Tree farming can save the environment
Dec 09, 2007
AGRO-FORESTRY is an integrated land-use management system where farmers deliberately cultivate trees and shrubs on the same piece of land as crops and livestock.
By Frederick Womakuyu
AGRO-FORESTRY is an integrated land-use management system where farmers deliberately cultivate trees and shrubs on the same piece of land as crops and livestock.
In the face of increased climatic change due to industrialisation, emission of dangerous fumes into the atmosphere and deforestation, experts argue that agro-forestry is the surest way to environmental sustainability to bring about increased absorption of the green house gases and protection of the soil surface from degradation due to human activities.
Dr. Kepha Nantulya, an environmental consultant, explains that in the era of rising human population, there is a threat to the land by continued use of the traditional shifting cultivation, but have gradually failed to meet the people’s food and energy needs.
He adds that agro-forestry technologies offer possible solutions: “They improve farm production at the same time combat environmental degradation. They are especially suited to small scale farmers in the tropics,†says Nantulya.
Nathan Wanambwe, the environmental officer Bugiri district, says agro forestry carries the following features:
It involves two or more plant species, with at least one woody perennial (plant which lasts for more than one or two years). It always has two or more products.
Wanambwe adds that the advantages of agro-forestry are:
The various components of an agro-forestry system produce food.
Trees and shrubs may yield fruit and leaves for use as vegetables. Annual food crops can be grown between or among the woody species. Leaves from the trees can be fed to livestock
Because of their deep roots, the woody perennials are less affected by short term water shortages than shallow rooted herbal plants. This stabilises the supply of food.
The resulting product diversity also improves the quality and quantity of food produced
Agro-forestry increases the supply of fuel wood and timber for construction and other uses
Woody perennials provide products, such as medicines and dyes
Agro-forestry contributes to maintenance of soil fertility, serves as wind breakers and creates micro-climates favourable to crops and animals
Enhancing soil fertility through agro-forestry improves economic and soil conditions in rural areas. It increases farm profitability, sustainability and create jobs.
“In general, agro-forestry contributes to improved standard and quality of life in rural areas,†says Wanambwe.
Maartin Mugerwa, an Environmantal consultant with Ministry of Environment says agro forestry can be practised in different ways:
Alley cropping
Alley cropping combines food crops or forage crops which are grown in alleys formed by the establishment of tree or shrub hedge rows.
“The trees or shrubs are established in single or multiple hedgerows.
Alley cropping can be practiced by the small holder and can also be easily adapted for medium to large sized mechanised farms.
Good alley cropping species include Leacaena, and acacia albida,†says James Madada, a farmer in Mukono.
Contour ploughing
Contour ploughing is similar to alley cropping, but it is designed especially for slopping lands.
The main objective of contour farming is soil erosion control. Contour ploughing can integrate food crops, tree crops and animal production.
Wood lot
A wood lot contains mainly wood perennials and serves as a principle source of fuel wood. Because a wood lot keeps the soil surface covered, it is also a soil and water conservation measure.
Acacia and neem are excellent tree species for it
Wind breaks
Wind breaks are strips of trees or shrubs planted to protect areas, (e.g. fields and homes), from strong winds that cause soil erosion. Teak, cashew and leucaena are all good wind breaks
Live fencing
Live fences are less costly to install and are easier to maintain. Many tree species can be grown as live fences, including acacia.
Boundary planting
Field and land boundaries can be clearly marked by planting trees along the boundary. This can help to avoid or solve boundary disputes among neighbours
Improved fallows
A rotational fallow system that uses leguminous trees that grow fast and yield high bio-mass as the fallow species in rotation with annual crops rather than allowing the natural vegetation to return, as is common in the traditional shifting cultivation.
Home gardens
Trees can be planted in home gardens and yards to provide shade as well as fruits, medicines, and other products for use in the home.
AGRO-FORESTRY is an integrated land-use management system where farmers deliberately cultivate trees and shrubs on the same piece of land as crops and livestock.
In the face of increased climatic change due to industrialisation, emission of dangerous fumes into the atmosphere and deforestation, experts argue that agro-forestry is the surest way to environmental sustainability to bring about increased absorption of the green house gases and protection of the soil surface from degradation due to human activities.
Dr. Kepha Nantulya, an environmental consultant, explains that in the era of rising human population, there is a threat to the land by continued use of the traditional shifting cultivation, but have gradually failed to meet the people’s food and energy needs.
He adds that agro-forestry technologies offer possible solutions: “They improve farm production at the same time combat environmental degradation. They are especially suited to small scale farmers in the tropics,†says Nantulya.
Nathan Wanambwe, the environmental officer Bugiri district, says agro forestry carries the following features:
It involves two or more plant species, with at least one woody perennial (plant which lasts for more than one or two years). It always has two or more products.
Wanambwe adds that the advantages of agro-forestry are:
The various components of an agro-forestry system produce food.
Trees and shrubs may yield fruit and leaves for use as vegetables. Annual food crops can be grown between or among the woody species. Leaves from the trees can be fed to livestock
Because of their deep roots, the woody perennials are less affected by short term water shortages than shallow rooted herbal plants. This stabilises the supply of food.
The resulting product diversity also improves the quality and quantity of food produced
Agro-forestry increases the supply of fuel wood and timber for construction and other uses
Woody perennials provide products, such as medicines and dyes
Agro-forestry contributes to maintenance of soil fertility, serves as wind breakers and creates micro-climates favourable to crops and animals
Enhancing soil fertility through agro-forestry improves economic and soil conditions in rural areas. It increases farm profitability, sustainability and create jobs.
“In general, agro-forestry contributes to improved standard and quality of life in rural areas,†says Wanambwe.
Maartin Mugerwa, an Environmantal consultant with Ministry of Environment says agro forestry can be practised in different ways:
Alley cropping
Alley cropping combines food crops or forage crops which are grown in alleys formed by the establishment of tree or shrub hedge rows.
“The trees or shrubs are established in single or multiple hedgerows.
Alley cropping can be practiced by the small holder and can also be easily adapted for medium to large sized mechanised farms.
Good alley cropping species include Leacaena, and acacia albida,†says James Madada, a farmer in Mukono.
Contour ploughing
Contour ploughing is similar to alley cropping, but it is designed especially for slopping lands.
The main objective of contour farming is soil erosion control. Contour ploughing can integrate food crops, tree crops and animal production.
Wood lot
A wood lot contains mainly wood perennials and serves as a principle source of fuel wood. Because a wood lot keeps the soil surface covered, it is also a soil and water conservation measure.
Acacia and neem are excellent tree species for it
Wind breaks
Wind breaks are strips of trees or shrubs planted to protect areas, (e.g. fields and homes), from strong winds that cause soil erosion. Teak, cashew and leucaena are all good wind breaks
Live fencing
Live fences are less costly to install and are easier to maintain. Many tree species can be grown as live fences, including acacia.
Boundary planting
Field and land boundaries can be clearly marked by planting trees along the boundary. This can help to avoid or solve boundary disputes among neighbours
Improved fallows
A rotational fallow system that uses leguminous trees that grow fast and yield high bio-mass as the fallow species in rotation with annual crops rather than allowing the natural vegetation to return, as is common in the traditional shifting cultivation.
Home gardens
Trees can be planted in home gardens and yards to provide shade as well as fruits, medicines, and other products for use in the home.