Search

Variations in agroforestry technology adoption and level of income inequality across genders have not been given adequate attention in the literature. Hence, this study examined the effect of agroforestry technology adoption on income inequality among the gender of arable crop farmers in Southwest, Nigeria. A multistage selection process was employed to pick 450 arable crop farmers. The collected data were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics, probit regression model and Gini coefficient analysis. Findings from this study revealed that the adoption of agroforestry technology increased income inequality among male and female crop farmers. Also, the difference in the income inequality level between adopters and non-adopters of agroforestry technology among female farmers was more than what was obtained among male farmers. Income inequality among female crop farmers was more than that of male crop farmers, while more male farmers adopted agroforestry technology than female ones. Credit constraints, experience and education had the highest contributions to inequality among male farmers, while education and credit constraints had the highest contributions among their female counterparts. Therefore, policy measures targeted at promoting the acceptance of agroforestry technology, especially among female crop farmers, should be applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed the role of non-timber forest products in income enhancement of mountainous people of purposively selected two districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa namely Swat and Mansehra. From these districts six villages were selected purposively and from those villages sample size of 321 households was selected randomly. In the study areas majority (45%) of sample households had 5 to 10 family members which indicated joint family system. Literacy status in study areas was very low (30%). Sayed, Swati, Awan, Gujjar and Kohistani tribes were residing in the study villages. Crop production was their primary occupation, secondary livestock rearing; tertiary sale of non-timber forest products; fourth source of income was remittances and fifth was labor work respectively. Study results discovered that 69% of sample households had earned income from the sale of NTFPs above mean income (60458 Pakistani rupees) per season while 31% of sample households had earned income from the sale of NTFPs below mean income (60458 Pakistani rupees) per season. Sample households reported that during emergencies, only income earned from nontimber forest products stabilized their economy. Sample households identified certain market constraints that were responsible for low earning from NTFPs. These were lack of road infrastructure, communication, storage and market facilities, no information about product price, negative role of middleman and informal money lending process. Based on these findings this study made following recommendations. Road, communication and storage facilities should be built in the study areas. Villager’s access to information about certain NTFP price and its market should be enhanced through radio and other media. Forest department should design plan for management and sustainable extraction of NTFPs in study areas and also provide tools and trainings to local collectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farm households in the rural areas are practicing agroforestry to generate their livelihood. To conduct this study, two distracts namely Mardan and Swat of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan was purposively selected. In district Mardan, agroforestry is practiced as boundary line plantations; while in Swat intercropping is more common characteristics. A total of 390 households involved in agroforestry practices were interviewed. The study investigated the effect of agroforestry practices on farm income of rural households in KP. A Multiple linear regression model was used to find out the effect of area under agroforestry, number of fruit and wood trees on farm, schooling level of household head, number of farm labor and adopted agroforestry practices on farm income. It was found that the effect on annual farm income by a unit increase in area under agroforestry was Rs.44.379, number of fruit trees was Rs.0.344 and wood trees on farm was Rs. 0.240, quantity of crops under these systems was Rs. 39.174 and education was Rs. 8.987 which were positive and statistically significant. It was found that intercropping practice in comparison to boundary line plus intercropping was statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farm households in the rural areas are practicing agroforestry to generate their livelihood. To conduct this study, two distracts namely Mardan and Swat of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan was purposively selected. In district Mardan, agroforestry is practiced as boundary line plantations; while in Swat intercropping is more common characteristics. A total of 390 households involved in agroforestry practices were interviewed. The study investigated the effect of agroforestry practices on farm income of rural households in KP. A Multiple linear regression model was used to find out the effect of area under agroforestry, number of fruit and wood trees on farm, schooling level of household head, number of farm labor and adopted agroforestry practices on farm income. It was found that the effect on annual farm income by a unit increase in area under agroforestry was Rs.44.379, number of fruit trees was Rs.0.344 and wood trees on farm was Rs. 0.240, quantity of crops under these systems was Rs. 39.174 and education was Rs. 8.987 which were positive and statistically significant. It was found that intercropping practice in comparison to boundary line plus intercropping was statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All living organisms are affected by drought in terms of food and health. In the current scenario of drought and gradual change in climate that can result in water stress for terrestrial vegetation, droughtresistant plants should be sorted out. The objective of this study was to explore the growth behavior of Eucalyptus camaldulensis (recommended for waterlogged areas) and Tamarix aphylla (recommended for arid regions) under water stress. Therefore, a pot experiment was carried out with three treatments: Well-watered, 25% and 50 % drought to achieve said objective. It was found that drought negatively affected plant growth. The mean heights of E. camaldulensis and T. aphylla were maximum (38.16 and 34.7 cm, respectively) at control irrigation while minimum height was found (17.1 and 24.9 cm, respectively) at 50% drought. So, the reduction in plant height of E. camaldulensis was more (55.6%) as compared to T. aphylla (28.1%). The reduction in root length of both species was 19% and 9% respectively at 50 % drought. High drought stress (50%) resulted in a reduction of 49% and 38% dry matter in E. camaldulensis and T. aphylla respectively. The relative water contents (RWC) were more (71.5%) in E. Camaldulensis at the control level but significantly reduced (40%) at 50% stress while in T. aphylla less difference (52%-44%) was found in RWC. There was no significant difference found in diameter in both species. Though E. Camaldulensis could survive the periodic drought spells, however, the performance of T. aphylla was found better in this study. Consequently, research work is necessary to study Eucalyptus camaldulensis genetically and physiologically to bring modification in this plant that can make it less water demanding to conserve water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All living organisms are affected by drought in terms of food and health. In the current scenario of drought and gradual change in climate that can result in water stress for terrestrial vegetation, droughtresistant plants should be sorted out. The objective of this study was to explore the growth behavior of Eucalyptus camaldulensis (recommended for waterlogged areas) and Tamarix aphylla (recommended for arid regions) under water stress. Therefore, a pot experiment was carried out with three treatments: Well-watered, 25% and 50 % drought to achieve said objective. It was found that drought negatively affected plant growth. The mean heights of E. camaldulensis and T. aphylla were maximum (38.16 and 34.7 cm, respectively) at control irrigation while minimum height was found (17.1 and 24.9 cm, respectively) at 50% drought. So, the reduction in plant height of E. camaldulensis was more (55.6%) as compared to T. aphylla (28.1%). The reduction in root length of both species was 19% and 9% respectively at 50 % drought. High drought stress (50%) resulted in a reduction of 49% and 38% dry matter in E. camaldulensis and T. aphylla respectively. The relative water contents (RWC) were more (71.5%) in E. Camaldulensis at the control level but significantly reduced (40%) at 50% stress while in T. aphylla less difference (52%-44%) was found in RWC. There was no significant difference found in diameter in both species. Though E. Camaldulensis could survive the periodic drought spells, however, the performance of T. aphylla was found better in this study. Consequently, research work is necessary to study Eucalyptus camaldulensis genetically and physiologically to bring modification in this plant that can make it less water demanding to conserve water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]