PANT, K SSINGH, RANJEET2019-08-012019-08-012019-05http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810118322ABSTRACT The present investigation entitled “Studies on identification and socio-economic status of existing agroforestry systems in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh" aimed to study and analyze the socio-economic status of farmers, identification of existing agroforestry systems, estimation of their biological yield, economic returns and to find out technological gaps in the systems was conducted during 2015-2017 at Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. District was divided into five altitudinal zones viz., altitudinal zone-I (<1000 m amsl), altitudinal zone-II (1000-1500 m amsl), altitudinal zone-III (1500-2000 m amsl), altitudinal zone-IV (2000-2500 m amsl) and altitudinal zone-V (>2500 m amsl). Four panchayats of each zone were selected randomly and each panchayat was further divided into three farmers categories on the basis of their land holdings viz., marginal farmers category (<1 ha), small farmers category (1-2 ha) and mediumfarmers category (2-5 ha). During study, five farmers from each category were taken as ultimate unit of study. Average family size and sex ratio of households were to the tune of 6.67, 6.07, 6.33, 6.18, 6.56 and 930.50, 927.97, 928.86, 950.58,955.31 in the altitudinal zone-I, II, III, IV and V respectively. The overall literacy rate varied from 79.29 to 81.94 per cent among different altitudinal zones, however it was recorded highest in marginal farmers category (83.47%) in altitudinal zone-IV, while it was recorded lowest in the altitudinal zone-I under same farmers category (77.85%). Seven types of agroforestry systems viz., AS, AH, HA, HP, PHS, PS and SP have been identified in five altitudinal zones among all the farmers category. However five AFS were prevalent in each zone. In altitudinal zone-I and zone-II, most predominant AFS was AS, followed by AH and SP. Whereas, in altitudinal zone-III, IV and V, most predominant AFS was AH followed by HA and HP. Highest above ground biomass was recorded under HA system (22.16 t ha-1) in altitudinal zone-IV, while among three farmers category, it was recorded highest under marginal farmers category (18.40 t ha-1) in altitudinal zone-IV. Among five altitudinal zones highest net return was recorded under HA system (Rs. 108786.62 ha-1 yr-1) in altitudinal zone-IV while among three farmers category, it was recorded highest (Rs. 119955.09 ha-1 yr-1) under medium farmers category in altitudinal zone-V. Highest benefit cost ratio under different agroforestry systems was recorded under HA system in altitudinal zone-V (2.36), while among three farmers category, it was recorded highest in AH system under medium farmers category (2.22). 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, occurrence of fragmented land holdings, 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 locality 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 system type found to be one of the best AFS for enhancing the farmers economy, hence such type of systems may be recommended for large scale adoption by farmers of the district.ennullThesis