AGROFORESTRY POTENTIAL AND SCOPE FOR DEVELOPMEN ACROSS AGRO-CLIMATIC ZONES IN INDIA S.K. Dhyani, K. Kareemulla*, Ajitand A.K, Handa National Research Centre for Agroforestry, Gwalior Road, Jhansi - 284003 (U.P) Abstract: Agroforestry has high potential for simultaneously satisfying three important objectives viz., protecting and stabilizing the ecosystems; producing a high level of output of economic goods; and improving income and basic materials to rural population. Besides, Agroforestry is capable to conserve natural resources through various systems under different Agroclimatic regions. The livlihood security through Agroforestry and its potential in meeting basic needs viz., food, fuel, fodder, and employment generation are highlighted in this article. From the perspective of different Agroclimatié zone, suitable Agroforestry systems have been compiled along with estimated investment needs for extension/development support and net returns for the same. Among the agroclimatic zones, the highest estimated investment needs is in case of Westem plateau and hills (Rs. 2320 crores) followed by Western dry region (Rs. 2072 crores). A breakup of Agroforestry practices have been outlined to increase the area under Agroforestry from its current level of 7.45 million ha to 25.36 million ha by next two decades. The potential of Agroforestry in meeting the deficit of demand and supply in timber, fodder supply, bioenergy sector through tree biomass and meeting the food/fruit security has been enumerated. The direct benefits like employment generation and indirect ones like carbon sequestration and environment restoration have been emphasized in respect of various Agroforestry systems. INTRODUCTION groforestry is a dynamic ecologically based natural resource management system that, through the integration of trees/woody perennials in farm and rangelands, diversifies and sustains production for increased social, economic and environmental benefits (Leakey, 1996). In other words Agroforestry encompasses promotion of components like woody perennials, crops, livestock and other natural resources in temporal and spatial sequence, which will ultimately alter livelihood options and sustainability. Because of inbuilt resilience of Agroforestry systems, they were traditionally considered as livelihood opportunities in complex, diverse, fragile, poor and rainfed ecosystem, Agroforestry is an age old practice followed in some form or the other in different parts of the world. In India, large-scale Agroforestry in the form of Social Forestry was promoted in the 1980’s and 1990's, thanks to externally aided Social Forestry projects complemented by Government of India schemes under wastelands and watershed development projects. Intensification and commercialization of Agroforestry picked up momentum around the same time with the initiatives of corporate firms and NABARD. This is prominent in the green revolution belt of North India and in pockets of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Intensive Agroforestry has certainly created investment and employment opportunities to supplement the on-farm income (Kareemulla ef al., 2003; Saigal e¢ al., 2002). Besides the intensive/commercial Agroforestry, the traditional Agroforestry systems also provide ample avenues for entrepreneurship, especially for the rurai youth both in the farm and non-farm Agroforestry sector. Agroforestry systems for different agroelimatie zones Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched a massive R & D programme on Agroforestry in 1983 in the name of All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Agroforestry. Today the programme has 36 centres Indian Journal of Forestry, Vol. 32(2): 181-190, 2009 *Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Santosh Nagar, Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh).182 S.K, DHYANI, K. KAREFMULLA, AJIT AND A.K. HANDA covering all the agroclimatic zones of the country. As a result, significant improvements were made in Agroforestry research and improved Agroforestry systems have been developed for various agro- climatic zones. The important Agroforestry systems are agrisilviculture, agrihorticulture and silvipasture based systems for irrigated and rainfed conditions. The silviculture systems consist of pure plantations of important MPTS of the region like Acacia nilotica, Morus alba, Leucaena leucocepahla, Eucalyptus, Bamboos etc. The TBOs consist of tree species important for oil yielding seeds like Jatropha curcas Pongamia pinnata, Simaruba glauca, Azadirachta indica etc. The detailed Agroforestry systems and the different components of these improved Agroforestry systems for these zones are compiled in Table-1 Potential of Agroforestry Dhyani er al, 2007 have illustrated the potential of Agroforestry contributions to sectors like fuel wood, timber, fodder, food, fruits livestock and bioenergy. However, to realize the potential of Agroforestry, appropriate research interventions, adequate investments, suitable extension strategies, harvest process technology, development of new products, value addition and market infrastructure is a must, With these inputs, Agroforestry area can be extended to a potential of 25.36 million ha by next two decades from its current 7.45 million ha (Fig.1), which will help in augmentation and stabilization of production and productivity, meeting basic needs of tree based produce, minimize ecological degradation and ensure sustainable management of land, water and biodiversity (NRCAF, 2007). Fuel wood Fuel wood production from various sources was around 169 million tonnes in 1990, which increased to 201 million tonnes by 2001. Forests account for over 50 per cent of this supply, The rest comes obviously from the farmlands and community lands. About 10 million rural people are estimated to be engaged in collection of fuel wood (Mahapatra, 2003). Besides this many more are engaged in the marketing of fuel wood in rural and urban areas. The fuel wood scarcity has been obviously felt in areas Sede (Acne __Aanacatse Aenean __ Pattee or) Aaron FF) Soins HF) Fig. 1: Agroforestry potential that can be brought under improved systems by 2025 (Total 25.36 million ha: RF - Rainfed; Irri- Irrigated). where forests are absent. Therefore, in such areas Agroforestry has played its role to fulfill the firewood demand. Further, as the scope for extraction of firewood from the forests is decreasing gradually, the only alternative left for the people is to patronize Agroforestry on farm and community lands. By promoting either silvipasture or pure woodlots. supply from wastelands could be enhanced Timber The scenario of timber for domestic and industrial purposes is given in Table-2. Currently the ‘gap between supply and demand is met through imports. The deficit of 16 million cum (7.23 million tonnes) as on date (2008) could be met by promoting about 338068 ha of Poplars (@ 160 tha productivity at 7 years rotation) or a combination of other species like Eucalyptus, Subabul, Acacia mangium etc. and restricting imports. At a modest rate of Rs. 1000/t, this additional contribution will be Rs, 7230 million. The value addition in processing and the employment generation are other additional contributions. The major contribution of Agro- forestry has been in the supply of small timber, where more than half of the demand is being met from Agroforestry. Fodder Trees and shrubs often contribute substantial amount of leaf fodder in arid, semi arid and hillINDIAN JOURNAL OF FORESTRY Table-I: Improved Agroforestry systems for various agro-climatic zones Agro-climatic Zone Agroforestry System Tree Component Crop ‘Grass Western Himalayas Silvipasture (RE) Grewia optiva Setaria spp. Morus alba Setaria spp. Agrihorticulture Malus pumila Millets, Wheat Agrihorticulture Prunus persica Maize, Soybean Eastern Himalayas Agrisilviculture Anthocephalus cadamba Paddy Agrihorticulture ‘Alnus nepalensis Targe Cardamom! Coffee Silviculture Bamboos, Parkia roxburghii Morus alba Lower Gangetic Plains Silvipasture Bauhinia variegata, Ficus, Napier Morus alba Agrisilviculture (Irriy | Eucalyptus, Albizia lebbeck Paddy Mango/BananalLitehi Wheat, Paddy, Maize Agrihorticulture (Irri) Silvipasture Morus alba, Albizia lebbeck Dicanthium, Pennisetum Aagrisilvieulture (Ini) Populus deltoides Sugareane-Wheat Agrisilviculture (Irri) Eucalyptus Rice-Wh Middle Gangetic Plains |“Agristviculuwe | Datergiasisoo Sesamum Agrhorticulure (Wl) | Mango Cis Rice Wheat Silvipasture Albizia lebbeck Chrvsopogun, Dicanthivn Trans Gangetic Plains Agrihorticulture (Irri) Emblica officinalis Black gram/ Green gram Agrisilviculture Azadirachta indica Black gram - Wheat! Mustard Silvipasture Bauhinia variegata, Albizia lebbeck Cenchrus, Pennisetum Upper Gungetie Plains Agrisilyiculture (Irri) Populus detwides Wheat, Bajra fodder Agrisilviculture (Irvi) Eucalyptus Rice-Wheat Silvipasture Bauhinia variegata, Albizia lebbeck Chrysopogon, Poa Eastern Plateau & Hills Agrisilviculture Gmelina arborea Paddy, Linseed Agrisilvieulture Acacia nilotica Paddy Silviculture feacia mangium, A nilatica, Bamboos Ivipasture Leucaena leucocephala Chrysopogon, Pennisetum, Dicanthium Central Plateau & Hills Agrihorticulture (Ieri) Psidium gujava Bengal Gram/Groundnut Agrihorticulture (RF) Emiblica officinalis Black gram/ Green gram Agrisilviculture Acacia nilotica’ Lencaena leucocephala / Azadirachta indica/Albizia lebbeck Soyabean. Black ps MustardWheat Contd184 S.K. DHYANI, K. KAREEMULLA, AJIT AND A.K, HANDA. Agro-climatic Zone Agroforestry System Tree Component Crop /Grass Silvipasture (RF- and degraded lands) Albizia amara, Leucaena leucocephala, Chrysopogon, Stylosanthes hamata, Western Plateau & Hills Dichrostycus cinerea S. scabra TBOs (RF) Jatropha curcas - ‘Agrihortisilviculture (Irriy) | Tectona grandis, Achrus zapora_| Paddy. Mai Agrihorticulture ‘Areca catechu Black pepper, Cardamom Silviculture Prosopis julflora, Ailanthus | ~ Silvipasture eacia mangium, Albizia amara | Cenchrus ‘Agrisilviculture (RF) Eucalyptus Cotton = “Agrisilviculture (levi) Eucalyptus Chilli Souther Mates [Siviculture RF) Tencaena leucocephala Biicalypaus : ‘Agrihorticulture Tamarindus indica Chit TBOs ~ Pongamia pinnaia = — Agrisilviculture (RF) Ailanthus excelsa, Cow pea 1 ‘Acacia leucophloea East Coast Plains | Silviculture Casuarina equisetfola, : &Hills Leueaena leucocephala TBOs Pongamia pinnata E Siivipasture ‘Ariocarpus Chrysopogon, Napier. Cenchrus ‘West Coast Plains Agrisilviculture (RF) Acacia auriculiformis Black Pepper Agrihorticulture (RF) Artocarpus heterophyllus Black Pepper Agrisilviculture (RF) Acacia auriculiformis Paddy All Islands & Hills Agrihorticulture Cocos nucifera/Areca catechu | Paddy Agrisilviculture Casurina equisetifolia Paddy Silvipasture Hardwickia binnata, Cenchrus Albizia lebbeck Agrisilviculture Azadirachta indica Cow pea Silviculture Prosopis juliflora, Gujarat Coast Plains ara Acacia nilotica Agrisilviculture Ailanthus excelsa Green gram Silvipastare Teucaena lewcocephala Cenchrus, Setaria Agrisitvicultore Prosopis eineraria, Pearl millet Western Dry Region Azadirachta indica TBOs (RF) Jatropha curcas - ‘Silvipasture Albizia lebbeck Cenchrus _ Agrihorticulture Cocos nucifera Paddy Silvipasture Bauhinia, Erythrina, Leucaena Cenchrus, Pennisetum Invi: Irrigated, RF: Rainfed, TBOs: Tree Borne Oilseeds Note: Based on data compiled from AICRP on Agroforestry Centres (NRCAF, 2007).INDIAN JOURNAL OF FORESTRY Table-2: Demand and supply of timber for furniture, agriculture and industry (million cum) 185 Table-3: Supply and demand of fodder (million tonnes) Particulars 2001] 2006 | 2010*| 20204| 20254] | Particulars 200s | 2010 | 2020 | 2025 Demand 73 | 82 | 89 | 107 | 116| | Green Fodder Supply from forests] 12 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 2 Supply 38s | 395 | 406 | 426 Supply from nae \asalae ia aon elnian Demand | 988 | 1061 | 1134 | 1170 plantation and Deficit 603 | 666 | 728 | 744 Agroforestry Dry Fodder Deficit why Tie Ts Tat ‘Supply 428 | 4s | 473 | 934 Note: 2.2 Cum = I tonne, Source: Ganapathy (1997) and Demand | 549 | 590 | 630 | 650 Saxena (1990). * estimates of authors. Deficit i | 139 | 157 | 166 regions during lean period through lopping/pruning, of trees, popularly known as top feed. The fodder scenario of the country is given in Table-3. The fodder scarcity could be reduced through fodder cultivation on farmlands and through silvipasture on farm/community wastelands. Assuming availability of another 10 per cent of community wastelands for silvipasture, the additional fodder production (@ 2.0 Uha /yr at 40 % of research yield) would be 12 million t. At a modest price of Rs. 800/t the contribution would work out to Rs. 11,800 million, Food By virtue of diversity of the components of the Agroforestry systems like food grains, vegetables, fruits, nutritional security to the communities could be ensured. Induction of fodder cultivation under Agroforestry land use will ensure production of milk, ‘Source: Down to Earth (2004); DAHD (2002). meat and animal products. Wide range of foods crops, pulses and oil seeds can meet diverse needs of society. The estimated demand for food by 2025 will be 320 million t and food crops grown under Agroforestry alone are likely to contribute about 25 million Vannum (Table-4) Fruits In recent past when growth rate of agriculture is hovering around less than 4%, the growth in horticulture has been recorded 7%. Fruit production in the country during 2002 was 48.57 million t with almost $4 per cent contribution from Mango and Banana alone (Kalloo, 2003). Under Agroforestry system, fruits owe special significance on account of short juvenile phase than timber trees and assure ‘Table-4: Contributions of Agroforestry produce to national demand by 2025 Product Category Total Contribution from Agroforestry Contribution from Demand ‘Traditional improved Total Agroforestry (%) Timber (million eu m) 116 32 48 100 86 Fuel wood (million t) 330 60 B B 2 Fodder (million ( dry) 1040 100 | 12 112 It Fruits (million t) eB i | 44 39 4 TBOs (million of bio-diesel) 10 os | 5a 5.9 59 Food (million t) 308) | b 2 a Bioenergy (MW) 16000 4000 1000 5000 Forest cover (million ha) 100 10 i {25 25 Source: NRCAF (2007)186 S.K. DHYANI, K. KAREEMULLA, AJIT AND A.K, HANDA regular production for long period (up to 40 years). Experiences have indicated that agrihorticulture, obviously due to assured returns and notional security (Kareemulla ef al., 2002b) is preferred by the farmers than agrisilviculture. In recent years, Aonla (Emblica officinalis) has been promoted under agrihorticulture system and already more than 50,000 ha area is under improved cultivars of the species. A number of industries utilizing its products are providing value addition as well as employment generation. Further, on wastelands there is plenty of scope for introducing fruit trees as hortipasture components for immediate monetary gains and higher biomass yield without hampering forage production. An area of 14 million ha of rainfed lands can be developed under hortipasture land use. Livestock Promotion of silvipasture contributes in two forms namely additional fodder supply that ensures proper rearing of livestock and environmental protection, Small ruminant farming based on goats and sheep is most ideal under Agroforestry. The average net income from rearing of small ruminants in one ha of developed silvipasture is Rs. 7868 per year (Kareemulla ef al., 2002). Given the potential for silvipasture-based livestock farming at 10% of total silvipasture potential, the annual contribution would be about Rs. 439 crores. Bioenergy sector The main biomass energy sources in rural areas, which are being used in the households, include wood from forest, croplands and homesteads, cow dung and crop biomass, Bioenergy from tree biomass is one significant contribution from Agroforestry. Species like Prosopis juliflora are being used for power generation in states like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. P. juliffora due to high calorific value of over 5000 Keal is preferred in these power plants. An estimated 0,51 million ha area is under P. juliflora. Even if 25 per cent of the area is meant for power generation leaving the rest 75 per cent for fuel and charcoal, the bioenergy potential works out to 1000 MW. Similarly other tree species can be used for running the biomass based power plants. Thus a total of 5000 MW power could be produced from the biomass sources from trees under moderate conditions, which meets almost one third of the ultimate potential of 16000 MW from biomass. Establishing power plants of such a capacity attract an investment of Rs. 90830 crores. R & D can help in enhancing productivity and assisting the power plants in captive plantation management, on degraded lands. Promoting bioenergy through P.juliflora also encourages tremendous employment generation to the tune of 6.34 million mandays and 7.03 million woman days for fuel making in Tamil Nadu alone. Agroforestry for problematic soils and environment protection Land degradation is a global phenomenon. The problem is acute in India with almost 100 million ha under wind/water erosion, water logging, mine spoils, industrial polluted areas, etc (MOEF, 2006). With the establishment of National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) the problems of these areas are expected to be addressed with greater concern. Agroforestry can play a crucial role not only in reclaiming but also in maintaining the resource status on such Jands. Employment opportunities Dhyani ef al., 2003 have highlighted the role of Agroforestry products and environmental services to meet the subsistence needs of low income households and providing a platform for greater and sustained livelihood of the society. Increased supply of wood in the market has triggered a substantial increase in the number of small-scale industries dealing with wood and wood based products in the near past. Such industries have promoted Agroforestry and contributed significantly to increasing area under Farm Forestry. Recognizing Agroforestry as a viable venture, many business corporations, limited companies such as ITC, WIMCO, West Coast Paper Mills Ltd, Hindustan Paper Mills Ltd., financial institutes such as IFFCO have entered into the business and initiated Agroforestry activities in collaboration with farmers ona large scale, One of the major contributions ofINDIAN JOURNAL OF FORESTRY Agroforestry for the economy is the livelihood impact, both in terms of income and employment generation. Besides the existing Agroforestry practices, there is a tremendous potential for employment generation with improved Agroforestry systems to the tune of 943 million person days annually from the 25.4 million ha of Agroforestry area (Table-5). The maximum potential is in the Tree Borne Oil Seeds (TBOs) followed by silvipasture. Dhyani and Sharda (2005) have indicated the potential of Agroforestry for rural development and employment generation to the tune of 5,763 million human days yr from Indian Himalayas alone, 187 expected fo be 94,7 million hectare. Out of that the area under forest is 69.70 million hectare and in Agroforestry 25 million hectare. Thus the total carbon sequestration potential of these areas would be 118.37 million tones carbon ha yr! in next 25 years, Looking to the present and future rate of CO, equivalent emission in next 25 years would be 1227.68 million tones carbon yr'. The forestry and Agroforestry would sequester 9.3% atmospheric carbon dioxide into tree biomass. The steps proposed for terrestrial carbon management strategies and potential land use. For Carbon sequestration: afforestation, reforestation and Table-5: Employment generation potential through Agroforestry ‘AP Systems Area Additional employment Total employment/yr (million ha) generation/halyr (person days) {million person days) Silviculture 18 30 53.3 | Agrisilviculture (er.) 23 40 913 Agrisilviculture (RF) 13 30 38.0 Agrihorticulture (lnvi.) 15 30 76.1 Asrihorticulture (RF) 05 40. 20.3 Silvipasture 56 30 167.4 TBOs 124 40 497.1 Total [254 943.4 Source: NRCAF (2007) Agroforestry for Carbon Trading Agroforestry has importance as a carbon sequestration strategy because of carbon storage potential in its multiple plant species and soil as well as its applicability in agricultural lands and in reforestation. Agroforestry can also have an indirect benefit on carbon sequestration when it helps to decrease pressure on natural forests, which are the largest sinks of terrestrial carbon. Another indirect avenue of carbon sequestration is through the use of Agroforestry technologies for soil conservation, which could enhance carbon storage in trees and soils. The current and projected trends of green house gases (GHG) emission from India indicates that the rate of emission grew at the rate of 4 per cent per annum during 1990 and 2000 period and projected to grow further to meet the national restoration of degraded and wastelands; improved tree management practices to increase growth rates; implementation of Agroforestry practices/systems on agriculture and pasture lands. For Carbon conservation: Conservation of biomass and soil carbon in existing sinks; Improved loping and harvesting practices, Improved efficiency of wood processing; fire protection and more effective use of burning in both forest and agricultural systems; and for C substitution (substitution of fossil fuels): Increased use of biofuels, increased conversion of wood biomass into durable wood products for use in place of energy-intensive materials. Agroforestry practices such as: agri- silviculture or agri-horticulture systems for food and wood/fruit production; boundary and contour planting for wind and soil protection; silvi-pasture188 S.K. DHYANI, K. KAREEMULLA, AJIT AND A.K. HANDA system for fodder production as well as soi! and water conservation; complex Agroforestry systems, viz. multistrata tree gardens, home gardens, agri-silvi- horticulture and horti-silvi-pasture systems for food, fruits and fodder especially in hill and mountain regions and coastal areas and biofuel plantations are suitable for sequestering atmospheric carbon. Export The surplus production of timber under optimistic scenario could be exported. Similarly the horticultural produce from agrihorticulture system could also be exported. In light of increasing awareness world wide for herbal medicines, flowers and organically produced commodities, integration of woody perennials and herbaceous vegetation will not only diversify crops but also increase export potential of agriculture sector. It is worthwhile to mention here that Agroforestry development is mainly being targeted on marginal lands, which are practically chemical free. It is expected that foreign exchange earning will go up by several folds through crop diversification and Agroforestry. Simultaneously, new vistas will open from large scale adoption of Agroforestry. It will alone reduce burden of import of forest produce, which has exceeded 9000 crores per year. Policy and development interventions needed for maximizing the potential of Agroforestry ‘The suggested potential could only be tapped in the next two decades provided the following policy and development initiatives are taken up: Promotion of production and supply of quality planting material of Agroforestry species through incentives and by promoting adequate infrastructure. © Formulation and implementation of special line of scheme for credit to Agroforestry. © Rationalizing the tree felling and transit norms/ rules © Replicating the success of linkage models between farm and industry, by emphasizing public private partnerships. © Relaxation in land leasing rules by the State Governments for Agroforestry. Investment needs for Agroforestry development The estimated cumulative investment needs for aggressively promoting Agroforestry as per the suggested potential up to 2025 will be about Rs,15368 crores. At a moderate level of 2 per cent, the need for Agroforestry research budget in this period (2008 ~ 2025) would be a modest Rs. 307 crores. Among the agroclimatic zones, the highest investment need is in the case of Western plateau and hills followed by Western dry region. The estimated highest net returns are also the highest in the Western plateau and hills zone with almost Rs.3452 crores per year (Table-6).. The overall rates of returns at 117 (Table-7) are much above the return from many developmental projects. Lower annual rate of returns on investment in silvipasture and TBOs is due to lower mean returns compared to other system and obviously these can be offset by higher productivity in future. Though the rate of return for the investment in the potential of Agroforestry was estimated to be higher in agrisilviculture than under other systems (Table-7). Similarly the expected rate of returns was, higher under irrigated Agroforestry compared to rainfed Agroforestry system (Table-8). CONCLUSIONS Agroforestry (deliberate introduction/retention of trees on farmlands in a spatial/temporal sequence) is key path to prosperity for millions of farm families, leading to extra income, employment generation, greater food and nutritional security and. meeting other basic human needs in a sustainable manner. As mitigation strategy to climate change as well as rehabilitation of degraded land, the conversion of unproductive grasslands and crop land to Agroforestry is a major opportunity as it helps for carbon sequestration and makes land productive and reduces further soil degradation. By virtue of diversity of the components of the Agroforestry systems like food grains, vegetables, fruits, nutritional security to the communities couldINDIAN JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 89 Table-6: Agroclimatic zone-wise investment and returns for Agroforestry development ‘Agro-climatie Zone Investment need for extension Net Returas/yr and development support (Rs. Crores)_|__ (Rs. Crores for the base yeat 2006) Western Himalayas 987.20 959.02 Eastern Himalayas 498.98 468.63 Lower Gangetic Plains 260.99 240.27 Middle Gangetic Plains 1310.68 1459.54 Trans Gangetic Plains 67630 984.08 Upper Gangetic Plains 72729 1285.48 Eastern Plateau & Hills 1239.28 1317.52 Central Plateau & Hills 1769.21 1223.49 Wester Plateau & Hills 2520.30 3452.05 Southern Plateau & Hilis 1635.83 DI East Coast Plains & Fills 350.63 465.32 ‘West Coast Plains & Hills 49933 973.63 Gujarat Coast Plains & Hills 315.88 700.67 Westem Dry Region 2072.00 1629.33 All Islands 3.90 3.89 } india I 15567.80 Tosa 85 | Source: NRCAF (2007) Table-7: Rate of return from Agroforestry investment by system AP System Investment Returns Rate of Return (Rs. Crores) (Rs, Crores) (C6 per yr over Investment) Aarisilvieulture (Irri) 2561.55 3843.67, 150 Agrisilvicuiture (RF) 1536.19 2418.16 157 Silviculture 1548.16 1957.35 | 126 ‘Asrihorticulture (leri) 3607.97 4671.84 129 Agrihorticulture (RF) 509.52 667.01 Br Silvipasture 4925.97 3929.13 89 TBOs 1178.44 447.69 38 Over all 17 Source: NRCAF (2007) Table-8: Sector wise investment and returns (Rs. in crores) Irrigated Agroforestry Systems Investment Returns Rate of Return (%) 6169.52 8515.51 138 Rainfed Agroforestry Systems Investment Returns Rate of Return (%) 9198.28 9419.34 102 Source: NRCAF (2007) developmental needs. India’s CO, equivalent emission form all energy, industrial processes, agricultural activities, land use, land use changes and forestry (LUC&F) and waste management practices for the base year 1994 were 1228.54 million tones per year. If the area under Agroforestry, afforestation and reforestation programme is optimized, then this Jand use will have maximum potential to carbon sequestration for next 25 years. The area under plantation including Agroforestry is190 be ensured. Induction of fodder cultivation under Agroforestry land use will ensure production of milk, meat and animal products and also wide range of food crops, pulses and oil seeds can meet diverse needs of society. The article clearly indicates that Agroforestry have a number of linkages to food security, Firstly, they have direct impact on foods that can be gathered, forage for animal grazing around and other related activities which generate income and employment. Secondly, it provides many environmental services indirectly, such as protection of upland watersheds, protection of agriculture from natural disasters, acting as windbreaks, - provision of water for irrigation and drinking, etc. but more so through their effects on environmental issues. 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