Economic evaluation of agroforestry and non-agroforestry systems in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India

摘要

Abstract Agroforestry systems (AFs) deliver precious services and sustain biodiversity through ecological, social, and economic stability. Quantifying the economics of agroforestry and non-agroforestry systems is linked with farmer’s livelihood or forest-dwelling communities. In this context, the present study was conducted to explore various economic parameters, and related profitability between wheat agriculture system and Eucalyptus + wheat-based agroforestry systems in two districts (Prayagraj and Kaushambi) of Eastern UP (Uttar Pradesh), India. The cost of cultivation of crop production, related profitability and some marketing limitations faced by farmers was also recorded. A questionnaire survey method based on a pre-tested interview schedule was used for primary data collections from 160 farms respondents of wheat agriculture system and Eucalyptus + wheat-based AFs in Prayagraj and Kaushambi districts. The selected respondents were categorized into small, medium, and large farms as 52, 71, and 37 in Prayagraj and 45, 84, and 31 in Kaushambi. The cost of cultivation was followed in order: Rs. 42,213.15 ha−1 and 40,178.70 ha−1 (small farms) > Rs. 40,211.16 ha−1 and 37,793.35 ha−1 (medium farms) > Rs. 39,214.50 ha−1 and 36,791.30 ha−1 (large farms) in Prayagraj and Kaushambi, respectively. The B:C (benefit-cost) ratio was also followed in same trends as 1:1.60 and 1:1.65 (small farms) > 1:1.54 and1:1.60 (medium farms) > 1:1.51 and 1:1.58 (large farms) in wheat agriculture system and Eucalyptus + wheat-based AFs. But the value of gross income was reversed and followed the order: Rs. 67,733.50 ha−1 and 66,300.00 ha−1 (large farms) > Rs. 61,917.50 ha−1 and 60,546.00 ha−1 (medium farms) > Rs. 59,329.00 ha−1 and 58,124.00 ha−1 (small farms) in Prayagraj and Kaushambi, respectively. Similarly, the value of overall net income, farm business income, family labour income, and farm investment income were higher under Eucalyptus + wheat-based agroforestry system in Kaushambi than the wheat agriculture system in Prayagraj. Thus, the agroforestry systems seem to be promising practice in terms of economic, livelihood, and eco-environment sustainability point of view.