1. Livelihood diversification through
agroforestry in semi arid regions of
India
JVNS Prasad
Central Research Institute for Dryland
Agriculture, Hyderabad
World Congress on Agroforestry, New Delhi
10th February 2014

2. Distribution of Semi arid regions in India
Regions
Arid
regi
ons
Semi arid
regions
Dry
Moist
Dry
sub
humid
regions
Geograp
hical area
coverage
19%
12%
25.9%
21.1%
Mean
Annual
Rainfall
<500
mm
500700
mm
7001100
mm
11001600
mm
Growing
Season
Upto
75
days
75-100
days
120
days
150
days

3. Tree based systems provides several products
and meets diversified needs of communities
in semi arid regions
Product
Contribution in percentage
Fuelwood
50
Green fodder
10
Small timber
66
Pulpwood
60
Plywood
70-80
Source of Medicines for tribal systems
(Dhyani et al., 2013)

4. Tree systems provide stability during years of severe drought
System
Sole Leucaena
Sole Groundnut
Sole Mungbean
Sole urdbean
Alley crops
Groundnut
Mungbean
Urdbean
Leucaena fodder yield
(t/ ha)
5.75
5.24
5.56
6.03
Crop yield
Grain (t/ha)
Stover (t/ha)
0
1.67
0
0.68
0
0.47
0
0
0
1.26
0.25
0.22
RAJKOT-Rainfall -177 (120 mm during the rainy season) vs. 625 mm average

5. Traditional agroforestry systems in semi arid regions
Location
Hisar
Rahuri
Jhansi
Prevalent Systems
Scattered trees in the
farming systems
Silvipasture
Agrisilviculture,
Agrihorticulture,
Silvipasture
Parbhani
Silvipasture,
Agrisilviculture, Bund
plantation
Nagpur
Agrisilviculture
Trees on farm bunds
Hyderabad Agrihorticulture
Preferred tree species
Prosopis cineraria, Acacia nilotica, Ailanthes excelsa
Zyzyphus, Psidium and Mangifera
Acacia sps., Leucaena, A. indica, Prosopis
Mangifera, Punica granatum
A.indica, Albizia lebbeck, Madhuka latifolia,
Zyzyphus mauritiana, Emblica officinalis,
Acacia nilotica, Azadirachta indica, Tectona grandis
Zyzyphus mauritiana, Annona squamosa, Mangifera
indica
Acacia nilotica, Leucaena, Eucalyptus, Leucaena,
Mangifera indica, Citrus sps., Psidium
Acacia sp., Leucaena, Tectona
Mangifera indica, Annona squamosa, Tamarindus
(Pathak et al, 2000)

6. Agroforestry systems recommended for various SAT regions
Location
Hisar (Trans
gangetic plain zone)
Central plateau and
hills region
Western plateau
and hills region
Southern plateau
and hills region
Gujarat plains and
hills region
Recommended AF systems
Eucalyptus hybrid + Maize; Poplar+ Gram/wheat
Mango + maize; Emblica Officinalis + groundnut
Azadirachta indica + groundnut, Acacia nilotica
+Sorghum/gram, Citrus + gram; Pomegranate +lentil,
Emblica+ redgram
Acacia+ sorghum; Azadirachta + groundnut; Dalbergia +
gram;
Zizyphus + groundnut; Anona + sorghum; Emblica +
pigeonpea; Pomegranate + lentil/mustard
Tamarindus + chilli/tomato/curry leaf; Ailanthes +
cowpea/sesamum/sorghum/Pearlmillet
Albizia lebbeck + cowpea/sesamum/sorghum
Azadirachta + groundnut; Acacia nilotica + cotton
Zizyphus mauritiana + groundnut; Emblica officinalis +
cotton; Punica granatum + pulses

7. Large scale adoption of the following systems is observed
S No
Agroforestry system
1
Agrihorticulture systems
(Mango, Pome granate,
Sweet orange, Aonla, Ber)
2
Eucalyptus based systems
3
Leucaena based systems
4
Casuarina based system
5
Ailanthes based system
6
Wadi system
7
Scattered trees in farms
Area of adoption
Large areas in AP, Karnataka,
Maharashtra, etc.
AP, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra
Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra
Tamilandu, AP
Gujarat, Tamilandu
Tribal areas of Gujarat, Karnataka,
Maharashtra
Through out Rainfed region
The total area under agroforestry in India is reported to be about
25.32 m ha out of which 7 m ha in irrigated regions and 13 m ha in
rainfed regions which is about 8% of the TRGA (Dhyani et al., 2013)

8. Agrihorti systems are profitable and provide stable income
Mango based agrihorti systems provide
net returns up to Rs. 46,250 with a benefit
cost ratio up to 6.3:1 by 10 nth year
Aonla based systems can provide net
returns to the tune of Rs.64632 with a
benefit cost ratio of 6.2:1 by 6 th year
Intercropping in horticulture systems
enhances the income substantially
particulalrly during the early years
Integrating small ruminants in grown up
Mango plantation can enhance the returns
substantially
Amla + green gram

9. Significant scope for yield improvement exists in horti
systems by adopting various practices
Crop
Mango
Mango
Guava
Aonla
Aonla
Pome
granate
Ber
Ber
Management practices
Improvement
References
in fruit yields
RDF + vermicompost + Azotobacter +
66%
Yadav et
PSB + Zn + Fe + paclobutrazol
al.(2011)
Drip irrigation at 75% pan evaporation
65%
Kumar et
replenishment.
al.(2008)
Removal of 33% of current season’s
99%
Prakash et
shoot growth
al.(2012)
FYM + NPK
86 %
Singh et
al.(2012)
Foliar application of 2% calcium nitrate
44 %
Bisen et al
+ 2% urea
(2011)
Application of Nitrogen and Potassium @ 53 %
Kashyap et
500g/plant
al.(2012)
RDF + vermicompost + and foliar spray 64 %
Mishra et al.
of thiourea @ 0.5%
(2011)
Foliar spray of 0.3-0.6% borax and 0.268 %
Kumar and
0.4% zinc sulphate
Shukla (2010)

10. Short rotation forestry systems are remunerative
Agroforestry
system
Tree
Extent of improvement
densit in profitability over sole
y/ ha crop (%)
Eucalyptus +
intercrop
1666
362 (Rs 22085/ ha/year)
Leucaena +
intercrop
4444
287 (Rs 22085/ ha/year)
Sole eucalyptus 1666
293 (Rs 20215/ ha/year)
Sole leucaena
4444
242 (Rs 16406/ ha/year)
Sole casuarina
10000 Rs 20106/ ha/year

11. Yield enhancement is possible in pulpwood systems by
adopting improved management practices
Intercropping in wider rows of eucalyptus
enhances intercrop and tree productivity and
significantly enhance returns
Fertiliser application in eucalyptus enhances
the standing volume by 54%
Quality seeds and good variety in leucaena
Enhances the productivity by 40%
Panicum maximum in Eucalyptus
Rhizobium inoculation in leucaena reported to
Improve tree growth and productivity
Weed control during the initial stages of
Eucalyptus contribute to establishment and
Enhances productivity
Groundnut in Leucaena

12. Wadi system in tribal regions
Wadi is a small orchard of one or two
acres with crops
About 80,000 ha is under wadi system
and the area is expanding
Staggered income over long term
though plantation of forest species on
the boundaries
Established mango in wadi
Institutional building by formation of
cooperatives
Support for processing and marketing
of farm produce
Forestry on the boundary of wadi

13. Successful tree establishment is the first step in
successful tree farming in wadi system
Slope:<15%: Bunding
Slope: >15%: Tree Platforms
Emphasis should be to enhance the survival of tree systems in rainfed systems

14. Teak (Tectona grandis) on bunds
Large number of farmers have planted teak ( Tectona grandis) on field boundaries
In Andhra Pradesh alone about 5 crores of saplings were planted during 2012-13

15. How do we scaleup these systems further
By integrating with the area based developmental programmes
such as
Watershed management programs
MGNREGA
NHM
Indira Prabha
Microirrigation projects
Institutional support is available for taking up these systems in
the form of supply of quality planting material, support for the
purchase of inputs, aftercare, provision of irrigation facilities,

16. How can we increase income to the communities by enhancing
productivity/ adding value to the tree based products
•Creation of backward and forward linkages for fruit systems will
enhance incomes of the communities
•Quality planting material plays an important role for productivity
and returns (eg: mango)
•Greater access to micro irrigation systems can play a key role for
enhancing the productivity
•Removal of restrictions on harvest and transport of farm grown
wood ( eg: teak and bamboo)
•Providing minimum support price to wood
•Providing institutional finance for pulpwood systems

17. Conclusions
Some of the agroforestry systems are highly profitable
resulting in large scale adoption
There is further scope for enhancing the productivity by
adoption of recommended management practices
The impact of tree systems can be further enhanced by
scaling up by linking with area based developmental
programs
Stable markets for trees/ tree products and removal of
restrictions on harvest and transport of farm grown wood
is key for the success of tree systems in the long run

18. Thank You