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Does Traditional Agroforestry a Sustainable Production System in Bangladesh? an Analysis of Socioeconomic and Ecological Perspectives

Kazi Kamrul Islam*
Department of Agroforestry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

Mohammad Saifullah
Natural Resource Management Division (Forestry Unit), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Farmgate, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh; m.saif@brac.gov.bd

Kimihiko Hyakumura
Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; hyaku@agr.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

In the tropics, products and services provided by the traditional agroforestry systems (TAS) support the basic needs and promote the livelihood of millions of rural people. However, the outcomes and mitigation of TAS, in particular, the social and environmental issues are not systematically addressed. Thus, the objective of the study was to assess the economic, social and environmental outcomes of two important TAS in Bangladesh. This study reports results on prospective analyses using the Date palm and Jackfruit-based TAS practiced in the Jashore and Mymensingh districts of Bangladesh. The results revealed that the TAS enhanced farm productivity and the benefit-cost ratio of both systems were much higher than the general agricultural practices in Bangladesh. The TAS also improved the resilience of rural farmers through more efficient water utilization, enhancing soil fertility, improving microclimate, controlling pests and diseases, and diversifying products. At the same time, the farmers’ problems were neglected due to the absence of farmers’ platforms, and also tradeoffs may arise; thus, the social aspects of the TAS farmers had not developed equally. Therefore, the study would recommend minimizing the tradeoffs through enhancing the conservation strategies at farmers’ levels to make the TAS more viable and sustainable land-use practices.

Keywords: Agroforestry; Economic; Social; Ecological; Mitigation; Tradeoffs; Conservation

Location: Department of Agroforestry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Agroforestry

Objectives:

The sustainability of traditional agroforestry depends on the social, economic and environmental aspects of the system.

Methodology:

2.1. Description of the Two Agroforestry Systems The Date palm is evergreen and beneficial tree species that are commonly found in the greater Jashore region of Bangladesh, and the Date palm-based traditional agroforestry system has been practicing in this region since time immemorial. In this system, the Date palm trees are generally grown in the boundary or inside the cropland in a scattered manner. As a deep-rooted and straight canopy-bearing tree species, the Date palm has occurred minimum competition with associated crops in terms of water, light and nutrients. The Date palm tree provided juices in the winter season (locally called Khejur gur) which is an important source of sugar and a good substitute for sugarcane sugar in Bangladesh. Farmers are economically benefited to produce sugar and also collected firewood and fruits periodically from the Date palm trees. The Date palm is easily germinated through seeds and established in the soil even in poor-quality soil. The soil (sandy loam) and climate (moderately higher temperature) of the greater Jashore region are favorable for growing Date palm tree. The study found that farmers are extensively cultivated different winter vegetables (e.g., cabbage, cauliflower, radish, turnip, green pea, carrot, Indian spinach, etc.) and cereal crops such as rice and mustard in association with Date palm trees in the Jashore district of Bangladesh. However, the Date palm-based agroforestry practice can continue up to a 30-year cycle and farmers get the Date palm juice after 5-years of tree plantation.

On the contrary, the Jackfruit is an important tropical fruit, and the Jackfruit-based traditional agroforestry production system is very common in Bangladesh, particularly in the Mymensingh and Gazipur districts of Bangladesh. The soil (slightly acidic and reddish color) type and environment (high rainfall and temperature) of the Mymensingh and Gazipur regions of Bangladesh are favorable for the Jackfruit-based agroforestry production system [15]. In this system, the Jackfruit trees are grown in the boundary or inside the cropland, and different agricultural crops are cultivated in association with Jackfruit trees. The competition for light, water, and nutrients between trees and crops are much higher than the Date palm-based traditional agroforestry system. The timber and fruits of Jackfruit are economically profitable products and farmers can get higher productivity in practicing this traditional agroforestry system.

2.2. Study Location The study was conducted in the three villages of Jashore and another three villages of Mymensingh districts which belong to the High Ganges River Floodplain and Old Brahmaputra River Floodplain Agroecological Zones (AEZ) of Bangladesh. The soil of Jashore is predominantly included calcareous dark grey to the brown floodplain and the average rainfall is 1640 mm per annum. However, the soil of Mymensingh is slightly acidic and sandy loam with an annual higher average of 2249 mm rainfall. Agriculture is the major profession of both areas’ farmers and rice is the main cereal crops cultivated by the farmers.

Source of Information: Conservation 2021, 1, 21–35.

Article Link (Online Journal): https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation1010003

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

As a tree crop production system, the traditional Jackfruit and Date palm-based agroforestry systems have enormous benefits that contribute to rural farmers in mitigating adverse climatic conditions and as well as efficiently increased their farm productivity. The study’s results showed that traditional agroforestry led to enhance farm income by producing diversified products including non-timber forest products such as juice and fruits in Bangladesh. Date palm- and Jackfruit-based agroforestry systems have successfully contributed to efficient water utilization, improvement in microclimate, enhance soil fertility and productivity, control pests and diseases, backup crop failure and increase the productivity of the system. Therefore, traditional agroforestry should attract more attention nationally and internationally on the ground of sustainable land-use practices because of its positive economic and environmental impacts. However, the study argues that more emphasis needs to be placed on how traditional agroforestry can offer greater social stability through creating farmers’ platforms and accumulation of scientific conservation strategies while maximizing natural resources. Therefore, if we can see the traditional agroforestry as a long-term sustainable land-use practice, equal importance should be given to the economic, social and ecological dimensions of the traditional systems, and also proper conservation strategies that demonstrate clear adaptation benefits. At the same time, the existing conservation strategies of the traditional agroforestry systems would need to place in such a way that the possible tradeoffs would be minimized and build the tree crop production systems a more viable and profitable one. However, the study has based on a questionnaire survey and farmers' perception which did not visualize the accurate results in the environmental benefits of agroforestry, thus, the study argues further ecological analysis based on experimental design would be necessary to evaluate the environmental benefit of traditional agroforestry systems. Finally, to make further policy implications on the sustainability of the traditional agroforestry systems, this study’s result will help support that initiative nationally and globally.

Knowledge Management: Journal