Impact of Agroforestry on Rural Development A Case Study From Dhankuta, Nepal

Abstract

Agroforestry is a systems where forestry practices are combined with agriculture and related activities. The main objectives of agroforestry system in rural communities are to optimized production and economies return per unit area. Agriculture and forestry are closely related with the livelihood of rural households of Nepal. It has been estimated that for sustaining 1 ha,of agriculture land 2.8 to 18 ha of forested land are required for agriculture and forest resources for their subsistence. More than 76.3 percent of total energy source and 40 percents of fodder needs are met by forest. Unfortunately, the land area occupied by forest is decreasing by leap and bounds. Overall forest cover is reducing at an alarming rate of 1.7 percent each year. The principal problems of Nepalese agriculture are: declining productivity and increasing livestock population. When this situation combines with forest deplition it further ramifies the problems. Therefore, agroforestry is greatly needed because of its potentiality of generating form household income and reducing the pressure on community’s forest, thereby assisting rural development in Nepal.

This study mainly focuses on impacts of agroforestry practices on farm household income and community forest management, thereby assisting rural development in Nepal. The objectives of the study are (i) to examine the benefits of the overall agroforestry systems (ii) to assess the impacts of agroforestry on local rural development (iii) to analyze the non timber forest products as of income generating activities (iv) to assess the impacts of revolving fond in community forestry of study area (v) to suggest suitable agroforestry systems that might be useful in study area.

Whatever the definitations agroforestry connotes using trees on farms. It is the ecologically best natural resources management system that sustains productions and benefits all those who use the land by integrating trees on farms and in the agriculture landscape. Rural development is a strategy to improve the economy and social life of specific group of people, the rural poor. The group includes small-scale farmers tenants and the landless. Agroforestry integrates trees with crop/or animals with the main objectives of reducing risk and increasing economy, Social and environmental productivity. Very little research, both at national and international level has been done regarding agroforestry systems and most are side specific. Thus they are less likely to applicable for there area. There are no legal aspects dealt with specifically in the context of agroforestry. Therefore they are often directed from general forestry sectors act and resolution.

The research was conducted in three VDCs (Rajarani, Ghorlikhraka, and Parewading) and one municipality of Dhankuta district, an eastern mid-hill district of Nepal. A total of 62 households from 12 FUGs were surveyed systemically. Household questionnaire survey, key informants, interviews, direct observation and informal interviews were carried out to obtain the data and related information. The secondary data and information were gathered from VDC, LFP, DFO, and other organizations. Descriptive statistical tools like frequencies, percentages and mean were used to present the general findings of the study. Mostly tables but graphical figures too, were used for describing the information. The average households size was found to be slightly lower compared to the district and national average households sizes. The average percentage of below 15 populations it was slightly lower compared to the district. The average total percent of literacy was slightly higher than national average and lower near about 10-29 percent than district. In the entire Dhankuta district there production of livestock products like milk and meat is huge. Ownership of land was found to be comparing primarily from the parents. Mast of he households had cultivated cereal crops in Khet land and wheat, maize and green vegetable in Bari land. The highest and the lowest food sufficiency was observed in Ghorlikhraka and Dhankuta municipality, respectively, for 9-12 months.

The major source of income was from agriculture agricultural crops followed by milk, contributed the highest percentage of household income. A substantial household income was generated directly or indirectly for NRM and CFM. A tremendous distance to be covered by the household to reach community forestry seemed to be reduced by the introduction of agroforestry development and community forest management. The majority of household reported that agroforestry controlled soil erosion by 20-30 percent. LFP has launched the IGA program in the study area to uplift the rural poor people through local NGOs, the majority of respondents had beneficed from the program.