Effects and financial performance of popular-based agroforestry systems in the North-western region of India

Abstract

A field survey was conducted during 1997–98 to examine the financial performance of poplar (Populus deltoides) based agroforestry systems, i.e. I: poplar with sugarcane-wheat-sorghum-turmeric, II: Poplar with sugarcane-wheat-sorghum-wheat-fallow, III: poplar with wheat-sorghum-fallow, IV: poplar on the field boundaries with sugarcane-rice (Oryza sativa)-wheat crops, and V: poplar on the boundaries of rice-wheat crop rotation, In the north-western region of India. The results indicated that poplar trees had adverse effect on crop yields, but the reported losses in agricultural production were typically offset by the income received from the trees. The financial viability of agroforestry systems is proved through all the three criteria - NPV, BCR and IRR, and on the basis of direct benefits only. Inclusion of in direct benefits would have shown the economic viability to be even higher. The findings indicate that all agroforestry practices are profitable under a broad range of conditions and are therefore likely to be widely applicable. The annual average margin per hectare in the agroforestry systems showed that agroforestry is more profitable than traditional rice-wheat and sugarcane based cropping systems. The fairly high financial viability of agroforestry would show that this is a sector very much worth investing in.