ASSEMENT OF AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS PRACTICES IN MONERAGALA DISTRICT - SRI LANKA

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.