Pineapple agroforestry practice in Madhupur sal (Shorea robusta) forest: a sustainable way to forest conservation and livelihood security

Agroforestry can serve to bridge the conflict and the divide that often exists between the need for conservation of biodiversity and provision of needs of human society. Bangladesh is a densely populated country with high pressure on forest resources. Present study has been conducted in Madhupur sal forest (Shorea robusta) where degradation of forest resources are high due to nearby highly dependent poor stakeholders. Therefore, recently Bangladesh Forest Department allotted 1.0 ha of land for each participant in participatory approach to forest management and conservation. Participants practiced pineapple agroforestry with some secondary (side) crops such as papaya, jack-fruit, lemon, and guava. Participants were Bengalis, Garos, and Koch. Findings of the study show that the Calculate Net Present Value (NPV) and Benefit-Cost Ration (BCR) of the pineapple plantation were 487010.79 Tk and 5.35 respectively at 10% interest rate. The benefit cost ratio 5.35 indicates that the farmer earned Tk 5.35 from investing each Tk over five years. Sensitivity analysis also indicated that pineapple agroforestry practice still remains to be viable and extremely profitable. Farmers followed a traditional way to cultivate, harvest and manage their pineapple agroforestry. Farmers mentioned ten benefits from the pineapple agroforestry system including high productivity, sustainable production system, multiple cropping systems, environmentally friendly, maximum utilization of site possible, market demand of the product, supportive government policy, institutional support, conservation of biodiversity and employment opportunity. Therefore, pineapple agroforestry practice is a profitable as well as extremely viable land-use option maintaining soil fertility, stable production and provides employment opportunities to the people living inside and outside the forest. Study concludes that if government and non-government organization would provide more facilities to participants, forest resource management would be more sustainable and balanced livelihoods to the poor stakeholders in the adjoining areas.