Agroforestry systems
Agroforestry is defined by the World Agroforestry Centre as a dynamic, ecological based, natural resources management system that, through the integration of trees on farms and in the agricultural landscape, diversifies and sustains production for increased social, economic and environmental benefits for land users at all levels. In other words, agroforestry is the art and science of sustainable land use that combines natural or planted trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock on the same unit of land, in ways that increase and diversify farm and forest production while also conserving natural resources. It involves multiple plant components and a high level of interaction between the woody and non-woody components.
Agroforestry systems are found throughout the world, particularly in the tropics, and include a set of various types of tree-based systems that are available to farmers: tree-crops, orchards (fruit trees), home gardens, pastures, fuelwood lots, timber trees, shelterbelts, etc.
Millet grown in association with <i>Acacia albida</i>, Segou, Mali <br> (Photo: A. Faidudi)
The concept of integrating trees and crops/livestock on the same farm goes back a long way. However, although pursued by a few insightful researchers since the early 1930s, scientific agroforestry only really came into prominence in the late 1970s and their integration is still not fully accommodated within agricultural incentive schemes.
The optimum integration of trees in farming systems is still facing major constraints in large part related to economic and policy competition with agricultural sector.