TRADITIONAL AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS IN EASTERN GHATS , ORISSA

Abstract

IN THIS PAPER THE AUTHORS ANALYSE AND DISCUSS THE FINDINGS OF A SURVEY CARRIED OUT ON THE TRADITIONAL AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS PRACTICED BY THE TRIBAL FARMERS IN SHIFTING CULTIVATION AREAS IN EASTERN GHATS TO IDENTIFY THE ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS , CHARACTERISING AND UNDERSTANDING THE SYSTEMS SO AS TO IDENTIFY THE CONSTRAINTS AND ARRIVE AT STRATEGIES FOR FURTHER RESEARCH EFFORTS . RESOURCES INCLUDING WEATHER , LAND, PEOPLE AND SOCIO- ECONOMIC STATUS WERE STUDIED AND PRESENTED. HIGH RAINFALL RICH VEGETATION AND THEIR FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE BY FARMERS COULD FORM BASIS FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT. SHIFTING CULTIVATION , AGRI- HORTICULTURE , AGRI- SILVICULTURE SYSTEMS, , VEGETATIVE BARRIERS AND HOME GARDENS ARE THE MAJOR AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES IN THE REGION. SHIFTING CULTIVATION IS DEGRADED STATE DUE TO POOR MANAGEMENT , REDUCTION OF THE CYCLE AND ITS EXTENDING TO MORE FRAGILE LANDS. HOME GARDEN WITH AN AVERAGE OF 5 TO 6 TREES/ FAMILY IS AN IMPORTANT SYSTEM. SOME OF THE MULTIPURPOSE TREE SPECIES PREFERRED BY THE FARMERS THE REGION ARE ARTOCARPUS INTEGRIFOLIA, TAMARINDUS INDICA., MAGNIFERA INDICA, PONGAIA PINNATA, DENDROCALAMUS STRICTUS, BOMBAX CEIBA , TERMINALIA SPP, PSIDIUM GUAJAVA, CARVOTA URENS. STUDIES OF DIFFERENT AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS HAVE INDICATED DISTINCT POSSIBILITIES OF THEIR IMPROVEMENT AND INTENSIFICATION . THE CONSTRAINTS , GAPS AND STRATEGIES HAVE ALSO BEEN DISCUSSED.