Traditional Agroforestry and Livelihood Support: A study in Upper Yamuna Valley of Uttarkashi district of Garhwal Himalaya, India
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Date
2022
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College of Forestry, Ranichauri Campus, V.C.S.G. Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry
Abstract
Agroforestry is a common feature of land use pattern in Uttarakhand hills which fulfills the day to day requirements of local people of the area. The present study was carried out in six villages of Naugaun block (1000-2000 m asl elevation), Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, India with the broader objectives of socioeconomic status of farmer in the study area, role of different agroforestry systems and different management practices adopted in traditional agroforestry system by the villagers. The socio-economic surveywas carried out using common questionnaire and representative taken from each village. Majority of respondents had education up to intermediate and graduation. Most of the respondents had medium family size (6-10 members) with (44.44%) residing in pucca house (concrete house). The primary source of income for (37.78%) families were Government/Private job, however (28.88%) were involved in farming. The families in the study area mainly had medium and large land holding. Among the livestock, cows (29.89%), buffalos (24.19%), bullocks (23.84%) and calves (22.08%) were the majorly owned by the villagers. The major agroforestry systems occupied in the study area were Agrisilviculture, Agrosilvihorticulture and Homegarden system. Trees such as Bhimal, Banj oak, Khadik etc. were mainly retained for fodder and fuel wood purpose by the villagers on their farmland. Horticulture trees such as apricot, walnut, plum, peach etc were also the source of livelihood for farmers. Crops such as wheat, finger millet, amaranth, maize, mustard, barley etc were commonly grown in agroforestry systems. Among the management practices, lopping (97.78%), thinning (88.89%) and pollarding (81.12%) were mainly adopted in forest trees by the villagers. In horticulture trees, cleaning (96.67%), pruning (85.56%) and training (76.67%) were the main management practices adopted by the villagers whereas weeding, irrigation, land preparation, manuring, stacking and fertilizer application were the main management practices followed in agricultural crops by the villagers. Current study reveals a high potential of agroforestry in the area with inclusion of multipurpose fruit and forest trees with improved varieties of agricultural crops for sustainable livelihood and income generation.
Description
M.Sc. Forestry