Agroforestry is an age-old practice that integrates trees and shrubs with agricultural landscapes to optimise ecological, economic and social benefits. The concepts, benefits, implementation and future prospects of agroforestry can provide a sustainable and much needed land management strategy.
Every day we lose more forests to deforestation in the course of industrial and agricultural growth. While industrial land management is another issue, here we talk about a strategy which can lend a helping hand with agriculture driven deforestation. Agroforestry is a land use system that combines crops and livestock with trees and shrubs in a mutually beneficial manner.
While the current system of our farming follows monoculture and vast lands are covered in single crop, agroforestry promotes biodiversity and ecological balance by creating natural forest-like structures on our “farmlands”. Agroforestry system provides habitats for diverse flora and fauna and enhances overall ecosystem health. The tree roots stabilise soil, prevent erosion and contribute organic matter to improve soil fertility and structure. The roots also help regulate water flow, reduce surface runoff and enhance water infiltration. The trees also isolate carbon dioxide, and dampen greenhouse emissions. Agroforestry diversifies income sources for farmers through multiple products such as timber, fruits, nuts, medicinal plants and the occasional “cash crop” as well.
Although agroforestry has a lot of benefits, it still faces a lot of challenges like limited awareness, land tenure issues, long turnaround time and bigger initial investment cost. A lot of technical assistance and community engagement is needed to be able to achieve an agroforestry system that is able to create the needed change in the current practices.
Agroforestry is a sustainable land management approach that can offer a lot of benefits to both people and the planet. By utilising the link between agriculture and forests we can aim to achieve food security, conserve biodiversity and slow down climate change. We really need to give some thought to promoting agroforestry.
