1. Critical significance of Agroforestry

 

By Malini Shankar

Digital Discourse Foundation

Rome 25.02.2025


Tree planting has almost become fashionable these days with corporate funding lending glamour and purpose to socialites and busybodies searching for a meaningful purpose. But there is so much more ecological significance to green activism. Let us examine the critical significance of agroforestry in this series of articles. But Agroforestry offers a win-win solution for stake holders and the environment. 

First of all Green cover.

A full grown fruiting tree will have a root system that expands atleast quarter acre. The tree canopy spreads over anything between 1/10th of an acre to 1 full acre depending on the family the tree belongs to.

Thus the ambient temperature between tree shade and outside tree shade can almost be 1 degree Centigrade in the Tropics. This directly contributes to Climate Change Mitigation. The tree cover retains moisture contributing to moisture retention in the micro terrain / immediate vicinity of the tree. Thus more the number of trees greater is the moisture retention, and lesser the ambient temperature in the micro terrain.


Pollination of flowers and germination of fallen seeds – albeit slower than pitting and planting is a sturdier option – ecologically speaking.


 Fruit bearing trees potentially regenerate forests and green canopy in the immediate vicinity of the tree. Birds and animals that eat the fruits drop the seeds to the ground where they germinate and sprout. Wind and rain scatter the sprouted / germinated seeds thus contributing to natural regeneration of forests.

Infact scientists have proven that 12 fruit bearing trees can contribute to regeneration of forests around atleast 2 – 5 hectares. The germinated seeds have a compound effect / multiplier effect in the microcosm / micro terrain. Collectively when its impact on Climate Change is calibrated it contributes to a cooling effect. This has to be undertaken on a war footing then to create Climate Cooling across the countryside.




Given development polemics, and the pressure on Land as a resource the battle to plant trees on the scale needed to cool the Climate is onerous. Consider then that an average of 1,04,59,29,417 fruit trees have to be planted by every Indian every year for atleast 100 years, and you realise at the very least the urgent need for a Land Use Planning Policy Guideline.  

Ideal fruit trees that are best suited for Agroforestry in the tropics include:

1.       Jackfruit,

2.       Banana

3.       Pineapple,

4.       Gooseberries,

5.       Coconut

6.       Jamoon / Jaam (Syzizium cuminii)

7.       Mango,

8.       Papaya,

9.       Ber

10.   Custard Apple

11.   Fig

12.   Apricot

13.   Peach

14.   Citroen,

15.   Guava,

16.   Pear

17.   Chikoo

18.   Pomegranate

19.   Amla

20.   Oranges

21.   Starfruit

22.   Mangosteen

23.   Lichie fruit

24.   Musk Melon

25.   Water Melon




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