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Agroforestry, the word coined in early seventies, has made its
place in all the developed and the developing countries of the
world and is now recognized as an important approach to ensuring
food security and rebuilding resilient rural environments. India
has been an all-time leader in agroforestry. The South and
Southeast Asia region comprising India is often described as the
cradle of agroforestry. Almost all forms of agroforestry systems
exist across India in ecozones ranging from humid tropical lowlands
to high-altitude and temperate biomes, and perhumid rainforest
zones to parched drylands. The country ranks foremost among the
community of nations not only in terms of this enormous diversity
and long tradition of the practice of agroforestry, but also in
fostering scientific developments in the subject. Agroforestry
applies to private agricultural and forest lands and communities
that also include highly erodible, flood-prone, economically
marginal and environmentally sensitive lands. The typical situation
is agricultural, where trees are added to create desired benefits.
Agroforestry allows for the diversification of farm activities and
makes better use of environmental resources. Owing to an increase
in the population of human and cattle, there is increasing demand
of food as well as fodder, particularly in developing countries
like India. So far, there is no policy that deals
with specifics in agroforestry in India. But, the Indian
Council of Agricultural Research has been discussing on the scope
of having a National Agroforestry Policy in appropriate platforms.
However, evolving a policy requires good and reliable datasets from
different corners of the country on the subject matter. This
synthesis volume containing 13 chapters is an attempt to collate
available information in a classified manner into different system
ecologies, problems and solutions, and converging them into a
policy support.
It is well known that the impacts of climate change are tangible
and hence there can be no debate about the need for appropriate
adaptation measures, on a priority basis. However, it is equally
important to recognize the fact that adaptation measures actually
represent a dynamic synthesis of interventions pertaining to
multiple systems. These are particularly of water, soil
characteristics, genotypic and phenotypic variations and their
expressions, age-correlated biochemical changes aligned with
planting schedules and favorable weather/climate conditions.
Nutrients, occurrence and distribution of associated vegetation
including crop mixes also influence productivity. The overarching
aspect of farming practice wields significant influence on the
outcome and hence it is important to be clear about the particular
focus of the investigations being carried out and reported in a
suitable manner. It is essential to recognize that scientific
research in agriculture in India has always produced valuable
results of direct relevance to her people. Importantly,
preparedness to tackle disasters due to inclement weather system
has prominently featured on the agenda. The recent focus on climate
change and impacts has provided the necessary impetus to reorganize
the framework of investigation to capture the specifics of such
impacts. In this context, the importance of micro climate
variations too viz-a-viz the larger scales of impacts cannot be
overemphasized. It will be useful to also help characterize natural
variations versus artificially induced variations, helping us
understand the complexities of individual and synergistic impacts
too. Obviously, the limits and limitations of models could
determine the spread and depth of the outcomes of investigations.
Empirical evidences to reinforce assumptions have to also be
documented with utmost care; guided by an understanding of the
limits of tolerance, limiting factors, and the precautionary
principle especially in the public policy interface. The present
volume therefore, showcases these strands with the fond hope that
they will stimulate further thinking and enable appropriate action.
Agroforestry, the word coined in early seventies, has made its
place in all the developed and the developing countries of the
world and is now recognized as an important approach to ensuring
food security and rebuilding resilient rural environments. India
has been an all-time leader in agroforestry. The South and
Southeast Asia region comprising India is often described as the
cradle of agroforestry. Almost all forms of agroforestry systems
exist across India in ecozones ranging from humid tropical lowlands
to high-altitude and temperate biomes, and perhumid rainforest
zones to parched drylands. The country ranks foremost among the
community of nations not only in terms of this enormous diversity
and long tradition of the practice of agroforestry, but also in
fostering scientific developments in the subject. Agroforestry
applies to private agricultural and forest lands and communities
that also include highly erodible, flood-prone, economically
marginal and environmentally sensitive lands. The typical situation
is agricultural, where trees are added to create desired benefits.
Agroforestry allows for the diversification of farm activities and
makes better use of environmental resources. Owing to an increase
in the population of human and cattle, there is increasing demand
of food as well as fodder, particularly in developing countries
like India. So far, there is no policy that deals with specifics in
agroforestry in India. But, the Indian Council of Agricultural
Research has been discussing on the scope of having a National
Agroforestry Policy in appropriate platforms. However, evolving a
policy requires good and reliable datasets from different corners
of the country on the subject matter. This synthesis volume
containing 13 chapters is an attempt to collate available
information in a classified manner into different system ecologies,
problems and solutions, and converging them into a policy support.
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