{"id":69215,"date":"2025-10-16T10:49:42","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T05:19:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=69215"},"modified":"2025-10-16T10:49:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T05:19:42","slug":"agroforestry-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/agroforestry-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Agroforestry in India, Types, Policies, Challenges, Coverage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Agroforestry in India refers to the deliberate integration of trees with crops and\/or livestock in farming systems to attain ecological, economic, and social benefits. It is being promoted as a strategic response to land degradation, climate change, livelihood insecurity, and declining agricultural productivity. India\u2019s policies have recognized agroforestry both as a means to restore degraded lands and to increase farmers\u2019 income through diversified production. It aligns with national goals like increasing tree cover, reducing carbon intensity, and enhancing rural resilience.<\/span><\/p>\n

Agroforestry in India<\/b><\/h2>\n

India formally adopted a National Agroforestry Policy in 2014, becoming the first country globally to enact such a policy. The policy aims to remove regulatory barriers such as those for tree-felling and transportation of timber from farm lands, and to build institutional capacity through research, extension, and market development. Key implementing bodies include the Central Agroforestry Research Institute (CAFRI), MoA&FW, ICRAF, and state governments. Agroforestry is increasingly considered in major environmental and agricultural programmes for its multi-faceted benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Agroforestry in India Types<\/b><\/h2>\n

Agroforestry in India is highly diverse and region-specific, varying with ecological conditions, land use, and socio-economic objectives. The five major types, each integrating trees, crops, and livestock in distinct combinations is given below:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Agrisilviculture System<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Combines trees and crops on the same land. Common in the Indo-Gangetic plains, this system integrates species like poplar, eucalyptus, neem, and acacia with crops such as wheat, sugarcane, and mustard.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Silvopastoral System<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Integrates tree planting with livestock grazing, improving fodder supply and preventing land degradation. Practiced in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Karnataka, where grasses and leguminous species coexist with hardy trees like prosopis and leucaena.<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Agrihorticultural System<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Combines food crops with fruit trees like mango, guava, and banana to ensure short-term and long-term income security. Common in southern and northeastern India.<\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Hortipastoral System<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Links fruit trees and pasture species, promoting both food and fodder security. This is effective in rainfed and drought-prone regions where mixed systems ensure resilience.<\/span><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Agrosilvopastoral System<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            A more complex system combining trees, crops, and livestock on the same land. Common in Traditional home gardens in high-rainfall areas, particularly Kerala and Tamil Nadu, represent this type of integration.<\/span><\/p>\n

            Agroforestry in India Objectives<\/b><\/h2>\n

            India’s agroforestry aims to achieve multiple interlinked goals:<\/span><\/p>\n