Agroforestry Systems: A Boon for Developing Country

Abstract

An intensive practice of agroecosystem affects overall health and productivity of land. Agricultural land expansions lead to deforestation that not only makes blurred relation between these two land use practices but also affects overall productivity and health of ecosystem. In this context, agroforestry emerge new trend of farming system that involves both components into same piece of land simultaneously that are ecologically viable, socially acceptable and economically profitable. Nowadays, agroforestry systems are prevalent in most part of developing countries where it becomes a boon for farmers by producing various diversified timber and non-timber products that strengthen the farmer’s socioeconomic status and improve livelihood security. The diversified components of agroforestry system intensify ecosystem services in both tangible and intangible ways. Resource conservation, soil health management, climate change mitigations, maintaining carbon footprints and farmers socioeconomic upliftments etc are key services delivered through sustainbale practices of agroforestry systems in various agro-ecological zones of the developing countries of the tropical world. Moreover, agroforestry system maintains carbon footprints due to its better carbon sequestration potential that makes carbon balance in the atmosphere and regulates carbon flow and flux in the ecosystem. Thus, practicing climate resilient agroforestry system in the developing countries controls GHGs emission and mitigates climate change problems. Carbon sequestration adds vegetational biomass and ensures soil carbon pools in the agroforestry system. Similarly, agroforestry and other horticulture based land use system provide various healthy and quality food and fruits that not only source of income but also maintain health status of the farmer’s. Reclamation of degraded land, desertification and saline/ alkaline soil are another potential of agroforestry systems in developing countries that not only make sustainable land practices but also intensify high yield and productivity to make food (grains, fruits, vegetables, spices, etc.) availability for burgeoning populations in developing countries. In view of the above, in-depth discussions were made in this paper that covers overall agroforestry scope and potential in food-soil-climate and farmer’s livelihood security in developing countries.