Integration of natural resins and gums yielding trees in agroforestry systems for enhancing livelihood security

Natural resins and gums (NRGs) are the most important non timber forest products (NTFPs) and are widely traded in national and international markets. Collection and processing of NTFPs provide employment to about 400 million people inhabiting in and around forests in India. However, their employment is at risk as the production base of NTFPs has been declining due to unscientific over tapping of existing trees in forests. Integration of gum/resin-yielding trees in agroforestry systems offers great potential for utilization of available resources and increasing productivity of NRGs on sustainable basis besides providing livelihood support options and ensuring ecological stability of the land-use. This article is an attempt to showcase current status of NRGs in India, research & development initiatives to standardize tapping techniques and development of gum-yielding tree based agroforestry models for semi-arid region of Central India, the policy support and the future prospects.