UNCCD

Prosopis cineraria based Agroforestry [India]

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Reporting Entity: India

Clarify if the technology described in the template, or a part of it, is covered by property rights: Nee

Completeness: 74%

General Information

General Information

Title of best practice:

Prosopis cineraria based Agroforestry

Country:

India

Reporting Entity:

India

Property Rights

Clarify if the technology described in the template, or a part of it, is covered by property rights:

Nee

Classification

Prevailing land use in the specified location

  • Woodland
  • Uproductive land

Contribution to Desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD) measures

  • Prevention
  • Mitigation
  • Adaptation
  • Rehabilitation

Contribution to the strategic objectives

  • To improve the conditions of affected ecosystems
  • To generate global benefits through effective implementation of the Convention

Linkages with the other best practice themes

  • Capacity-building and awareness-raising
  • DLDD and SLM monitoring and assessment/research
  • Knowledge management and decision support

Specifications

Section 1. Context of the best practice: frame conditions (natural and human environment)

Short description of the best practice

Prosopis cineraria is a hardy,leguminous tree species of desert region.It is grown on farmers field for ages because of its multipurpose uses, soil fertility enhancing ability as well as symbiotic effect on associated crop yield. The stem density however varies from a few trees per hectare to 100 trees per hectare. The tree is lopped heavily in the onset of winter season which helps the winter crop. It provides valuable fodder for cattle and fire wood for domestic use (from the lopped material). The tender pods of Prosopis cineraria are used as vegetable and are the major ingredient of "Panchkuta"- a local delicacy. By virtue of its multipurpose uses it gives a kind of insurance to the farmers during drought and crop failure.  
Crops are taken in the interspaces during 'kharif' as well as 'rabi' depending on availability of irrigation facility. In rainfed area only 'kharif' crops are taken. Main crops area Vigna radiata, Panisetum glaucum, Cymopsis tetragonoloba, Sesamum indicum etc. during 'kharif'-rainy season and Brassica spp. in 'rabi'-winter season. Facilitating effects are observed on the crop yield because of increased nutrient availability and a balanced resource sharing between the tree and associated crops.
People of the Indian desert worship the species and the state government has declared it as the state tree owing to its importance in sustainable livelihood of the local people.

Location

Experimental area of AFRI, Jodhpur in Western Rajasthan|

If the location has well defined boundaries, specify its extension in hectares:

5.0

Brief description of the natural environment within the specified location.

Arid soil with low water holding capacity, low nutrients|
Flat to undulating
Arid, rainfall ranging from 150 to 400 mm, and high wind velocity|

Prevailing socio-economic conditions of those living in the location and/or nearby

Right of land is with the farmers with long tenure
Agriculture, animal husbandry|
Highly variable depending on source of income, varies between INR 4045.00 and  INR 12294. People with both agriculture and animal husbandry practices have higher income.|

On the basis of which criteria and/or indicator(s) (not related to The Strategy) the proposed practice and corresponding technology has been considered as 'best'?

AFRI is involved in niche discipline of research in Arid forestry. And this best practice has been shortlisted after analysis of various interventions and field trials.

Section 2. Problems addressed (direct and indirect causes) and objectives of the best practice

Main problems addressed by the best practice

Scarcity of fodder in the region.|Fuel wood scarcity|Degraded lands with low production|Low soil quality

Outline specific land degradation problems addressed by the best practice

Control of wind erosion and water erosion, improvement in land productivity and conservation of soil and water resources|

Specify the objectives of the best practice

Integration of trees in agriculture systems|Increasing overall production|Identify tree effects on soil properties

Section 3. Activities

Brief description of main activities, by objective

Enhanced total yield|Increase fodder and fueldwood supply|Additional benefits of fruit of P. cineraria for vegetable
Increase tree component on agriculture land Improve soil quality by improving soil organic matter and nutrients|Improve soil quality by improving soil organic matter and nutrients
Soil improvement |Increase in carbon stock|Reduced soil losses|Control land degradation

Section 4. Institutions/actors involved (collaboration, participation, role of stakeholders)

Name and address of the institution developing the technology


ARID FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE|Arid Forest Research Institute,
P. O. Krishi Upaj Mandi, Basni,
New Pali Road,
Jodhpur-342005  (Rajasthan) INDIA

Was the technology developed in partnership?

Nee

Specify the framework within which the technology was promoted

  • National initiative – government-led
  • Programme/project-based initiative

Was the participation of local stakeholders, including CSOs, fostered in the development of the technology?

Nee

Was the population living in the location and/or nearby involved in the development of the technology?

Ja

By means of what?
  • Participatory approaches

Analysis

Section 5. Contribution to impact

Describe on-site impacts (the major two impacts by category)

Increase in land productivity
Increase in landscape value
Increase in carbon stock
Total increase in production per unit area

Impact on biodiversity and climate change

Explain the reasons:

By increasing fodder, fruit for vegetatble and fuelwood for energy generation|
Tree integration improves the soil health, nutrient and carbon dynamics which further conserve the natural resource conservation and improve the biodiversity of the region|
Increase in biomass results in carbon sequestration.

Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

Nee

Section 6. Adoption and replicability

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

Ja

Where?

In western Rajasthan through Maru gauchar Yojana

Replicability

In your opinion, the best practice/technology you have proposed can be replicated, although with some level of adaptation, elsewhere?

Ja

At which level?
  • Local
  • Sub-national

Section 7. Lessons learned

Related to technical aspects

May be adopted in similar climate for both economic and environmental benefits

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