Basic Research in agroforestry are still limited to data extrapolation from individual forestry and agricultural sector . I would like to know is agroforestry as a totally independent sector really developing as a true science.
I request learned RG members of the subject discuss the matter with facts and figures to reach a logical conclusion of my query . Regards .
How do agroforestry differs from forestry? I think one of the issues that agroforestry is owned by agroprofessional, forestry professionals and bioenergy experts.-- This is a great potential for collaboration in research, but also a conflict in competition for funds. Also, it does not look really different from orchard management or short rotation plantation management. It has a distinct difference compared to annual crop management or indiginous or long rotation forestry.--
Offcourse agroforestry is not developed as expectedin developing countries like Ethiopia. The main reseaon to this may be lack of adoption and its long term rewarding copared with crop cuptivation and livestock keeping.capability
Thank you Robert and Belay for giving me some insight on the way agroforestry research going on . Regards !
Yes ofcourse agroforestry is developing as a true science, but in a very limited premices of Agricultural Universities where the Forestry college is available. There is no any extension service having the many states like Gujarat. there are so many agroforestry experts available with states but they are not interested to use them properly they are only interested in creating them only. by changing policies in states as well as central level we could make agroforestry as a true science and usefull for farmers and mitigating climate change effects.
Tewari Sir as you mention agroforestry a science? and developing in true science! We all know agroforestry was a traditional form of land mangement system and in 1970 only sit was felt that this conventinal tree farming on agricultural field need to be redefine and scientifically progressed. As Robert said how agroforestry is diffrent from forestry which need to be addressed and further the concept of insight is required that integtartion of crops , trees and livestock is not agroforestry but a much more aspects play a dynamic role. The present agroforestry education and reserach is not planned taking all these aspects being it a multidisciplinary approch.It is always a debate between agronomist and silviculturist that who is true agroforester!!!a or a agriculturist and forester. And we know neither of them are fully competent unless they have gone through a integrated courses of crop science, tree farming and livestock mangement but our present national or international ARES not addressed this problem. India is one of for agroforestry education and reserch All are going independent garduation with agriculture , Forestry or Animal husbandry, NRM and jumping directly to Mater and PhD in agroforestrys, so how they will dfevelop methodology and reserch for agroforstry without that basic knowledge. pionner to have AICRP on AF since 1983 but still not able to define its execuable research planfor agroforestry and same with ICFRAF along with national institute CAFRI , Nairobi.
Thanks Prof. Manmohan for educating me , after working more than 32 years exclusively in agroforestry this question always was in my mind. Let the views of other learned experts will come and then we will be able to reach a logical conclusion . Regards !
Hi,
I think today there is a barely visible delineation between agroforestry, forestry and agronomy. That's because the classic fields (forestry and agronomy) evolved and increased their complexity and now there are a lot of overlapping areas. But agroforestry seemed (in my personal opinion) to stagnate.
Considering the classic book of Nair (1993, An introduction to agroforestry) we observe that a lot of the problems remained unchanged and in the last decade quite a few studies included agroforestry in the new trends (e.g. Ong, C. K., Black, C., & Wilson, J. (Eds.). (2015). Tree-crop interactions: agroforestry in a changing climate. CABI).
Thank you very much , Ciprian ! In fact , I want to debate in the subject so that we could reach to some conclusions on the issue . Thanks again for your excellent view . Regards !
To my opinion it is developing at a slow pace in developing countries as comared to developed countries.pSimple reason is that of enormous human population in developing countries which hardly allows any area to be dedicated for long term plans.However in countries like US,CANADA ,AUSTRALIA huge area is under agroforestry as compared to cultivation of field crops.Accordingly fund diversion and schemes to attract agroforetry are meagre in countries like India.However keeping pollution levels and declining rainfall pattern in lieu of global warming,this issue should get priority.
Hello Mr Tawari. In countries like Spain, agroforestry has struggled hard to set itself as an independent science. The basic principles were clear, but the weight and momentum of both pure forestry and agronomical sciences have somehow driven them on their own, close but independent. Despite a general consensus on the need for transcending this split view, and the severe problems the mixed agricultural and forest areas represent for Mediterranean land management, we are still failing for this purpose.
The need to create new ways of dealing with the increasing wildfire threat around populated areas, surrounded by partially abandoned crops and farming lands, will probably change this situation in our region. Multiple voices and initiatives are refocusing on agroforestry as the multidisciplinary tool we need to strengthen and use a wiser land management in the next decade.
Dear Hech and Jesus , Thank you very much for sharing your views on the issue related to development of agroforestry as a true science .
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