Although it can be practised in virtually all climatic zones by farmers of all socio-economic levels, agroforestry is a particularly useful tool to overcome three of the world's major concerns: rural poverty, natural resource conser-vation and sustainable development. Efforts to feed millions of people in marginal lands result in widespread deforestation in the humid tropics and massive land depletion in sub-humid and semi-arid areas. The deliberate use of woody perennials with crops and/or livestock, is one of the most widespread land-use systems in the tropics and presents some of the most promising alternatives to improved land use. However, major gaps remain between traditional agroforestry practices and improved agroforestry technologies. Major questions need to be an-swered, for example: how can competition between woody species and crops for water, light and nutrients be managed for the farmer's benefit Can silvopastoral systems remain sustainable How to best recycle nutrients in nutrient-poor environments Are improved agroforestry systems more eco-nomically beneficial than traditional practices These and many other ques-tions must be resolved. We should be cognizant that agroforestry is a word that means many things to many people— a word which represents an age-old practice and a new science: a word which has brought this gathering together today. We should be aware it was only in the mid 1970s — less than 15 years ago — that the word agroforestry and the concepts behind it were brought into international focus.
Publication year
1992
Authors
Magembe J A; Prins H; Brett D A
Language
English
Keywords
agroforestry, design, monitoring, multipurpose trees, pests, research
