International Journal of Forestry and Crop Improvement

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Status of Agroforestry Practices in Varanasi District of Eastern Plain Region of Uttar Pradesh, India


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1 Forest Research Centre for Eco-rehabilitation, Prayagraj (U.P.), India
     

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The study was conducted in selected villages (1%) of Varanasi district of Eastern plain region of Uttar Pradesh in India during the year 2018 to record the crop combinations with tree species and their stratified arrangement to identify agroforestry practices. The socio-economic studies based on general village profile, land holding, land use pattern and tree species planting pattern were performed in 12 villages representing eight blocks to collect the data with structured questionnaire and participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools. The results demonstrated that a total of nine different agroforestry practices, silvi-horticulture, agrisilviculture, agri-horticulture, aqua-silviculture, agri-silvi-horticulture, agri-silvi-pastoral, silvi-pastoral, silvi-medicinal and homestead existed in different villages. Out of different categories, timber, fruits, medicinal, agriculture, flower and other plant species were recorded. It was recorded that out of existing agroforestry practices, scattered near farms and around homestead was found most common (about 47.0 %). The benefits from agro forestry practices in the villages was also assessed and ranked in their order of preferences in respective blocks of district. The different benefits as shade, fruits/vegetables, timber, protection, firewood, soil erosion, medicinal and fodder were scored from 1 to 8. The status of tree plantation in different area was also studied and found trees of mango were most abundant (33.1%), it was noticed that old mango trees were of deshi variety but new trees were mostly of kalmi variety for fruits. The Neem trees were recorded (25.5 %) followed by shisham (9.5 %) and teak (14.0 %). It was concluded from the results that status of agro forestry in the studied zonal area of the region is in developing stage and needs to be improved by imparting technical knowledge about planting material, methods and sale of end produces of trees to the farmers and tree growers.

Keywords

Socio-Economic Studies, Agroforestry Practices, Species Diversity, Homestead System, Trees Benefit Scoring.
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  • Status of Agroforestry Practices in Varanasi District of Eastern Plain Region of Uttar Pradesh, India

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Authors

Anubha Srivastav
Forest Research Centre for Eco-rehabilitation, Prayagraj (U.P.), India
Anita Tomar
Forest Research Centre for Eco-rehabilitation, Prayagraj (U.P.), India
Hari Om Shukla
Forest Research Centre for Eco-rehabilitation, Prayagraj (U.P.), India

Abstract


The study was conducted in selected villages (1%) of Varanasi district of Eastern plain region of Uttar Pradesh in India during the year 2018 to record the crop combinations with tree species and their stratified arrangement to identify agroforestry practices. The socio-economic studies based on general village profile, land holding, land use pattern and tree species planting pattern were performed in 12 villages representing eight blocks to collect the data with structured questionnaire and participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools. The results demonstrated that a total of nine different agroforestry practices, silvi-horticulture, agrisilviculture, agri-horticulture, aqua-silviculture, agri-silvi-horticulture, agri-silvi-pastoral, silvi-pastoral, silvi-medicinal and homestead existed in different villages. Out of different categories, timber, fruits, medicinal, agriculture, flower and other plant species were recorded. It was recorded that out of existing agroforestry practices, scattered near farms and around homestead was found most common (about 47.0 %). The benefits from agro forestry practices in the villages was also assessed and ranked in their order of preferences in respective blocks of district. The different benefits as shade, fruits/vegetables, timber, protection, firewood, soil erosion, medicinal and fodder were scored from 1 to 8. The status of tree plantation in different area was also studied and found trees of mango were most abundant (33.1%), it was noticed that old mango trees were of deshi variety but new trees were mostly of kalmi variety for fruits. The Neem trees were recorded (25.5 %) followed by shisham (9.5 %) and teak (14.0 %). It was concluded from the results that status of agro forestry in the studied zonal area of the region is in developing stage and needs to be improved by imparting technical knowledge about planting material, methods and sale of end produces of trees to the farmers and tree growers.

Keywords


Socio-Economic Studies, Agroforestry Practices, Species Diversity, Homestead System, Trees Benefit Scoring.

References