Viable Agroforestry Models and their Economics in Yamunanagar District of Haryana and Haridwar District of Uttaranchal

Abstract

In India, natural forests are being conserved primarily for the environmental benefits. Serious efforts are also being done to plant large number of trees outside forest under social forestry programs to increase the tree cover and fulfill demand of various forest produce required by the people and forest based industries. Agricultural fields are one of the potential areas, where large scale planting of trees can be taken up along with the agricultural crops. Agroforestry models adopted by the farmers in Haryana and Uttaranchal states of India are highly lucrative, therefore, attracting farmers in a big way. NPV for different models on six years rotation varies from Rs. 26,626 to Rs. 72,705 ha^-1 yr^-1 whereas Benefit-Cost ratio and Internal Rate of Return vary from 2.35 to 3.73 and 94% to 389% respectively. Agroforestry has not only uplifted socioeconomic status of the farmers but also contributed towards overall development of the region.