Integrated adoption of controlled grazing and multipurpose fodder trees for enhancing tree cover in dryland farming systems

Abstract

CONTEXTIntegration of agroforestry with sustainable grazing systems can enhance tree cover in a given landscape. This integration could have a significant economic and ecological impact especially in dryland farming systems. Despite this, the integration is challenged by the lack of combined adoption of both agroforestry and sustainable grazing. OBJECTIVEIn this study, we first examined the factors that determine the integrated adoption of controlled grazing (CG) and multipurpose fodder trees (MFT). More importantly, we investigated whether the integrated adoption of CG and MFT enhances tree cover in dryland farming systems. METHODSBased on primary data collected from a randomly-selected sample of farm households, we used an IV approach to probe into the integrated effect of adopting CG and MFT on tree cover. On the other hand, the bivariate probit model was used to identify the factors that affect the adoption of both CG and MFT. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONOn average, adopters of both CG and MFT were found to have higher levels of tree abundance and density on their farms. Our model analysis indicates that these higher levels of tree abundance and density are positively related to the integrated adoption of CG and MFT. While the integrated adoption of CG and MFT had a stronger effect, separate adoption of CG or MFT was also correlated with tree abundance. These results generally indicate the importance of integrated silvopastoral systems not only as sustainable livestock management systems but also as promoters of vegetation (tree cover). SIGNIFICANCEGiven the economic and ecological importance of the integrated adoption of CG and MFT, factors that were found to influence integrated adoption including access to improved livestock breeds, skill development (both agroforestry and livestock management training), and agricultural services (such as irrigation and water sources) could give policy a useful direction for targeting and promoting the uptake of such integrated silvopastoral systems both for improving farmers' livelihoods and ecological sustainability.