Socio-economic evaluation of agroforestry systems

Majority of the farmers practiced bund (38.89%) and boundary planting (38.89%) followed by scattered planting (22.22%)and density of trees per hectare varied in the range of 20 to 35. However, Chi-square test found significant association between the tree density and farmers preference of growing trees to size of land holding, net income, energy source and holding of livestock population (P<0.05). Further, farmers preferred trees for productive value such fuel wood, timber and fodder which make them self reliant to meet their basic needs than the protective value. Further, the majority of the respondent expressed competition with crop followed by lack of irrigation facility and small land holding size were the major constraints for growing trees on the farm land. Understanding the farmer's immediate need, preference and perception should be effectively addressed while designing agroforestry systems.