How Agroforestry Can Empower Farmers and Protect Our Planet
Small-scale farmers are struggling with mounting challenges, from climate change to food insecurity and biodiversity loss. Agroforestry – the practice of integrating trees and shrubs with crops and livestock – offers a sustainable way forward.
An agroforestry system can increase soil health, crop diversity and productivity, bolster resilience against extreme weather, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide habitats for biodiversity. For farmers, agroforestry isn’t just good for the environment – it’s good for business and resilience. Diversified crops mean more income streams, access to payment for environmental services and improved food security.
Through agroforestry, it is estimated that the annual income from higher yields alone could rise by US$100–300 per hectare, while diversified earnings from timber, fruits and other products may add US$200–2,000 per hectare over time.
A new IFAD report provides key insights on maximizing the impact and sustainability of IFAD’s 120 ongoing and future agroforestry projects. From 2012 to 2022, 21 per cent of IFAD-supported projects incorporated agroforestry practices, up from just 2 per cent in the previous decade.
These projects have been implemented across diverse ecosystems, including tropical forests, drylands and mountainous regions, with a significant 26 per cent in fragile settings where resilience-building is paramount. While barriers to entry remain, IFAD is enabling small-scale farmers to overcome them.