Source: BL
Context:
Smallholder farmers in India face rising climate risks, shrinking landholdings, and market volatility. The Western Ghat Agroforestry Lab has developed a model demonstrating how diversified agroforestry systems can enhance both income and ecological resilience.
Key Highlights:
- Tiered Income Approach:
- Short-term crops: Ragi, maize, sweet potato, and groundnut provide ₹45,000–55,000 annually.
- Livestock integration: Two buffaloes and two goats contribute ₹40,000–50,000 annually from milk, manure, and meat.
- Medium-term trees: Fruit trees (mango, cashew, coconut) yield ₹80,000–90,000 annually after 3–5 years.
- Long-term timber: Teak and rosewood harvested after ~15 years generate ₹5–12 lakh, serving as “biological savings.”
- Ecological Benefits:
- Improved soil structure, organic carbon, and water retention.
- Supports biodiversity and reduces chemical input through mulching, contour planting, and organic nutrient cycles.
- Potential additional income from carbon credit markets.
- Scalability & Adaptation:
- Suitable for high-rainfall regions like Western Ghats and Konkan.
- Can be adapted to drier zones with drought-tolerant species.
- Institutional support needed for credit access, training, market linkages, and timber transport regulations.
