Impact of agroforestry: a case study of Udui District, Tabora region
2008
Msilanga, B.B. | Nyadzi, G.I. | Mbilinyi, B.P. | Mganilwa, Z.M.
Rotational woodlots (RWL): an emerging agroforestry technology. Rotational woodlots system integrates trees into existing cropping systems for fuelwood, fodder, soil fertility, and eventual environmental conservation. A study was conducted in Uyui District, Tabora region in 2003. Uyui District is located in the tobacco-cereal farming system and flue-cured tobacco is the main cash crop. The objectives of the study were to assess land use/land cover changes as the result of tobacco-cereal farming system over a period of 27 years (1970 to 1997), socio-economic factors influencing land use changes and impact of agroforestry in the tobacco-cereal farming system. Broad classes of land use/cover for the years of 1970, 1980 and 1997 were established through aerial photo interpretation. The results revealed that depletion of closed woodland between 1970 and 1980 was 380 ha-1 year-1 and between 1980 and 1997 was 40 ha year-l. During the same temporal periods cultivated land increased by 225 ha annually between 1970 and 1980 and 240 ha annually between 1980 and 1997. The agroforestry was new land use in 1997 occupying 50 ha. Shifting cultivation and continuous shortening of fallow periods were observed. This was due to the population growth, agricultural expansion and increased demand for fuelwood for tobacco curing. Agroforestry technologies address the basic family securities of food security and have a significant impact on deforestation reduction and environmental conservation in flue tobacco growing areas.
显示更多 [+] 显示较少 [-]