Does Traditional Agroforestry a Sustainable Production System in Bangladesh? An Analysis of Socioeconomic and Ecological Perspectives

Kazi Kamrul Islam,Mohammad Saifullah,Kimihiko Hyakumura

doi:10.3390/conservation1010003

Abstract

In the tropics, products and services provided by the traditional agroforestry systems (TAS) support the basic needs and promote the livelihood of millions of rural people. However, the outcomes and mitigation of TAS, in particular, the social and environmental issues are not systematically addressed. Thus, the objective of the study was to assess the economic, social and environmental outcomes of two important TAS in Bangladesh. This study reports results on prospective analyses using the Date palm and Jackfruit-based TAS practiced in the Jashore and Mymensingh districts of Bangladesh. The results revealed that the TAS enhanced farm productivity and the benefit–cost ratio of both systems were much higher than the general agricultural practices in Bangladesh. The TAS also improved resilience of rural farmers through more efficient water utilization, enhancing soil fertility, improving microclimate, controlling pests and diseases, and diversifying products. At the same time, the farmers’ problems were neglected due to the absence of farmers’ platforms, and also tradeoffs may arise; thus, the social aspects of the TAS farmers had not developed equally. Therefore, the study would recommend minimizing the tradeoffs through enhancing the conservation strategies at farmers’ levels to make the TAS more viable and sustainable land-use practices.

Highlights

As a tree crop production system, the traditional Jackfruit and Date palm-based agroforestry systems have enormous benefits that contribute to rural farmers in mitigating adverse climatic condition and as well as efficiently increased their farm productivity
The study argues that more emphasis needs to be placed on how traditional agroforestry can offer greater social stability through creating farmers’ platforms and accumulation of scientific conservation strategies while maximizing the natural resources
If we can see the traditional agroforestry as a long-term sustainable land-use practice, equal importance should be given to the economic, social and ecological dimensions of the traditional systems, and proper conservation strategies that demonstrate clear adaptation benefits

Summary

Introduction

Worldwide more than 1.2 billion people are practicing agroforestry which is the integration of tress with annual crops and or animal in a same piece of land management unit [1,2,3]. In the tropics and some temperate regions, farmers have a long tradition of retaining tress on their farms and pastures, as well as growing agricultural crops and or raising domestic animals in association with tree stands or forests [4,5,6]. Products and services provided by the agroforestry systems support the basic needs and promote the livelihoods of millions of rural people in the world. There are growing interests and concerns for enhancing both socioeconomic and environmental studies among agroforestry researchers throughout the world, including Bangladesh

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion