South Asian Agroforestry: Traditions, Transformations, and Prospects

Abstract

The South and Southeast Asian region is often described as the cradle of agroforestry in recognition of its long history of the practice of an array of systems under diverse agroecological conditions. The multitude of systems that have evolved in the region over long periods reflect the accrued wisdom and adaptation strategies of millions of smallholder farmers to meet their basic needs of food, fuelwood, fodder, plant-derived medicines, and cash income in the wake of increasing demographic pressure and decreasing land availability. Prominent examples of agroforestry in South Asia include multifunctional homegardens, which promote food security and diversity; woody perennial-based systems furthering employment avenues and rural industrialization; fertilizer trees and integrated tree-grass/crop production systems favoring resource conservation; and tree-dominated habitats, which sustain agrobiodiversity and promote climate change mitigation. The experiences from these dominant land use systems exemplify the role of agroforestry in addressing the land management challenges of the twenty-first century such as climate change, biodiversity decline, food and nutritional insecurity, and land degradation in this highly populated region. The thread running through this chapter is that traditional agroforestry systems that have been practiced over centuries have evolved and adapted to the changing pressures. Such transformations have been a potent means to address some of the present-day global challenges; their efficiency, however, can be enhanced considerably with the input of additional resources and support.