Abstract:
Sri Lanka has a high agriculture potential and most of the agricultural practices are
carried out in the dry zone. In the dry zone, agricultural practices are based on
conventional type monocrop cultivations with the use of high inputs. According to the
above reason there are many negative impacts can be observed such as
environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, loss of soil fertility etc. agro forestry
can be recommended to minimize these negative impacts. Different types of agro
forestry practices can be seen in dry zone and many of them are not
succesful.Therefore identification of socially, economically and environmentally
sustainable system is needed for sustainable agricultural development in dry zone.
The research was conducted in Maneragala district in the dry zone to identify the
above options. Three different agro forestry systems were selected. The study was
carried out basically using a qualitative analysis method.Multioptional valuation
method was used for analyzing the obtained data.
From the research, socially, economically and environmentally sustainable options
were identified. The basic out comes of the research indicate that VFBAF (Village
Forestry Based Agro forestry) system can be more economically feasible for large
land units. Considering the long term sustainability of the environment and family
health conditions the best is MHGBAF (Mixed Home Garden Based Agro forestry)
system. FTBAF (Fruit Tree Based Agro forestry) system is inbetweeen these two
options.
From the research it can be concluded that the objectives of farmers and the land
area are the important factors for the recommendation of sustainable agro forestry
option.
