Traditional agroforestry and livelihood support for the rural people: a case study of six villages of district Chamoli, Uttarakhand
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Date
2016-07
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College of Forestry, Ranichauri, V.C.S.G. Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry
Abstract
The present study was carried out in six villages of Narayanbagar block in district Chamoli, Uttarakhand . A Total 120 respondents were selected and interviewed for the collection of information related to the study. The study revealed that majority of the respondents i.e. 60.83% were old in age while 22.5% had education up to intermediate and 21.5% upto graduation, 63.33% of the respondents had large land (>10nali ) whereas majority of the household i.e. 49 (74.24%) belonged to the Above Poverty Line. The total livestock population was 308 which includes 97% Cows, 33.44% Buffaloes, 10.71% Calf and 92 % Bullocks.
The fuelwood consumption in summer and winter varied from 141.96 kg/day/village to 1270.08 kg/day/village and 249.34 kg/day/village to 2194.56 kg/day/village, respectively. The utilization of tree fodder varied from 713.63 to 1063 kg/day/village in summer and 835.11 to 1115 kg/day/village in winter season.
The volume and above ground biomass of the selected tree species were estimated by measuring the height and girth of all individual tree of different species. Standing volume of trees of different species under agrisilviculture systems ranged from 10.52 to 22.57 m3/ha in village Nand gaon and Simli, respectively. In all the selected species, maximum mean volume was recorded 4.19 m3/ha for Celtis australis and minimum 0.3 m3/ha for Mallotus philippensis. Above ground biomass of trees in this system varied from 0.99 to 1.95 t/ha in village Harmani (Talli) and Simli, respectively. The maximum above ground biomass was recorded 3 tone/ha in Celtis australis and minimum was recorded in Mallotus philippensis (0.32 t/ha).
Based on the present study it is suggested that an integrated agroforestry practices should be practices should be undertaken on marginal and degraded wastelands. Similarly, the farmers will have to be encouraged for growing the multipurpose trees on field bunds of agriculture lands to meet out their domestic needs of fuel, fodder and timber. These strategies will help in reducing the biotic pressures on the conventional forests and will also restore and conserve the fragile agroforestry systems of Garhwal Himalaya.
Awareness about the development of productive agroforestry models will ensure maximum utilization of land. Training of farmers by the extention staff of relevant governmental organization can result in selection of suitable species and making effective crop combinations. This will ultimately enhance the employment opportunity in rural areas and thus, reduce the migration of rural natives to the urban areas.
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Keywords
Traditional agroforestry , district Chamoli, livelihood support ,rural people,Uttarakhand