Guide On AgroForestry
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AGROFORESTRY
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INTRODUCTION
 Agroforestry, cultivation and use of trees and shrubs 
with crops and livestock in agricultural systems. 
 Agroforestry seeks positive interactions between its 
components, aiming to achieve a more ecologically 
diverse and socially productive output from the land 
than is possible through conventional agriculture. 
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PRACTICAL AND LOW-COST 
 Agroforestry is a practical and low-cost means of 
implementing many forms of integrated land 
management (which seeks to reduce human impacts 
on land), and it contributes to a green economy by 
promoting long-term, sustainable, and renewable 
forest management, especially for small-scale 
producers. 
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EMERGENCE OF AGROFORESTRY
 Although the modern concept of agroforestry emerged 
in the early 20th century, the use of woody perennials 
in agricultural systems is ancient, with written 
descriptions of the practice dating back to Roman 
times. 
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BENEFITS OF AGROFORESTRY
 Agroforestry can occur at a variety of spatial scales in 
different ecosystems and cultures. 
 When properly applied, agroforestry can improve 
livelihoods through enhanced health and nutrition, 
increased economic growth, and strengthened 
environmental resilience and ecosystem sustainability.
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BENEFITS OF AGROFORESTRY 
CONT.
 The benefits of agroforestry derive from the 
interactions between trees and shrubs and crops and 
livestock. 
 Agroforestry seeks to optimize positive interactions, 
such as mutualism and commensalism, and to 
minimize predation on crops and livestock and 
competition within and between species.
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AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES
 Agroforestry systems are intensively managed to 
maintain their productive and protective functions 
through cultivation, fertilization, irrigation, pruning, and 
thinning. 
 Ideally, components are structurally and functionally 
combined and actively managed to optimize the 
positive biophysical interactions between them.
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HISTORY OF AGROFORESTRY
 Agroforestry was formally outlined in the early 20th 
century by American economic geographer J. Russell 
Smith in his book Tree Crops: A Permanent 
Agriculture (1929). 
 Smith viewed tree-based “permanent agriculture” as a 
solution to the destructive erosion that often followed 
the cultivation of sloping lands.
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MULTIPURPOSE TREES 
FOR AGROFORESTRY
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ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTATION
 A multipurpose tree must be able to adapt to the 
area's climate, soil, topography, and plant and animal 
life. 
 This is especially important for exotic species, that is, 
species introduced from outside the project area or 
from outside the country.
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NEEDS OF FARMERS
 The species should meet the needs of farm families. 
For this reason, it is important to involve farmers, both 
men and women, in selecting species. 
 They should identify desired tree products and 
planting locations based on local markets as well as 
conservation needs.
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EASE OF MAINTENANCE
 Some species are more difficult to look after than 
others. Farmers should consider beforehand how 
much time they have to care for the trees. 
 If they require additional skills and knowledge to grow 
a particular species, training or demonstration 
programs should be organised.
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AVAILABILITY OF GENETIC 
MATERIALS
 Seeds or seedlings of the species being considered 
must be easy to obtain. 
 If vegetative propagation is required, farmers should 
receive training in how to do this. Seeds of Gliricidia 
sepium and Sesbania spp., for example, might not be 
readily available. 
Source: www.britannica.com