APPRAISAL OF EXISTING AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS IN SERAJ VALLEY OF DISTRICT MANDI, H.P.
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Date
2021-12
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Appraisal of existing agroforestry systems in Seraj valley of
District Mandi, H.P.” was carried out during the year 2020-21 in Seraj valley of District Mandi, Himachal
Pradesh with the objective to evaluate existing agroforestry systems, estimation of their biological yield and
economic returns, to find out technological gaps in the systems and thereby propose possible solutions to
overcome them. The study area was selected through multistage sampling technique. For the study 15
Panchayats of Seraj valley were randomly selected. From each Panchayat a representative sample of two
villages were selected and from each village, a sample of nine farmers were selected and categorized as
marginal (<1 ha), small (1-2 ha) and medium (2-5 ha), on the basis of their land holding. Socioeconomic status
of farmers has been analyzed taking into account their average family structure, sex- ratio, educational status,
literacy rate, livestock status, off-farm employment status and land holding size. The study revealed that seven
types of agroforestry systems prevailing among different categories of farmers in Seraj valley viz., AH, AHS,
AS, ASH, HA, HP and PS. Among all the existing agroforestry systems the highest total biomass production
was recorded in HA system in the medium category (21.68 t ha-1) while the lowest total biomass production was
recorded in PS in the small category (8.34 t ha-1) of the farmers. Also the highest net return was recorded in HA
system in medium category of the farmers (206830.44 Rs. ha-1 yr-1), whereas lowest net return was reported in
PS in small category of the farmers (13946.30 Rs. ha-1 yr-1). Technological gaps identifying the socio-economic
and other limitations have shown the inherent weakness of existing AF systems. The most significant constraints
were disproportionate insecticide/ pesticide and fertilizer applications, fragmented landholdings and a lack of
efficient marketing channels, 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 survey, strengthening of agro-processing facilities, voluntarily adoption
of some villages by state agriculture universities and other related institutions and opening of govt. authorized
sale centers at accessible places etc. From the above study it is concluded that HA, AH and AHS system types
were found to be the best for economic point of view in Seraj regions respectively, hence these systems may be
recommended for Seraj valley. As a result, this study provides a clear picture of biomass and economic analysis
of existing agroforestry systems and it will be used as a tool for students, researchers and policy makers to better
understand the agroforestry systems in the study area in order to improve and develop te