Agro forestry Project

#Agro_forestry_Project_in_Ethiopia

Production Description:

Agro forestry is a farming system or land use system that integrates crop and /or
livestock with trees and shrubs. The resulting biological interactions provide multiple
benefits, including diversified income sources, increased biological production, and better
water quality, improved habitat for both human and wildlife. Farmers adopt Agro forestry
practices for two reasons. They want to increase their economic stability and want to improve the
management of natural resources under their care. The components of agro forestry practices and
the resultant benefits /

product depend on specific agro ecological areas where the practices take place. An agro
forestry system might produce firewood, biomass feed stock, fodder for grazing animals,
producing mushrooms beekeeping etc together with crop production such as maize, wheat
soybeans, haricot beans etc can be cited a examples of the component products.

1. Rationale:

Natural resources in the Amhara Region have been subject t degradation for centuries;
more seriously in the highland areas. The highland of the region, characterized by rugged
and undulating terrain with easily erodible soils and low natural vegetation cover is
highly exposed to land degradation. Soils in the highlands of the region have lost their
productive capacity. On the other hand, population pressure in these areas has pushed farmers
to fragile and hilly areas. Hence, land degradation has become a serious threat to agricultural
productivity; Soil erosion as a result of seasonal intense rainfall is decreasing soil depth, water
holding capacity and fertility and increasing the frequency of drought in the marginal areas.
Deforestation has taken place at an alarming rate. Fuel wood is a critical problem for most rural
households; forcing them to use dung, weeds and crop residues. These have further worsened the
soil fertility and organic matter base.

Erosion and runoff form overexploited and fragile areas are particularly critical in
highland areas watersheds. Originate land mismanagement in the highlands has adverse
effects on both and lowland agroecologicla systems. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an
agro ecologically and socio economically sustainable and viable farming or land use. System;
that is, agro forestry practice.

2. Market Potentials:
Agro forestry systems are much more complex than single purpose farm or forestry
enterprises. Products from each component of the system will require specific markets.

Therefore, selecting the components of ago forestry systems must be on the basis of
careful marketing plan. The demand for fuel wood, house construction by the rural
households and rural towns is a great potential to be considered. Demand for timber, log and
pulpwood by local household manufacturing industries is also very high. For most of forestry
products, the markets must be close to the site. Otherwise, the transportation costs will eat up the
potential profit.

3. Sources of Raw Materials:

Seedlings of various trees and shrubs species are the basic raw materials required which
must be multiplied or raised b the regional bureau of agriculture. Fertilizers may be
required in the early stages of the seed lines, which are also available in the region.

4. Agro forestry production practices:

Alley cropping involves growing crops (grains, forges, vegetables) between fruit trees, palm
trees, or wood tree species planted in rows. The spacing between the rows is designed to
accommodate the mature size of trees while leaving room for the planned alley crops.
When sun-loving plants like corn, soybeans wheat or herbs will be alley cropped, the
alleyways need to be wide enough to let in plenty of height even the trees have matured.

Another practice of agro forestry is called silvopature where tree and pasture crops and
grown in combination. Hardwoods, nut trees and pines are planted in multiple rows, and
livestock grazing between them. In early years of (trees) establishment, crops or hay are
harvested from the planting. Grazing begins after two or three years, when the trees re
large enough so that the livestock can't damage them. Well-managed grazing will increase
organic matter and improve soil conditions.

Windbreaks or shelterbelts are also practices of agro forestry. Tree species (for various land use)
and planted in multiple rows along the edge of a field to reduce wind effects on crops or
livestock. In this practice wind and water erosions re reduced, crating moist, more favorable
microclimate for the crop this, beneficial insects find permanent habitat in windbreaks, benefit
wildlife by providing shelters and safe movements. Windbreak or shelterbelts can also generate
income by selective timber harvest, fruit harvest, firewood sales etc.

Other practices of agro forestry may include home garden of fruit trees, inter planting firewood
species on coop land, agriculture with honey producing trees, multipurpose trees on bunds or
terraces for soil conservation etc. All these practices of agroforetry will establish sustainable
agricultural production and the interaction of the components of agro forestry systems
will increase production better than the single component practices.
5. Cost Estimate:

Compared to annual crops, agro forestry practices are relatively complex and relatively a new
system. Data on cost structures and estimate are not readily available. Therefore, types and
quantities of inputs required such as labor family or hired valued at market or shadow price,
economic value of land, material inputs such as planting materials fertilizers, chemicals, water,
tools valued at their market process and capital goods purchase should be further surveyed and
proper cost estimates have to be established.

6. Benefits to the Regional Economy:

Agro forestry practices established sustainable and environmental friendly production systems.
The biological interaction of agro forestry components gives higher production or biomass
per unit of area than any single component production system. This is because the
system (agro forestry) improves soil fertility soil porosity, aeration, and controls soil
erosion by providing ground cover, exploit more soil volume, and regulate microclimate. It also
provides yearlong employment opportunity and diversified income.

7. Location:- Agro forestry production and land use system could be started in highland
areas of the regions where soil erosion. Land degradation and drought are serious threat to
agricultural development of region. As the benefit of the systems is realized it could be expand to
the medium and lowland areas of the region.