Agroforestry is a land management that optimizes land productivity by harnessing positive interactions between tree-crop-live-stock system. Conservation of natural resources and optimization of productivity could be considered as vital to its function. Agroforestry system that is trees product has following benefits-

• Shelter

1. Building materials for shelter construction.

2. Shade trees for humans, livestock and shade-loving crops.

3. Wind-breaks and shelter-belts for protection of settlements, cropland and pastures.

4. Living fences.

• Raw Materials For Processing

1. Wood for a variety of craft purposes.

2. Fibre for weaving industries.

3. Fruits, nuts etc.for drying or other food-processing industries.

4. Tannins, essential oil, medicinal ingredients etc.

• Fodder trees

Integration of some of the important fodder trees with agriculture crops could play an important role in meeting the fodder requirements of animals; thereby production would go up and the working efficiency of the farm animals would improve. There are several forest trees which could be integrated with agricultural crops to fulfil the fodder needs the common existing fodder trees e.g. Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia senegal, Achrus sapota, Albizia lebbek, Cordia myxa, Bombax ceiba, Prosopis cineraria, Leucaena leucocephala, Morus indica, Prosopis cineraria.

• Fuel woods

Fuelwood is the most significant reason for tree cutting. To save forests from denudation, fuelwood tree-growing should become part of agriculture through agroforestry e.g. from Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia leucophloea, Albizia lebbek, Anthocephalus cadamba, Cassia siamea, Diospyros malaxylon, Lannea coromandelica, Populus euphratica, Schleichera oleosa, Tectona grandis.

• Cash

1. Direct cash benefits from sale of above-listed products.

2. Indirect cash benefits from productivity increases (or input savings) via associated crops or livestock.

Ag.
Technologies
(Agro Forestry)