Mutoko District, located in Mashonaland East Province, is one of the areas where the Forestry Commission is actively implementing agroforestry programs. In collaboration with various non-governmental organizations, the Commission has been educating communities on the importance and benefits of agroforestry.
What is Agroforestry?
Agroforestry is the deliberate management of trees alongside crops and/or livestock on the same piece of land to maximize ecological and economic benefits. According to L. Tapfumanei (1999), agroforestry is “the management of trees, crops, and livestock on the same piece of land for both ecological and economic benefits.”
Another school of thought defines agroforestry as an integrated land-use approach that uses the interactive benefits of combining trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock. It merges agricultural and forestry technologies to create diverse, productive, profitable, and sustainable systems.
Common Agroforestry Techniques
- Improved Fallow
- Alley Cropping
- Relay Cropping
- Home Gardens
- Trees in Soil Conservation and Reclamation
- Live Fences
Agroforestry Practices and Tree Species
| Agroforestry Practice | Description of Arrangement | Species Used |
|---|---|---|
| Improved Fallow | Woody species planted and left to grow during the fallow phase — more effective than shifting cultivation. | Sesbania sesban, Acacia angustissima, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena species |
| Alley Cropping | Woody species in hedges; agricultural species grown in alleys between hedges. | Acacia angustissima, Ziziphus mauritiana, Faidherbia albida |
| Home Gardens | Multistory combination of trees and crops around homesteads. | Mango trees, Citrus species, Moringa, Ziziphus mauritiana, Dovyalis caffra, Jatropha curcas |
| Trees in Soil Conservation and Reclamation | Trees planted on bunds and terraces to aid in soil reclamation. | Ziziphus mauritiana, Dovyalis caffra, Jatropha curcas, Faidherbia albida, Tephrosia vogelii |
| Live Fences | Trees planted around farmlands as living boundaries. | Ziziphus mauritiana, Dovyalis caffra, Jatropha curcas, Faidherbia albida |
Potential Impacts of Agroforestry
- Reduces poverty through increased production of agroforestry products for home use and market sale.
- Enhances food security by improving soil fertility and producing fruits, nuts, and edible oils.
- Reduces deforestation by providing farm-grown fuelwood.
- Increases on-farm biodiversity and tree cover to combat climate change effects.
- Improves nutrition, helping communities cope with hunger and chronic illness (e.g., HIV/AIDS).
- Improves access to medicinal trees, which are used by 80% of Africa’s population as primary healthcare.