Shifting cultivation is claimed as the major cause of drastic deforestation in the uplands of Eastern Bangladesh. Agroforestry is considered as one of the very few options to protect the existing forest and, additionally, lift people out of the poverty trap. This paper indicates that agroforestry may not only be good for (agro)biodiversity and sustainability, but has a good economic rate of return. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are used to analyse data. The financial analysis indicates that agroforestry systems give positive and much higher net present value (NPV) than shifting cultivation. In addition, it is more profitable and less risky than other agricultural options. Appropriate strategies leading to the right choice of species, optimal species combinations, solving land tenure problems, ensuring initial support and imparting training to farmers could promote agroforestry systems and enhance farm income.
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1 March 2007
Analysis of the Economic Benefits from Systematic Improvements to Shifting Cultivation and Its Evolution Towards Stable Continuous Agroforestry in the Upland of Eastern Bangladesh
S.A. Rahman,
M.F. Rahman,
A.L. Codilan,
K.M. Farhana
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International Forestry Review
Vol. 9 • No. 1
March 2007
Vol. 9 • No. 1
March 2007
Agroforestry
economic benefit
environment
poverty
shifting cultivation