Diagnostic Survey of Existing Agroforestry Systems in Chamba Tehsil of District Chamba , Himachal Pradesh
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Date
2023-02-22
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College of Horticulture and Forestry Dr YSP UHF, Neri, Hamirpur(H.P.)
Abstract
The present study entitled “Diagnostic Survey of Existing Agroforestry Systems in Chamba Tehsil ofDistrict Chamba , Himachal Pradesh” was carried out during the year 2021-22. The tehsil is located betweenLatitude: 32° 33' 19.12" N Longitude: 76° 07' 35.29" E. The aim was to identify agroforestry system types; estimate their biological yield and economic returns; technological gaps and thereby propose suitable agroforestry solutions.. Twelve Gram Panchayat were choosen and a representative sample of two villages were selected from each panchayat and from each village a sample of nine farmers was selected and categorized as marginal (<1 ha), small (1-2 ha) and medium (2-5 ha) on the basis of the land holding. The data was collected through pre-structured schedule for the purpose through personal interviews with head of the each household and visit to the fields. The study revealed that average family size of sampled households was 4.61 person per household. The literacy rate was recorded highest (88.09%) in marginal category of farmers. Seven agroforestry systems types were prevalent among different categories of farmers in the study area viz., AS, ASP, ASH, AHS, AHP, AH and PS. The most predominant AFS was AS, followed by ASH. The functional units recorded under different agroforestry system types in the study area under agriculture component were Wheat, Maize, Mustard, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Tomato, Potato, Lady finger, Brinjal, Capsicum, Green beans, Pea, Onion, Garlic and Rajmah. The functional units under Silviculture component were Beul, Tooni, Shisham, Drek, Kachnar, chir pine, Robinia etc. for horticulture component Apple, Plum, Apricot, Mango etc. were recorded. Whereas, for grass species Setaria, Cynodon dactylon, , Megathyrsus maximus and natural grasses were recorded. Among all the existing agroforestry systems, irrespective of the farmer’s category the highest biological yield and net returns were recorded under Agrisilvihorticulture System i.e. 26.42t/ha and Agrihorticulture with 2,28,334Rs./ha/yr., respectively. While, the lowest biological yield and net returns were recorded under pastoralsilviculture (PS) system i.e. 9.82t/ha and 3,749 Rs./ha/yr., respectively. Some of the constraints discovered in the study area included fragmented landholdings, a lack of irrigation facilities, a lack of awareness about high yielding variety seeds of crops, a lack of market and promising agroforestry tree species, a communication gap between lab and land, and ineffective implementation of government sponsored schemes for the benefit of farming communities. Relevant agroforestry solutions include conducting location-specific diagnostic surveys, improving agro-processing facilities, voluntarily adopting some villages by state agriculture universities and other related institutions, and opening government-authorized sale centres in accessible locations, among other things.