Agroforestry trends in Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Pakistan in general and the province of Punjab in particular have a narrow forest resource. More than 90% of the fuel wood and about 72% of timber requirements are being met from trees growing on the private farm lands, based on agro forestry / social forestry / community forestry as compared with the state forests. It is obvious that trees have to be grown in conjunction with agricultural crops on private farm lands. The main objectives of the study pertain to agro forestry trend in Punjab, Province of Pakistan along with the identification of the agroeclogical zones of the province including evaluation of adaptation level of agro forestry interventions; assessment of the aptitude of agro-foresters towards tree planting and hurdles in expansion of the agro forestry. For this, a survey of 257 farm plantations (FP) was conducted in 20 districts of the Punjab Province and more than 257 agro-farmers were interviewed through a prescribed performa. However, a correlation between linear and compact designs of the agro forestry was established. From the study of the survey results, it has also been noticed that out of 257 FP, only three FP belonged to the lessees and 254 belonged to land owners. It was also noted that number of FP considerably increased during 1995 to 2000, when the Punjab forest department transferred technology and provided various incentives and financial subsidies. The farmers can further increase it, if the government revives financial/technical incentives and marketing facilities.

Key words: Agro forestry, linear and compact design, land tenure, agroeclogical zones, spacing.