Impact assessment of eucalyptus planting of barani farmlands

A sample size of 70 resource persons (farmers) was fixed, who were selected randomly from one Tehsil district Attock under stratified random sampling technique to assess the impact of Eucalyptus planting on farmlands. The information collected through the questionnaire was analyzed statistically. Economic comparison between Eucalyptus tree raising and agriculture crop production has shown that the former is a profitable practice having high benefit cost ratio than the later. Moreover, out of total sample population, 45 percent of the farmers have sold 66,300 Eucalyptus trees earning 13.2 million rupees which is a handsome amount generated from about 55 acres during the last 8 years. More than 74 percent farmers reported negative effects of shade of Eucalyptus trees on wheat production while only 6% farmers who belonged to waterlogged areas reported positive effects of Eucalyptus on wheat production. Although Eucalyptus have allelopathic effects on agriculture crops but economic losses due to raising of Eucalyptus were proved baseless. According to this study, most of the farmers (67%) are not willing to plant Eucalyptus on their farmlands anymore. This negative trend in majority of farmers is accounted for two major problems i.e., poor marketing and low returns as 66 percent farmers indicated marketing problems and 75 percent reported low returns from the Eucalyptus woods. Farmers (20 percent) who have high income saving, alternate profession and large landholdings are still willing to grow more Eucalyptus on their farmland. Farmers perception was fairly positive about the climatic changes in the area due to Eucalyptus planting i.e., reduction in wind velocity and storms (74% farmers), increase in rain (20% farmers), decrease in temperature (14% farmers) and increase in humidity (61% farmers) and lowering water table by about 15-20 ft (73% farmers). However, these changes are based on farmers perceptions and need detailed study before confirmation.