers resulting in increasing the economic returns which ultimately helps in improving the socio-economic standards of the rural people.