STUDIES ON IDENTIFICATION AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF EXISTING AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS IN SIRMAUR DISTRICT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2017-12
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Studies on identification and socio-economic status of existing
agroforestry systems in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh” was carried out in Sirmaur district which is located
between 30°22'30"–31°01'20" N latitude and 77°01'12"–77°49'40" E longitude in Himachal Pradesh. The climate in
this area is sub-tropical to temperate depending upon the elevation. The inclusion of woody perennials within farming
systems, has been practiced as a traditional land use and livelihood option since time immemorial. For the study,
Sirmaur district were selected and in district three altitudinal zones were prepared, such as altitudinal zone I (<1000m
amsl), zone II (1000-2000m amsl), zone III (>2000m amsl) and in each altitudinal zone, four panchayats were selected
and in each selected panchayats, three farmers category were made namely, marginal (<1 ha), small (1-2 ha) and
medium (2-5 ha). Finally from each farmer category five farming families were taken for the study. Socioeconomic
status of farmers, vegetation composition, biomass, economic viability and technological constraints in the system
have been studied during the research. The average family size of sampled households were 6.90, 5.67 and 7.35
persons/household with average literacy rate 85.09 to 88.29 per cent ranging from altitude zone I to altitude zone III.
The results found that prevalent agroforestry systems in study area were AS, ASH, AH, ASP, PS, SP and PSH, among
these system types most predominant were AS, ASH and AH systems. The maximum above ground biomass
production in three altitudinal zones was noticed in ASH under zone I (25.82 t ha-1), while in three farmers category, it
was maximum in ASH with small farmers (22.81 t ha-1). Higher above ground biomass production of pastoral
agroforestry systems among three altitudinal zone was recorded in SP under zone III (22.86 t ha-1) whereas, in three
farmers category was recorded maximum in SP under marginal farmers (23.11 t ha-1). Similar trends were also noticed
in the below ground and total biomass production. Maximum net returns among three altitudinal zones was reported in
AH under zone III (Rs. 3,37,716/-), while in three farmers category, it was recorded maximum in AH under small
farmers(Rs. 2,46,070/-). In pastoral agroforestry systems highest net profit among three altitudinal zones was noticed
in ASP under zone I (Rs. 82,675/-), on the other hand in three farmers category was recorded higher net profit was
recorded in ASP under marginal farmers (Rs. 82,746/-). Benefit-Cost ratio of agroforestry systems among three
altitudinal zones was noticed highest in AH under zone III (2.37), while in three farmers category was recorded
maximum in AH under medium farmers (2.27). Pastoral agroforestry systems was observed highest BC ratio in PSH
under zone II (2.20), on the other hand among three farmers category, it was found maximum in PSH under small
farmers (2.21). Technological gaps identifying the socio-economic and other constraints have highlighted the inherent
weakness of existing AF systems. The most prominent among these constraints includes disproportionate applications
of insecticides/pesticides and fertilizers, fragmented landholdings, lack of efficient marketing channels,
communication gap between lab to land and ineffective implementation of government sponsored schemes for the
benefits 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 AH system type found to be best for economic point of view, hence these systems
may be recommended to the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh.
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