| dc.description.abstract | Agroforestry can play a significant role in improving rural livelihoods and enhancing integrated management of natural resources. Due to its usefulness, tree growing on farms has been identified as a very important production and livelihood strategy by rural communities, yet little information is available on tree uses and management by households in rural communities. This study was aimed at eliciting local knowledge on appropriate management practices of the different components of agroforestry to inform policy decision making about sustainable agroforestry practices in the area. The specific objectives were to: (i) Assess farmers’ indigenous knowledge of the preferred local tree species, their uses and management
(ii) Ascertain the contributions of traditional agroforestry practices to the livelihoods of the local people in the area (iii) Examine the social, economic, demographic and cultural factors affecting tree planting and management of traditional agroforestry practices (iv) Determine on-farm tree species diversity in the area. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 60
sampled households to collect data on the agroforestry practices, their contributions to household livelihoods and factors that influence farmers’ participation in tree planting as well as their management. Key informant interviews, observations, photography and transect walks were also conducted. Tree species diversity assessment involved systematic sampling on-farmers’ fields with traditional agroforestry practices. The collected household data were checked, entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS) and presented using descriptive statistics. A chi square test was also conducted to determine the influence of the social, economic, demographic and cultural characteristics on tree planting and
management. Tree species diversity and evenness were computed by entering the tree inventory data in MS-Excel and analyzed using Shannon–Wiener diversity index. The reported preferred tree species such as Mangifera indica , Citrus sinessis, Artocarpus heterophyllus and Eucalptyus grandis were located on home compounds, scattered in the farm, at the boundary
and in woodlots/plantation. Agroforestry practices contributed to peoples’ livelihoods through provision of products like food/fruits, income, timber, fuel and medicine. The major constraints influencing farmers’ participation in tree planting and management were lack of knowledge, insect pests, soil erosion, animal pests, high price of seedlings, scarcity of seedlings, drought and limited markets among others. Socio-demographic factors such as gender (P=0.045) and education (P=0.021) had a significant influence on trees planting and management. Tree species diversity was high (H=1.76976) and trees encountered were mainly in the families: Myrtaceae, Moraceae, Fabaceae, Lauraceae, Bigoniaceae, Anacardiaceae and Cupressaceae. To enhance benefits of trees for improving livelihoods, farmers need to be sensitized and encouraged to plant and manage more trees on their farms. Seeking advisory services from the Forestry Department and Extension Service Officers on good management practices of traditional agroforestry would help farmers to use the appropriate management practices of traditional agroforestry for improving yields. Thus, to improve management of traditional agroforestry practices in the area, adequate and skilled government extension workers should be employed to advise, motivate and train farmers on management of
components in traditional agroforestry. Appropriate policies and other interventions that are favorable to the creation of markets for agroforestry products with fair pricing structures are also needed since farmers practice agroforestry for provision of food and economic benefits. | en_US |
