Abstract

A. Padmavathy and G. Poyyamoli

Agroforestry is highly adaptable and applicable among a wide range of physical and social conditions as it enhances stability and productivity of agro-ecosystems and alleviate environmental stresses. Hence this practice plays substantial ecological and socioeconomic roles in farmer’s livelihood. This paper is an attempt to elucidate the relationships between biodiversity and income generation from agro-forestry systems, in order to identify the optimum sustainable agricultural practices that are ecologically sustainable and socioeconomic feasible in local context. This study was conducted in Kuruvinatham and Soriankuppam villages of Bahour commune, Puducherry during September 2008 to December of 2009; present study investigated 30 farms - 15 organic and 15 inorganic/conventional agricultural fields with varying agro forestry species composition and degree of commercialization. Data were gathered through interviews among selected farmers and 20 utilized species were identified. Species retention is governed by species relative importance. Conventional fields were found to be less diverse with reduced density resulting in low annual gross income. Thus it has less ecological and socioeconomic advantages, as compared to organic fields. Coverage on the field edges and boundaries, shading effects and beautiful natural scenery are the main causes for the adoption of agroforestry among organic farmers, whereas undermining agroforestry importance, ignorance, lack of awareness as well as land shortage are the major factors of non-adoption of agro forestry among conventional farmers. There is a critical need to raise recognition and awareness at the rural grassroots level to instill knowledge about the values of agroforstry and assist in appropriate tree management techniques and inter-cropping regimes as well as ensuring accessibility to markets among the farmers in order to enhance the ecological and socioeconomic sustainability of agro-ecosystems.