Woodlot farming by smallholder farmers in Ganderbal district of Kashmir, India
Article Main
Abstract
Forest degradation and deforestation are serious threats to resource conservation, subsistence livelihoods and rural income diversification. Woodlot farming on farms has been established as a potential option to increase forest resources from agricultural landscapes and remove human pressure from forests. The study investigated the land-use and landholding pattern, woodlots types and species preference and extent of spatial distribution, land allocation and growing stock of woodlots in the Ganderbal district of Kashmir. Multistage random sampling technique was employed to select 349 farm woodlots from 12 sample villages. Secondary sources were used to collect village-level data on land-use and landholding pattern. Primary data concerning the trees were collected through farm woodlot inventories. The data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. Results revealed that the total land area in the sample villages is 888.60 ha; 521.60 ha (58.70%) is cultivated land, which is mostly (80.78%) occupied by 1244 marginal farmers. The prevalent woodlots established were plantations of Populus, Salix, Robinia or mixed species. The farm woodlots (61.59 ha) contributed 11.81% of cultivated land and 6.93% of the total geographical area. The average growing stocks of woodlots were estimated to be 204.05 m3/ha for Populus, 191.77 m3/ha for Salix, 109.51 m3/ha for Robinia and 62.31 m3/ha for Mixed. The findings suggested that woodlot farming is the key alternative for forest resource production, livelihood resilience and socioeconomic improvement; hence, the policy must be implicated towards the promotion of woodlot farming by re-orienting the land use through farmer’s motivation and technical, financial and farming input assistance.
Article Details
Article Details
Keywords
Woodlot farming, smallholder, land use, growing stock, Kashmir, India
References
Ajit, Handa, A.K., Dhyani, S.K., Bhat, G.M., Malik, A.R., Dutt, V., Masoodi, T.H., Uma. & Jain, A. (2017). Quantification of carbon stocks and sequestration potential through existing agroforestry systems in the hilly Kupwara district of Kashmir valley in India. Current Science, 113(4), 782-785. DOI: 10.18520/cs/v113/i04/782-785.
Anonymous (2011). Directorate of Economics and Statistics, District Statistics and Evaluation Office Ganderbal, Jammu & Kashmir.
Bailey, K., Salerno, J., Newton, P., Bitariho, R., Namusisi, S., Tinkasimire, R. & Hartter, J. (2021). Woodlot management and livelihoods in a tropical conservation landscape. Ambio, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-020-01484-9.
Banyal, R., Masoodi, N.A., Masoodi, T.H., Sharma, L.K. & Gangoo, S.A. (2011). Knowledge and attitude of farmers towards agroforestry practices in north Kashmir- a case study. The Indian Forester, 137(12), 1377-1381.
Bhat, G.M., Islam, M.A., Malik, A.R., Rather, T.A., Shah Khan, F.A. & Mir, A.H. (2019). Productivity and economic evaluation of Willow (Salix alba L.) based silvopastoral agroforestry system in Kashmir valley. Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 11(3), 743-751. DOI: 10.31018/jans.v11i3.2104.
Buyinza, M., Banana, A.Y., Nabanoga, G. & Ntakimanye, A. (2008). Farmers’ adoption of rotational woodlot technology in Kigorobya sub-county of Hoima District, Western Uganda. Ethnobotany Research & Applications, 6(1), 107-115.
Census of India (2011). A- 5 State Primary Census Abstract - 2011, India.
Dar, M., Qaisar, K.N., Ahmad, S. & Wani, A.A. (2018). Inventory and composition of prevalent agroforestry systems of Kashmir Himalaya. Advances in Research, 14(1), 1-9.
Deressa, T.T., Hassan, R.M. & Ringler, C. (2009). Determinants of farmers’ choice of adaptation methods to climate change in the Nile Basin of Ethiopia. Global Environment Change, 19(2), 248–255.
Dessie, A.B., Abtew, A.A. & Koye, A.D. (2019). Determinants of the production and commercial values of Eucalyptus woodlot products in Wogera district, northern Ethiopia. Environmental Systems Research, 8(4), 1-10.
Dixit, G. and Dixit, S.V. (2010). Conservation of natural resources and socio economic upliftment through agroforestry practices in sub Himalayan Terai region of Uttar Pradesh. International Journal of Forest Usufructs Management, 11(1), 33–36.
Ebanyat, P., Delve, R.J., Ridder, N., Jager, A., Bekunda, M.A. & Giller, K.E. (2010). Drivers of land use change and household determinants of sustainability in smallholder farming systems of Eastern Uganda. Population Environment, 31, 474–506. DOI: 10.1007/s11111-010-0104-2.
Garedew, E., Sandewall, M. & Soderberg, U. (2012). A dynamic simulation model of land-use, population, and rural livelihoods in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Environmental Management, 49(1), 151–162.
Gizachew, K. (2017). Expansion of Eucalypt woodlot and its factors in Cheha district, Southern Ethiopia. World Scientific News, 66, 163-180.
Hettig, E., Lay, J. & Sipangule, K. (2016). Drivers of households’ land-use decisions: A critical review of micro-level studies in tropical regions. Land, 5, 1-32. DOI: 10.3390/land5040032.
Hingi, O.S. (2018). Organization of smallholder tree growers, support organizations, linkages and implications for woodlots performance: The case of Mufindi district, Tanzania. Institute of International Forestry and Forest Products Professorship of Tropical Forestry. Faculty of Environmental sciences, Tropical Forestry and Management, Tanzania.
Islam, M.A., Banyal, R., Rai, R. & Singh, P.K. (2012). Determinant factors of agroforestry adoption in north Kashmir. Indian Journal of Social Research, 53(2), 123-129.
Islam, M.A., Quli, S.M.S. & Baba, M.Y. (2015a). Characterization of forest fringe tribal people in view of land holding inequality in Jharkhand, India. Environment & We- International Journal of Science & Technology, 10(3-4), 63-73.
Islam, M.A., Rai, R., Quli, S.M.S. & Tramboo, M.S. (2015b). Socio-economic and demographic descriptions of ethnic people subsisting in forest resources of Jharkhand, India. Asian Journal of Bio Science, 10(1), 75-82. DOI: 10.15740/HAS/AJBS/10.1/75-82
Islam, M.A., Masoodi, T.H., Gangoo, S.A., Sofi, P.A., Bhat, G.M., Wani, A.A., Gatoo, A.A., Singh, A. & Malik, A.R. (2015c). Perceptions, attitudes and preferences in agroforestry among rural societies of Kashmir, India. Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 7(2), 976-983.
Islam, M.A., Sofi, P.A., Bhat, G.M., Wani, A.A., Gatoo, A.A., Singh, A. & Malik, A.R. (2016). Prediction of agroforestry adoption among farming communities of Kashmir valley, India: a logistic regression approach. Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 8(4), 2133-2140. DOI: 10.31018/jans.v8i4.1103.
Islam, M.A., Qaisar, K.N. & Bhat, G.M. (2017a). Indigenous knowledge in traditional agroforestry systems of Kashmir valley: current challenges and future opportunities. International Journal of Forestry and Crop Improvement, 8(1), 68-77.
Islam, M.A., Sofi, P.A., Bhat, G.M., Wani, A.A., Gatoo, A.A. Singh, A. & Malik, A.R. (2017b). Public assessment for socioeconomic and environmental services of agroforestry networks in Kashmir Himalaya, India. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 6(10), 410-420. DOI: 10.20546/ijcmas.2017.610.051.
Kiyingi, I., Edriss, A., Phiri, M., Buyinza, M. & Agaba, H. (2016). The impact of farm forestry on poverty alleviation and food security in Uganda. Journal of Sustainable Development, 9(1), 150-163.
Meijer, S.S., Catacutan, D., Sileshi, G.W. & Nieuwenhuis, M. (2015). Tree planting by smallholder farmers in Malawi: using the theory of planned behaviour to examine the relationship between attitudes and behaviour. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 43, 1–12.
Mushtaq, T., Sood, K.K. & Raina, N.S. (2012). Species preferences for fuel wood in Shiwalik Himalayas- Implications for agroforestry plantations. Indian Journal of Hill Farming, 25(2), 18-21.
Ndayambaje, J.D., Heijman, W.J.M. & Mohren, G.M.J. (2013). Farm woodlots in rural Rwanda: purposes and determinants. Agroforestry System, 87, 797–814.
Newbould, P.J. (1967). Methods for estimating the primary production of forests. IBP Handbook no. 2. Blackwell Scienti?c Productions. Oxford: Oxford University Press Inc.
Nigussie, Z., Tsunekawa, A., Haregeweyn, N., Adgo, E., Nohmi, M., Tsubo, M., Aklog, D., Meshesha, D.T. & Abele, S. (2016). Factors affecting small-scale farmers’ land allocation and tree density decisions in an Acacia decurrens-based taungya system in Fagita Lekoma District, North-Western Ethiopia. Small-scale Forestry, DOI: 10.1007/s11842-016-9352-z.
Oduro, K.A., Arts, B., Kyereh, B. & Mohren, G. (2018). Farmers’ motivations to plant and manage on farm trees in Ghana. Small-Scale Forestry, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11842-018-9394-5.
Opuni-Frimpong, E., Opoku, S.M., Storer, A.J., Burton, A.J. & Yeboah, D. (2013). Productivity, pest tolerance and carbon sequestration of Khaya grandifoliola in the dry semi-deciduous forest of Ghana: a comparison in pure stands and mixed stands. New Forests, 44(6), 863–879.
Ray, G.L. & Mondol, S. (2004). Research Methods in Social Sciences and Extension Education. Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi pp. 66-76.
Singunda, W.T. (2010). Economic contribution of private woodlots to the economy of Mufindi district, Tanzania. M.Sc. Forestry Dissertation, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.
Snedecor, G.W. & Cochran, W.G. (1967). Statistical Methods. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa-50010.
Soucya, A. Urioste-Stone, S.D., Rahimzadeh-Bajgirana, P., Weiskittel, A. & McGreavy, B. (2020). Understanding characteristics of forest professionals and small woodlot owners for communicating climate change adaptation. Trees, Forests and People, 2(2020), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2020.100036.
Wani, M.H., Baba, S.H. & Yousuf, S. (2009). Land-use dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir. Agricultural Economics Research Review, 22(1), 145-154.
Wari, B.N., Feyssa, D.H. & Kebebew, Z. (2019). Assessment of woody species in agroforestry systems around Jimmy town, South western Ethopia. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 11(1), 18-30.
Zafar, S.N., Qaiser, K.N., Khan, P.A., Mughal, A.H. & Husain, M. (2018). Delineation of best land use system for carbon sequestration in Kashmir valley. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 7(3), 993-997.
Zoysa, M.D. & Inoue, M. (2016). Farmers’ woodlots management and sustainable livelihood development: A case study in Southern Sri Lanka. Environment and Ecology Research, 4, 88–98.https://doi.org/10.13189/eer.2016.040 206.
Anonymous (2011). Directorate of Economics and Statistics, District Statistics and Evaluation Office Ganderbal, Jammu & Kashmir.
Bailey, K., Salerno, J., Newton, P., Bitariho, R., Namusisi, S., Tinkasimire, R. & Hartter, J. (2021). Woodlot management and livelihoods in a tropical conservation landscape. Ambio, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-020-01484-9.
Banyal, R., Masoodi, N.A., Masoodi, T.H., Sharma, L.K. & Gangoo, S.A. (2011). Knowledge and attitude of farmers towards agroforestry practices in north Kashmir- a case study. The Indian Forester, 137(12), 1377-1381.
Bhat, G.M., Islam, M.A., Malik, A.R., Rather, T.A., Shah Khan, F.A. & Mir, A.H. (2019). Productivity and economic evaluation of Willow (Salix alba L.) based silvopastoral agroforestry system in Kashmir valley. Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 11(3), 743-751. DOI: 10.31018/jans.v11i3.2104.
Buyinza, M., Banana, A.Y., Nabanoga, G. & Ntakimanye, A. (2008). Farmers’ adoption of rotational woodlot technology in Kigorobya sub-county of Hoima District, Western Uganda. Ethnobotany Research & Applications, 6(1), 107-115.
Census of India (2011). A- 5 State Primary Census Abstract - 2011, India.
Dar, M., Qaisar, K.N., Ahmad, S. & Wani, A.A. (2018). Inventory and composition of prevalent agroforestry systems of Kashmir Himalaya. Advances in Research, 14(1), 1-9.
Deressa, T.T., Hassan, R.M. & Ringler, C. (2009). Determinants of farmers’ choice of adaptation methods to climate change in the Nile Basin of Ethiopia. Global Environment Change, 19(2), 248–255.
Dessie, A.B., Abtew, A.A. & Koye, A.D. (2019). Determinants of the production and commercial values of Eucalyptus woodlot products in Wogera district, northern Ethiopia. Environmental Systems Research, 8(4), 1-10.
Dixit, G. and Dixit, S.V. (2010). Conservation of natural resources and socio economic upliftment through agroforestry practices in sub Himalayan Terai region of Uttar Pradesh. International Journal of Forest Usufructs Management, 11(1), 33–36.
Ebanyat, P., Delve, R.J., Ridder, N., Jager, A., Bekunda, M.A. & Giller, K.E. (2010). Drivers of land use change and household determinants of sustainability in smallholder farming systems of Eastern Uganda. Population Environment, 31, 474–506. DOI: 10.1007/s11111-010-0104-2.
Garedew, E., Sandewall, M. & Soderberg, U. (2012). A dynamic simulation model of land-use, population, and rural livelihoods in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Environmental Management, 49(1), 151–162.
Gizachew, K. (2017). Expansion of Eucalypt woodlot and its factors in Cheha district, Southern Ethiopia. World Scientific News, 66, 163-180.
Hettig, E., Lay, J. & Sipangule, K. (2016). Drivers of households’ land-use decisions: A critical review of micro-level studies in tropical regions. Land, 5, 1-32. DOI: 10.3390/land5040032.
Hingi, O.S. (2018). Organization of smallholder tree growers, support organizations, linkages and implications for woodlots performance: The case of Mufindi district, Tanzania. Institute of International Forestry and Forest Products Professorship of Tropical Forestry. Faculty of Environmental sciences, Tropical Forestry and Management, Tanzania.
Islam, M.A., Banyal, R., Rai, R. & Singh, P.K. (2012). Determinant factors of agroforestry adoption in north Kashmir. Indian Journal of Social Research, 53(2), 123-129.
Islam, M.A., Quli, S.M.S. & Baba, M.Y. (2015a). Characterization of forest fringe tribal people in view of land holding inequality in Jharkhand, India. Environment & We- International Journal of Science & Technology, 10(3-4), 63-73.
Islam, M.A., Rai, R., Quli, S.M.S. & Tramboo, M.S. (2015b). Socio-economic and demographic descriptions of ethnic people subsisting in forest resources of Jharkhand, India. Asian Journal of Bio Science, 10(1), 75-82. DOI: 10.15740/HAS/AJBS/10.1/75-82
Islam, M.A., Masoodi, T.H., Gangoo, S.A., Sofi, P.A., Bhat, G.M., Wani, A.A., Gatoo, A.A., Singh, A. & Malik, A.R. (2015c). Perceptions, attitudes and preferences in agroforestry among rural societies of Kashmir, India. Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 7(2), 976-983.
Islam, M.A., Sofi, P.A., Bhat, G.M., Wani, A.A., Gatoo, A.A., Singh, A. & Malik, A.R. (2016). Prediction of agroforestry adoption among farming communities of Kashmir valley, India: a logistic regression approach. Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 8(4), 2133-2140. DOI: 10.31018/jans.v8i4.1103.
Islam, M.A., Qaisar, K.N. & Bhat, G.M. (2017a). Indigenous knowledge in traditional agroforestry systems of Kashmir valley: current challenges and future opportunities. International Journal of Forestry and Crop Improvement, 8(1), 68-77.
Islam, M.A., Sofi, P.A., Bhat, G.M., Wani, A.A., Gatoo, A.A. Singh, A. & Malik, A.R. (2017b). Public assessment for socioeconomic and environmental services of agroforestry networks in Kashmir Himalaya, India. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 6(10), 410-420. DOI: 10.20546/ijcmas.2017.610.051.
Kiyingi, I., Edriss, A., Phiri, M., Buyinza, M. & Agaba, H. (2016). The impact of farm forestry on poverty alleviation and food security in Uganda. Journal of Sustainable Development, 9(1), 150-163.
Meijer, S.S., Catacutan, D., Sileshi, G.W. & Nieuwenhuis, M. (2015). Tree planting by smallholder farmers in Malawi: using the theory of planned behaviour to examine the relationship between attitudes and behaviour. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 43, 1–12.
Mushtaq, T., Sood, K.K. & Raina, N.S. (2012). Species preferences for fuel wood in Shiwalik Himalayas- Implications for agroforestry plantations. Indian Journal of Hill Farming, 25(2), 18-21.
Ndayambaje, J.D., Heijman, W.J.M. & Mohren, G.M.J. (2013). Farm woodlots in rural Rwanda: purposes and determinants. Agroforestry System, 87, 797–814.
Newbould, P.J. (1967). Methods for estimating the primary production of forests. IBP Handbook no. 2. Blackwell Scienti?c Productions. Oxford: Oxford University Press Inc.
Nigussie, Z., Tsunekawa, A., Haregeweyn, N., Adgo, E., Nohmi, M., Tsubo, M., Aklog, D., Meshesha, D.T. & Abele, S. (2016). Factors affecting small-scale farmers’ land allocation and tree density decisions in an Acacia decurrens-based taungya system in Fagita Lekoma District, North-Western Ethiopia. Small-scale Forestry, DOI: 10.1007/s11842-016-9352-z.
Oduro, K.A., Arts, B., Kyereh, B. & Mohren, G. (2018). Farmers’ motivations to plant and manage on farm trees in Ghana. Small-Scale Forestry, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11842-018-9394-5.
Opuni-Frimpong, E., Opoku, S.M., Storer, A.J., Burton, A.J. & Yeboah, D. (2013). Productivity, pest tolerance and carbon sequestration of Khaya grandifoliola in the dry semi-deciduous forest of Ghana: a comparison in pure stands and mixed stands. New Forests, 44(6), 863–879.
Ray, G.L. & Mondol, S. (2004). Research Methods in Social Sciences and Extension Education. Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi pp. 66-76.
Singunda, W.T. (2010). Economic contribution of private woodlots to the economy of Mufindi district, Tanzania. M.Sc. Forestry Dissertation, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.
Snedecor, G.W. & Cochran, W.G. (1967). Statistical Methods. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa-50010.
Soucya, A. Urioste-Stone, S.D., Rahimzadeh-Bajgirana, P., Weiskittel, A. & McGreavy, B. (2020). Understanding characteristics of forest professionals and small woodlot owners for communicating climate change adaptation. Trees, Forests and People, 2(2020), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2020.100036.
Wani, M.H., Baba, S.H. & Yousuf, S. (2009). Land-use dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir. Agricultural Economics Research Review, 22(1), 145-154.
Wari, B.N., Feyssa, D.H. & Kebebew, Z. (2019). Assessment of woody species in agroforestry systems around Jimmy town, South western Ethopia. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 11(1), 18-30.
Zafar, S.N., Qaiser, K.N., Khan, P.A., Mughal, A.H. & Husain, M. (2018). Delineation of best land use system for carbon sequestration in Kashmir valley. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 7(3), 993-997.
Zoysa, M.D. & Inoue, M. (2016). Farmers’ woodlots management and sustainable livelihood development: A case study in Southern Sri Lanka. Environment and Ecology Research, 4, 88–98.https://doi.org/10.13189/eer.2016.040 206.
Issue
Section
Research Articles
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) © Author (s)
How to Cite
Woodlot farming by smallholder farmers in Ganderbal district of Kashmir, India . (2021). Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 13(2), 752-759. https://doi.org/10.31018/jans.v13i2.2714
