Principles or consideration for agroforestry project design
- Productivity
The productivity of recommended agroforestry system should be high production in both agriculture and forest products. Productivity should also be seen from the point of view of improved stability of the farming system, increased labour efficiency, reduction of inputs and improve the value of the land etc. There are different ways in improving the productivity of agroforestry systems. These are:
- Increase in tree products
- Improved the yield of associated crops
- Reduction of cropping inputs
- Increase labor efficiency
- Diversification of production
- Satisfaction of basic needs
- Other measures of socio-economic efficiency
- Sustainability
It is a pattern of resource development and use that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come.
The agroforestry model should be for its ability to provide sustained yield overtime. The system must be based on the principles of optimal production in order to consider the ecological principles.
Analysis of the capacity of new technology to meet short and long-terms objectives; analysis of expected changes and requirements related to soils, water, vegetation, management, and commercial input/output streams, and sustainability of achievements.
- Adaptability
Technology (species and techniques) recommended for agroforestry system development should be socially and environmentally applicable in local situation for which it is designed.
- Economic viability
The benefit/cost ratio, and cost effectiveness; net returns to land/labor/cash; risk and sensitivity analysis of proposed agroforestry models should be done for measuring economic viability.
- Farmer acceptability
It is comparability analysis with respect to resources and management, and social analysis with respect to defined rules and responsibilities within household obligations. It is essential to analyze who in the household makes decisions on the resources required, who has to do the work, and who will receive the benefit accruing from proposed changes. Proposed technology should be beneficial to the women of all households involved in this program.
- Adoption potential
Analysis of technology impacts in terms of number of farmers adopted this technology or lateral adoption, and institutional and infrastructural support system analysis should also be carried out while developing agroforestry projects.
- Multiple function
The species selected for agroforestry system must give multiple benefits such as food security, income generation, soil fertility improvement and environment protection etc to the farmers.
- Stratification
Design of planting schemes should consider the dimension of space and time. It must consider both horizontal as well as vertical perspectives