IDENTIFICATION OF PRESENT STATUS OF CROPLAND AND ORCHARD BASED AGROFORESTRY IN DINAJPUR DISTRICT

Abstract

An exploratory survey was conducted to investigate the present status, tree crop combination, species diversity and socio-economic impact of cropland and orchard based agroforestry in three upazilas i.e. Dinajpur sadar upazila, Birgong upazila and Parbotipur upazila of Dinajpur district during September to November, 2017. For the survey standard questionnaire was used. The independent variables of the study were age, education, occupation, family size, homestead area, cropland area, orchard area, total annual income, annual income from cropland, annual income from orchard and the dependent variables of the study were knowledge on trees, knowledge on agroforestry, participation in field day, communication exposure, composition of cropland and orchard, tree categories like fruit, fodder, timber etc. in cropland and orchard, tree crop combination, vegetation in the floor orchard, number of species during last 5 years, management practices in cropland and orchard, opinion about the impacts of cropland and orchard based agroforestry on livelihood and ecology and problems faced by respondents. The result of the study revealed that, Eucalyptus was the most common species among the different species planted by the respondents in their cropland followed by mango and mahogony. The Relative density (RD), abundance (A) and relative abundance (RA) were highest in Eucalyptus (64.52, 111.60, 24.97) while lowest in jackfruit (0.11, 2.66, 0.59). Similarly, important Value Index (IVI) was highest in Eucalyptus (125.76%) followed by mango (57.92%) and lowest in jujube (0.56%). Moreover, the result of the study also revealed that tree crop combination was the main issue for the cropland agroforestry system. From the study it was found that, most of the respondents cultivated rice with eucalyptus trees (50.8%) followed by potato with eucalyptus trees (15.0%). Again, in case of orchard based agroforestry, the result of the study revealed that, mango was the most common species among the different species planted by the respondents in their orchard followed by litchi and mahogony. The Relative density (RD), abundance (A) and relative abundance (RA) were highest in mango (50.38, 115.62, 13.70) while lowest in Indian olive (0.01, 1, 0.11). Similarly, Important Value Index (IVI) was highest in mango (90.03) followed by litchi (65.5%) and lowest in banyan tree (0.43%). From the study, it was also found that red amaranth were cultivated by the maximum (15.8%) respondents followed by bottle gourd (10.0%) at the floor of orchard. On the other hand cauliflower, countrybean and wheat were cultivated by the minimum respondents in their orchard (0.80%). Furthermore, maximum respondent stated that both cropland and orchard based agroforestry system improves their socio-economic condition by ensuring income and daily basic needs of their families. But maximum respondents faced problem of damaging trees and crops by freely grazing animals in cropland agroforestry system. Again, in case of orchard base agroforestry system insect infestation was the major problem faced by the farmers. However, the respondents advised that emphasis should be given by the authority in the availability of good quality seeds/seedlings for plantation and need proper training and management in the cropland and orchard based agroforestry.