Socio-Cultural Determinants of Tree Growing in Traditional Agroforestry Systems in Western Himalaya

摘要

Traditional agroforestry has been in vogue since long in Himachal Pradesh, WesternrnHimalayan state of India. People of the state grow (plant or retain) trees on their lands for a varietyrnof purposes in form of traditional agroforestry systems. Agroforestry holds potential to increasernproductivity of land in sustainable and eco-friendly manner to meet rising needs of escalatingrnpopulation pressure of Himachal Pradesh for food and tree products. Studies on classification ofrnagroforestry systems in state are many and varied but there is complete lack of studies on effect ofrnsocio-cultural factors on tree growing. Present study is an attempt to diagnose association of treerngrowing with socio-cultural factors. Chi-square test of association revealed no significant effect ofrnage of head of household, family type, family size (number of family members) and presence of oldrnmembers in household on tree growing. Caste, education of head of household, family literacy,rnmobility of head of household, non-resident relatives, tree worship and responsibility for futurerngenerations exhibited significant effect on tree growing.