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Contemporary trends of agroforestry in desert areas of the Punjab, Pakistan

Amjad Saeed, Gulfam Hassan, Ijaz Ashraf, Shabbir Ahmad, Sadia Aslam

Abstract


Pakistan imported raw wood and wood products worth $37 million during 2019-20. This import bill can easily be curtailed by exploiting the potential of agroforestry. This study was conducted to analyze the contemporary trends of agroforestry in the deserts of Punjab province. Total 120 respondents were identified and chosen purposively from sub-district Noor Pur Thal of district Khushab for the face-to-face interviews on a validated and pre-tested questionnaire. The study was purely quantitative and based on the descriptive cross-sectional survey research design. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive techniques on Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results indicated that the educational level of respondents in the desert area was not so good as around half of respondents had no formal education. Of the different tree species, Farash (Tamarix aphylla), Sufeda (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo) were the most profitable and well-adjusted trees in the desert areas. Of the total respondents, 32.5% agreed that trees reduced soil erosion and around one fifth (19.2%) of respondents perceived an increase in soil fertility due to trees plantation. About one-fourth of respondents had a concern that trees were competing with the other crops for nutrients especially when the areas are water-scarce. This implies that agroforestry has a promising future in the desert areas, however, the special initiatives on the promotion of agroforestry are much needed. Government agencies should consider the potential of agroforestry while planning for the future tree plantation drive.

Keywords


agroforestry; promotion; desert; erosion; plantation

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DOI: 10.33687/ijae.010.01.4016

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