Abstract :
Agroforestry empowers farmers to take risk in long term investments like growing tree species and/ or rearing livestock, fluctuation in price and increase or decrease in demand and supply of agri produces. To access socio-economic conditions of both agroforestry and non agroforestry farmers, a survey was conducted in Haridwar, India. To analyze it, data pertaining to socio-economic indicators such as income level and employment, family size and community structure like land holding value, land distribution and ownership type, housing characteristics and labour resources were collected and then compared. To elaborate this comparison more, some other factors like farming and agroforestry experience, decision making, knowledge, awareness and favor to agroforestry etc. were also studied. Results revealed that approximately 97.8 per cent of sampled households were male headed. Approximately 18.90 per cent agroforestry and 34.43 per cent non-agroforestry respondents were having less than 1 ha of land. About 75.62 per cent agroforestry farmers and 67.21 per cent non agroforestry farmers considered farming as main occupation. The higher income status in categories was found more (12.60% and 27.40%) in agroforestry respondents than (6.56% and 14.75%) in non agroforestry respondents. It was concluded that higher income status enables agroforestry farmers to live their live style according to their own choice, hence, encouraging them to adopt, continue or promote agroforestry in their field.
Keyword :
Adoption, Adopters, Agroforestry, Farmers, Practice, Socio-economic