Economic Evaluation of Poplar based Agro-forestry System in Punjab

The present study was conducted in Punjab to examine the financial viability of poplar based agro-forestry system. The data were collected for the year 2015–16. The total sample of 70 farmers was selected which grew poplar as block plantation. BC ratio, NPV and annuity value were estimated. Two types of agro-forestry systems AFS-1 (wheat + khariff fodder during first four years) and AFS-2 (sugarcane for first two years and wheat during 3–4 years) were identified. AFS-2 (NPV 164998/acre) gave marginally higher returns than AFS-1 ( 155489/acre) at 12% discount rate at fourth year of harvesting. The study revealed that net returns from poplar cultivation were at par with pure cropping system as the returns from paddy-wheat rotation were 46833/acre in 2015–16.