Indigenous knowledge in agroforestry promotion: a case from Bandegaun, Indrawati Rural Municipality, Sindhupalchok District, Nepal

Abstract

This research presents the role of indigenous traditional knowledge on agroforestry promotion in Bandegaun of Sindhupalchok district. Both primary and secondary information was collected through a household survey, key informant discussion, focus group discussion, direct observation, and review of agroforestry-related literature, papers, and reports. Agriculture was the main occupation of the respondents with the majority (62%) of the total respondents having a small landholding of less than 0.75 ha. However, about 91% of the total had practiced both agri-silviculture and home gardening, 55% of the total respondents had a Silvi-pastoral system and 27% of the total respondents had a small wood lot of trees. The main indigenous traditional knowledge used by the respondents for the promotion of these agroforestry practices in their farms were knowledge on the palatability of fodder species, knowledge on timber quality, knowledge on propagation by cutting, knowledge on NTFP value, knowledge on cash earning, and knowledge on religious value of tree species. A total of 39 tree species were included in the agroforestry practices of the study areas. Among them were 10 fodder species, 12 timber and fuelwood species, 6 NTFPs, and 11 fruit trees. Each study household on average have grown 4 fruit trees, 47 fodder tree, 19 fuelwood, and timber trees, and an NTFP in their farmlands, which have provided a great contribution to fodder, fuelwood, and timber supply for household use reported by 91% of the total respondents and some respondents (76%) had also generated income from the sale of timber, fuelwood, and NTFPs. Finally, it is recommended that indigenous knowledge-based agroforestry awareness and training programs along with preferred seedlings of good quality should be provided to promote agroforestry in study areas.