Agroforestry in Reference to Disaster, Environment and Development

Agroforesty is an inter disciplinary, multi-sector approach of land use. Its prime objective is over all optimization and to protect the environment and maintain the ecological integrity. Agroforestry is primarily the technology of using perennial vegetation in combination with seasonal or perennial field crop, fodder, or other crops of economic value in agriculture. In the developed agroforestry systems, there are three components i.e. the woody perennials, the agricultural crops and the animals. However, in all the agroforestry systems the presence of the tree component is must and it plays the dominant roles-the trees have two major roles-the productive role (fuel, fodder, food, fruit and fertilizer) and the service roles (soil and moisture conservation, wind break, shelter belts, shade, etc.). Trees have established themselves as insurance against natul'al disasters like environmental pollution, floods and droughts. Agroforestry also extends greater- diversity for wildlife and landscape improvement. Development activities of agroforestry leads to control of erosion either through barrier approach or by cover approach, maintenance of soil fertility by way of organic matter maintenance, nitrogen fixation, nutrient cycling and augmentation of nutrient uptake i.e. trees associated mycorrhizal system. However, in depth studies are needed over a range of environmental conditions for improving soil fertility and reducing the dependence on chemical fertilizers. Incorporation of multipurpose tree species with crop can also enhance ground recharge. The paper deals in greater length, the role of agroforestry in control of natural disasters, protection of environment and enhancement of development activities.