Perception of agroforestry practices and factors influencing adoption among shifting cultivators in Tripura, India

ABSTRACT

Agroforestry, with benefits including resource diversity, improved nutrition, climate change mitigation, and increased income, can ensure financial stability for small farmers by diversifying yields. However, its widespread adoption in traditional farming communities encounters challenges. Focusing on two districts in Tripura with resettled former shifting cultivation-dependent communities, the study used a mixed methods approach, collecting data from 221 households, assessing socio-economic status, farming practices, and agroforestry adoption. Statistical analyses revealed that most common commercial species were Arecanut, Rubber, Jackfruit, and Pineapple, and households practicing agroforestry had notably higher annual farm incomes over other systems. Over 80% households recognized agroforestry's self-sufficiency, with 50% noting improved financial security, diversity, and coping capacity. Socio-economic benefits were better understood than environmental benefits. Plot diversity variations were influenced by seed procurement source, system type, and tribe. Challenges in adopting scientific agroforestry, such as long maturation, land insufficiency and labor demands, were identified. Suggested solutions included increased seed availability, more land for agroforestry, and skill training. This study emphasizes the potential of agroforestry in offering sustainable livelihoods to traditional smallholders and promoting agroecological sustainability in the North-eastern Region of India.

KEYWORDS:

• Agroforestry adoption
• smallholders
• livelihood
• income
• cash crops
• shifting cultivation (jhum)
• indigenous communities
• North east India

Acknowledgements

We want to show our gratitude to the Forest Department of Tripura for their support

throughout this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics statement

Taking the American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) code as a guide, Ethics approval from institution was not sought as all participants provided verbal informed consent prior to participation in the study and participation was voluntary. In addition, the respondents’ anonymity and confidentiality were kept intact.

Notes

1. Note: All monetary figures in this manuscript are denominated in Indian Rupees (INR). For the sake of reference, a conversion rate of 1 USD to INR 77 (average rate for 2021–2022) should be employed.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University under Indraprastha Research Fellowship (IPRF) [GGSIPU/DRC/IPU/1457].