Socio-economic assessment of existing agroforestry systems in Bangana Tehsil of Una district, Himachal Pradesh

The present study was carried out at Bangana Tehsil of Una district, Himachal Pradesh with the aim to identify existing agroforestry systems and to assess the demographic and socio-economic conditions of farmers. Five agroforestry system types were found being practiced by the farmers in the study area viz agri-silviculture (AS), agri-horticulture (AH), agri-horti-silviculture (AHS), silvi-pastoral (SP) and horti-pastoral (HP). Four agroforestry systems types were identified in the marginal and five each in the small and medium categories of farmers.Among them, SP and AS types were most widely adopted irrespective of farmers’ category. The average family members per household were in the order: medium (6.50) >small (6.29) >marginal (6.10). Sex ratio was observed as small (1005.89) >marginal (1003.03) > medium (988.66). Literacy rate was recorded highest (82.70%) in marginal followed bymedium(81.33%) and small(80.44%)categoryoffarmers.Allthefarmersadoptedtraditionalmethodsofmilking as they did not possess big dairy farms. Overall average landholding was recorded 7.47 hectares in all sampled categories of farmers. The average landholding area was found maximum (4.68 ha) in medium followed by small (1.9 ha) and marginal (0.89 ha) categories.