Fact sheet to promote agroforestry

• The central government has published a fact sheet listing 36 species that can be grown in different agro-climatic zones.
• It was prepared by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education.
• It recommends cultivating 36 specific species, including bamboo, that are suitable for agroforestry systems and home gardens.
• The 36 species include Leucaena leucocephala, or subabul, and various varieties of eucalyptus.
  • Subabul is considered an invasive species.
  • Eucalyptus is considered highly water-intensive.
• The list also includes important timber species such as poplar, teak, shisham (Indian rosewood) and mahogany.

ABOUT AGROFORESTRY

• It is a combination of practising agriculture and forestry together on the same unit of land.
• It is a traditional practice recognizing and promoting trees and/or livestock on farms in a special arrangement pattern.
• Major agroforestry systems based on type of components include:
  • Agrisilviculture (crops + trees)
  • Silvopastoral (pasture/ livestock + trees)
  • Agrosilvopastoral (crops + livestock + trees)

• Advantages of agroforestry
  • farm profitability– the combined output of trees, crops, and livestock per unit area is greater
  • mulch and leaf litter as manure and bio-pesticides from tree components;
  • crops and livestock protected from wind damage;
  • new products from agroforestry increasing financial flexibility and diversification of farming enterprises and diversification;
  • carbon sequestration.

ABOUT INDIAN COUNCIL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

• It is an autonomous council under Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change and is registered as a society.
• It is an apex body in national forestry research system.
• Headquarters- Dehradun