SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION OF AGROFORESTRY TREES/SHRUBS IN YAYU COFFEE FOREST BIOSPHERE RESERVE

Abstract

Agroforestry is intentional integration of trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems to create environmental, economic, and social benefits. In the country, various studies focusing on floristic diversity, and ecology of agroforestry practices for household food and nutrition security is well studied but not for socio- economic aspect. Therefore this study was designed to assess the socio-economic contribution of agroforestry species in Yayu Coffee Forest biosphere reserve. A total of 268 households from four districts (Bilo Nopa, Yayu, Dorani and Chora) were selected systematically and agroforestry species inventory was undertaken along with the socio-economic survey using structured questionnaire. The socioeconomic contributions of agroforestry species were analyzed using logit regression analysis using STATA software. A total of 65 agroforestry species belonging to 41 families were recorded. The results of the linear regression analysis showed that, land ownership, education status, non-timber forest product income, family size, and livestock are the main factors that determining farmers’ decision to adopt tree planting in the study area. Overall, this study denotes that agroforestry species affect the livelihood of residents and the agroforestry practices were significantly determined by socio-economic characteristics of the community in Yayu coffee forest biosphere reserve.