The ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (IISWC) in Dehradun has run a training and demonstration programme on agroforestry and bioengineering for soil and water conservation in the Sundaraya, Kolhara and Kofti villages of Khatar, Kalsi, in Dehradun district, ICAR reports. It was held under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan.
Farmers planted 800 multipurpose plants: 200 each of guava, amla, kachnar and bamboo. The programme reached 30 farm families directly, and more than 110 farmers and community members took part.
Bamboo and kachnar were planted on steep, highly erosion-prone and degraded ground to show how perennial vegetation can establish cover, reduce soil loss and stabilise vulnerable slopes, especially when combined with suitable physical and biological conservation measures.
Guava and amla went along field bunds, showing how fruit trees can be fitted into existing fields to give extra fruit and income while putting field boundaries to productive use. Farmers were taught planting methods, spacing, site selection and aftercare.
A technical lecture, held under the guidance of the institute's director, Shakir Ali, explained how agroforestry in the hills can cut runoff and erosion, raise farm productivity, diversify income and help restore degraded land, and why species should be chosen to suit the land type, slope and soil.
The institute hopes the demonstrations will encourage farmers to plant perennial species on bunds, degraded land and erosion-prone slopes across the hill region.
Source: ICAR
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