Profitability of Agroforestry System: The Case of Udham Singh Nagar District of Uttarakhand State, India
Anuj Kumar *
Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar – 263 145, Uttarakhand, India.
S. K. Srivastava
Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar – 263 145, Uttarakhand, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The paper has examined the profitability of the prevailing agroforestry system in Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand state. Two blocks of Udham Singh Nagar district was selected for study purpose. In which it was found that two spacing of agroforestry was followed by sample farmers i.e. 7m x 3m and 5m x 4m. Study was conducted by taking in to account of sole cropping system and Agroforestry system for comparing the profit realised by both the systems. CACP (Commission for agricultural cost and prices) concept was used to determine the cost and return from both the spacing and with sole crop too. The result indicated that Agroforestry with spacing 7m x 3m is profitable in comparison to spacing 5m x 4m but with comparison to sole crop both spacing of Agroforestry system was found to be beneficial. The study has suggested that policy support in terms promotion of agroforestry system is MSP (Minimum Support Price) should be there for wood produce too as in case of crop produce so that more farmers will be encouraged towards practicing Agroforestry system.
Keywords: Agroforestry, spacing, sole crop, profitability, CACP, policy, MSP, wood produce